| Author | Comment |
Wasper
Probe
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
14:37 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | Hi , I am going to enter college this fall and need a bit of advice on buying a calculator. If possible I need a calculator that I would be able to use in any math related classes. I will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering , but will start out with Calculus I this fall semester.I was thinking about getting a TI 83+ but have heard that it will be rendered useless by about my 2nd or 3rd year in college as I would be taking harder math courses. I don't want to have to buy another calculator because not only will I have to get use to a different calculator , my budget would also be quite tight in college. What are your thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
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allynfolksjr
Administrator
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
14:57 GMT
Total Posts: 1892 | For calculus and Engineering, especially for college, I'd go with a 68k calculator. The regular TI-89 should do fine for that, and you can probably pick it up for under a hundred dollars if you look at ebay or shop sales (since the 89t is a newer version of it, so the regular 89's price is dropping. The only difference between the two is mainly a memory upgrade and the addition of a clock and USB link). Of course, keep in mind that you may not be able to use any calculators in some classes, but the 89 will serve you well.
Good luck!
[Edited by allynfolksjr on 15-Aug-05 23:58] |
korkow
Ultralisk
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
15:50 GMT
Total Posts: 465 | I agree with the TI-89 chioce, but if you don't want a TI-89 for some reason, get an TI-86. You can usually find a TI-86 at your local Staples.
[Edited by korkow on 16-Aug-05 00:51] |
Lunchbox
Carrier
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
17:40 GMT
Total Posts: 2007 | I agree with allyn, a 68k is definetly the way to go. WWhat he didn't mention, though, about the 89ti, is that it has way more archive space too, which is really onnly good for games at thatpoint, but whatever :) . |
threefingeredguy
Ghost
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
18:31 GMT
Total Posts: 1189 | how else are you sposed to play chrono fantasy :P
[Edited by threefingeredguy on 16-Aug-05 03:32]
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Someone call for an exterminator? |
BullFrog
Wraith
Posted: 15 Aug 2005
20:58 GMT
Total Posts: 623 | A 68k family calculator will pretty much have you set for all of your graphing calculator needs. However, having not gone through college in pursuit of your major, I have no idea what other things you'll need.
At the very least, though, buy an 86. The 83/84 family doesn't really stand up that well in calculus, in my opinion. (All of you die-hard 83 fans just accept it! It doesn't even have a built-in function to find a point of inflection!)
If you do happen to get one of the 83/84 calculators, expect to fill your memory with little programs here and there to bring it up to the 86's mathematical abilities. (Foreign idea to some. Using a graphing calculator for actual math.)
Edit: Just a thought, but you could ask someone who is completing your major soon what you'd need. I'm sure they'd have at least some idea...
[Edited by BullFrog on 16-Aug-05 06:00]
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"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." -Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Wasper
Probe
Posted: 16 Aug 2005
08:57 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | I've read a bit on the Ti 89 and think I will buy it. However , I have notice that some people said that since it's a more advance calculator instructors in early math courses and other students may not know how to help you use it. I am not a calculator wiz as I am a computer wiz so this could be a problem. Did anyone encounter this problem?
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zkostik
Carrier
Posted: 16 Aug 2005
09:47 GMT
Total Posts: 2486 | 89 has all the stuff from previous calculators but its true that some functions are used/accessed in a slightly different fashion. Though, I don't think you'll really need that much help from your classmates anyway. On 89 all menus are graphical and a very easy to use, my switch from 83 was super fast and painless. The functionality I canined getting an 89 was very awesome too.
As with advanced insturctions you can often get a readily made program to do what needs to be done, however I would recomment making sure you know how to do that stuff w/t a calc or at least know what functions need to be used and then use a program (or make your own).
Seeing that you're a computer wiz you'll pick up on your new calc's functions quickly, you can also always come here if you've got questions. We're able to help people out in most cases.
Btw, if you decide to buy your calc online, please consider purchasing it from our store, we affiliate with Office Depot and will get a small commission which will help the site out. Thanks.
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lord_bakotl
Dragoon
Posted: 16 Aug 2005
12:04 GMT
Total Posts: 70 | If I didn't already have an 83+, I'd probably have gone with an 89 since they can often pass for an 83 if the prof isn't looking closely. I have used an 83+ through high school and 3 years of college and not being able to do certain things in calculus hasn't been an issue. However, BullFrog did have a good idea, you should talk to upper classmen and alumni in your major for better advice, as they will have taken the classes (or similiar ones) you'll be taking later on and will know what you should expect to see. |
Wasper
Probe
Posted: 17 Aug 2005
08:34 GMT
Total Posts: 3 | Bullfrog you had the right idea , I've e-mailed some professors in the engineering department of my school and they told me that I'll just need a scientific calculator. Nearly all graphing will be done on my laptop with software provided by the school. However , I think I will just stick with a Ti 83 to be safe.
Thanks for all the help guys. |
threefingeredguy
Ghost
Posted: 17 Aug 2005
08:40 GMT
Total Posts: 1189 | use an 83+/84+ instead of regular 83. they look nicer, are faster, and 83+se/84+/84+se comes with a billion useful apps. plus there are more games for the 83+/84+ (SE)'s.
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Someone call for an exterminator? |
BullFrog
Wraith
Posted: 17 Aug 2005
18:46 GMT
Total Posts: 623 | If you're going to be using a calculator from the 83 family, that is.
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"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." -Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Jonny23451
Ultralisk
Posted: 18 Aug 2005
01:30 GMT
Total Posts: 214 | I say go for the TI-83+ silver edition, cuz for memory, or a nice TI-89 cuz they have all these features and stuf...i think that's right. But listen to bullfrog, 83 family is ur best bet. |
BullFrog
Wraith
Posted: 18 Aug 2005
18:28 GMT
Total Posts: 623 | I never said such a thing. I merely said that if you're going to use a calculator from the 83/84 family, use the Plus or Silver Edition models.
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"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." -Franklin D. Roosevelt |
