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Graphing Calculator

[Tycho?][Tycho?] As elusive as doubtRegistered User regular
edited December 2006 in Help / Advice Forum
I'm in second year physics, and I feel the time has come to get a graphing calculator, so I'm going to ask for one for christmas. I have prior experience with the classic TI-83 plus, so by default I would lean towards this one because I know the interface.

But, there are also TI-84s, 85s, 86s and 89s that are all of the same basic design, but more advanced (and more expensive). There is also the 83 silver edition. So do any of you have experiences with these calculators? What would you recomend for a second year physics student, who wants a calculator that will last me years? Whats the best bang for the buck?
Any opinions appreciated.

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[Tycho?] on

Posts

  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Ask your professors what they use and use that. In my experience its always easier to get help when you're on the same page/OS/calculator etc.

    Malkor on
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  • UnknownUnknown
    edited December 2006
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  • grungeboxgrungebox Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I was EE as an undergrad, but I am now a physics grad student. The TI-89 has been my best friend because it can do improper integrals, special integrals (like Gaussians), and Taylor expansions. I've noticed that it's starting to eat through batteries more quickly, nowadays, but it's also 6.5 years old, so that might be why. I'd get an 89 if you can.

    I've never used a TI-86 or 83 silver, but the 89 is definitely better than the 83 or 85.

    grungebox on
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  • [Tycho?][Tycho?] As elusive as doubt Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Yes, I am majoring in physics. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm leaning towards 89 now, but keep the suggestions coming.

    [Tycho?] on
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  • MrOlettaMrOletta Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I'm a Physics major as well, and should be graduating this upcoming summer. Ti-89 hands down.

    MrOletta on
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  • piLpiL Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    If you're the kind of guy that likes to use calculators on tests, then you're going to want to know your university policy. I'm a math and biology major, and I still can't use my 89 in Chemistry classes, and only just now have been able to use the 89 in calc (just his Calc 3). I had some standard sci calc frm the 80s or 90s for the other stuff and it worked just fine (although I would wish it could have showed things like sqrts and fractions). YMMV.

    piL on
  • [Tycho?][Tycho?] As elusive as doubt Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    piL wrote:
    If you're the kind of guy that likes to use calculators on tests, then you're going to want to know your university policy. I'm a math and biology major, and I still can't use my 89 in Chemistry classes, and only just now have been able to use the 89 in calc (just his Calc 3). I had some standard sci calc frm the 80s or 90s for the other stuff and it worked just fine (although I would wish it could have showed things like sqrts and fractions). YMMV.

    Eh, I can't use calculators on any of my exams. But if it comes up, I've got a basic calculator that I can use for that situation.

    [Tycho?] on
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  • UnknownUnknown
    edited December 2006
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  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    TI-89.

    I only took a couple of semesters of calc and statistics in college, as far as math/science goes, but it kicks the shit out of the 83 and 84.

    Thanatos on
  • Chief1138Chief1138 Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    TI-89 is pretty much the standard for anything beyond basic calculus. Get it, it's worth the extra $$ and you'll be glad you did.

    Chief1138 on
  • BlazeFireBlazeFire Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I'm gonna be the oddman out and recommend the HP49g+ or 50g. That is what most of the undergrad EEs use where I go to school (UoSaskatchewan). Its easy to program, lots of online resources, etc.

    I love mine.

    BlazeFire on
  • supertallsupertall Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I recommend the Ti-89. I've got one, and I love it. It's like the Cadillac of calculators.

    supertall on
  • arcatharcath Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    There are TWO versions of the TI-89.....dont be fooled.

    you got the normal TI-89, and then you got the TI-89 Titanium.

    but honestly, i dont know if the sell the old version anymore.

    arcath on
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  • Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    arcath wrote:
    There are TWO versions of the TI-89.....dont be fooled.

    you got the normal TI-89, and then you got the TI-89 Titanium.

    but honestly, i dont know if the sell the old version anymore.

    IIRC there is very little difference. THe Titanium is newer, looks nicer, and has more memory. I think that is all.

    Joseph Stalin on
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  • arcatharcath Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    Joseph Stalin wrote:
    arcath wrote:
    There are TWO versions of the TI-89.....dont be fooled.

    you got the normal TI-89, and then you got the TI-89 Titanium.

    but honestly, i dont know if the sell the old version anymore.

    IIRC there is very little difference. THe Titanium is newer, looks nicer, and has more memory. I think that is all.

    IMO the display is nicer, and it has a updated OS.

    ::shrugs::

    arcath on
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  • TreelootTreeloot Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    mcdermott wrote:
    So, if you're majoring in any sort of science or engineering, I can firmly recommend you not buy the TI-83 (yes, that includes Plus, Silver, whatever). You'll probably end up needing at least a TI-84.

    Besides improved memory and speed, does the TI-84 offer anything the TI-83 doesn't?

    Treeloot on
  • st0ned messiahst0ned messiah Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    TI-89 is the only real option here. Titanium interface is a lot nicer than the original. If only just for the formatting, things are so much easier to follow on an 89 rather than an 83. And it can do about anything you need (USB for adding programs, just added Laplace and inverse Laplace transforms to mine).

    st0ned messiah on
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  • BlazeFireBlazeFire Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I wouldn't say the TI-89 is the only option. I'm really surprised no one else has mentioned any HPs at all. Is there a reason I'm unaware of?

    BlazeFire on
  • littwentythreelittwentythree Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I'd have to second that the TI-89 basically does everything you'll probably ever need to do.

    littwentythree on
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  • khainkhain Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    BlazeFire wrote:
    I wouldn't say the TI-89 is the only option. I'm really surprised no one else has mentioned any HPs at all. Is there a reason I'm unaware of?

    Very few people have HP calcualtors so if you need hel pyour either fucked or tis time to read the 500+ page manual. With a TI-84 or TI-89 you can ask other people in your class and some one wil lknow how to do what you want it to do. I like HP calculators and I actually think that they are better than the equivalent cost TIs, but having help available just makes it so much easier to use a TI.

    Anyway I reccomend the TI-89. I've never heard of them banning it from tests unless you cant use calculators at all in which case it doesn't really matter. If you want to get a better version thats cool, but I'd stay away from any calculators that have keyboards, I think its the 93 that has a keyboard and is essentially the same as the 89, but almost all the professors I know ban the 93 becuase of the keyboard, but don't care if you use the 89.

    khain on
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited December 2006
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  • VeritasVRVeritasVR Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I'm glad I have my TI-83. Almost all of my professors don't allow the 89, and I'm a 3rd-year engineer. I've had the 83 since high school and it's been good to me ever since. Solving calculus equations on the calculator is something that professors HATE.

    VeritasVR on
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  • alcoholic_engineeralcoholic_engineer Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I despise hp calculators and have a ti-84 and quite like it. But, if you take the time to learn how to use it well, a ti-89 is the way to go. those things are amazing.

    edit:i have never heard of a prof not allowing an 89 while still allowing an 83 or 84. we just usually cant have graphic calculators at all if they feel that way (a few of my classes are like that)

    alcoholic_engineer on
  • CeloisCelois Registered User regular
    edited December 2006
    I'd definitely go with a 89. I'd say 80% of my class and my instructor uses an 89. I've never heard of not allowing an 89 but allowing a 83; typically they either ban all graphing calculators and leave just non-programmable scientific calculators (Chemistry classes for example).

    They run about $100-120 at Costco IIRC. I <3 my TI-89.

    Celois on
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