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TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Posted on 11 January 1999, 22:18 GMT

[TI-83 Plus]

Texas Instruments has announced the TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. This is an upgradable calculator designed for high school and lower level university math and science courses. The TI-83 Plus includes all the features of the TI-83, and adds these features:

  • Flash ROM technology
  • 160K built-in Flash ROM (user data archive)
  • New applications developed by TI and other educational software developers

The TI-83 Plus is expected to cost about $5 or $10 more than the TI-83 and should be available this spring.

 


The comments below are written by ticalc.org visitors. Their views are not necessarily those of ticalc.org, and ticalc.org takes no responsibility for their content.


TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
j-dog
(Web Page)

same old crappy calc with a prettier keypad. just buy a ti-89 instead. its 50 times better.

     12 January 1999, 05:01 GMT


Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Ville Järvi

I agree, exactly the same machine.
But remember TI-89 is like 5 times more expensive.
i wonder why, since those parts shouldn't cost more than few dollars...

     12 January 1999, 21:34 GMT

Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Brian

Why are you people so ignorant? THE PRICE OF ANYTHING IS NOT SOLELY BASED ON THE PARTS IN CONTAINS. Workers get paid for developing, maufacturing, and shipping. These calc's aren't pieces of hardware TI threw together and decided to sell. There is the os development and actual manufacturing process development. All of this takes money. True the hardware in the calc probrally on makes up 25% of the price but the rest is needed to keep the company in business. Remember these companies aren't here to further enhance and educate america's youth, they're here to make a profit.

     12 January 1999, 22:48 GMT

Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
j-dog
(Web Page)

you're missing the point here...the ti-83 sucks no matter how many adjectives you add the end of its name.

     13 January 1999, 02:20 GMT


Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Ville Järvi

I don't know much, but I seriously think TI-83+ parts would cost like 1-2 dollars to TI, maybe even less. If someone knows better, please correct me.

     14 January 1999, 18:18 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Bob

you missed the whole point of the post above. It has little to do with the price of the parts. Who cares anyway, it's not like TI is jipping you if you already bought a ti-83. They are just giving the oppertunity to future customers to get a better calculator, while keeping already proven functionality.

     14 January 1999, 21:42 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Ville Järvi

seriously, what is so new in this product you think is worth releasing? TI calculators have always been working quite well, and they have lots of features. What can possibly be so new that should absolutely be released? Why not just update the ROM, especially when Flash-model will probably cost more... If the flash model is priced the same as plain 83 is, then i see the point, otherwise not.

     17 January 1999, 15:51 GMT


Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Matt

99.99 * 5 = 149.99 ????

hmm, am I the only one who sees a problem

     15 January 1999, 06:09 GMT

Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
-

I see someone overpaid for their calculators :)

     16 January 1999, 04:11 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Ville Järvi

they're priced like this in any store nearby.

     17 January 1999, 15:57 GMT


Re: Re: Re: TI-83 SUCKS ANYWAYS
Ville Järvi

at least in Finland TI-83 costs like 350marks and TI-89 costs like 1400 marks...
ok, i admit, it's only 4 times as expensive then:D

     17 January 1999, 15:55 GMT

I''M THE ONE!!!
TI-FrEaK

I just had to let everybody know that i am the guy that first told all you people about the 83+ back in october on IRC and you all laughed at me and said i was full of shit. Remember... I had the friend whos dad is a the top math professor at a university.... so i got the insider info. I only got one thing to say: all of you can SUCK IT!! I told you all it was coming, but NOOO, you didnt beleive me. HAHAHAHA! i got the last laugh

     12 January 1999, 05:04 GMT

Re: TI announces...
Jason K.

Here's another part of the proposal where TI should let us trade in our "outdated" 83's for the 83+'s... If everyone got one of the plus models, then they would pay for this shitty software that TI is going to put out as well. Y'all know that if the professionally -made programs were there, you'd buy it for 7 bucks... =P So, with the trade-ins, TI would still get 10 or 15 bucks more since thats how much more it would cost, and then open up a whole new community of Customers for their software...



TI, if you are reading this, I can assure you that No One who currently owns and 83 will buy this new model and have to pay full price for it. Those people, and Anybody else who Doesnt have an 83, would rather go for the 89... Well, my school deals mostly with 83's for their students, and none of them are smart enough to want to buy another calc. Only us programmers would see a benefit of this upgrade model, and most of us view it as a HUGE ripoff at this time... =P

     12 January 1999, 06:57 GMT

Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Val
(Web Page)

I think that it is pointless in a way, with all these + calcs. If your going or wish to get a calc just get a new higher ti8x. If they come out with the 86+ ill buy the 89 probably, only if they make a lot of mem or something cool, which if they do,it will be incompatable (I have an 86.)Plus I haven't seen the other calcs in side, i dont know if the new calcs can be boosted up? I for one dont like to wait for my calc to graph some complex equ. What I dont understand is why not make calcs that has more of new hardware features, then software, I mean with thte flash upgrade there would be no need for the other calcs
related or similare (82/83 85/86 89/92/92+). I mean think about it, what does the 83 have better then the 82 just new software features(oh forgot asm woo, like theirs no asm for 82,ya right). I want a calc with new hardware like different CPU chip, maybe in the color age? and much more speed ( or at least make a variable speed the ti's can handle over clocking). The only reason for new calc, I think is more of hardware, thats like buying a PC with new software and not hardware?!?!
whats the point in that?!?!

the technology is there!!!!
use it wisely!
dont fool or cheat people!
Thats like micro$oft

     12 January 1999, 09:12 GMT


Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Ville Järvi

That's all I said... exactly the same;)

     12 January 1999, 12:55 GMT

Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
David Moreno

This is terrible. I have a class that requires that I purchase a TI-83, so I'll end up buying one only to find that midway through the semester the TI-83Plus will then be rolled out, yet TI will allow educators to use them now for free? What is this? If there is only 2 keys different than the "old" I mean the "new/older" ???? model that I will be buying just before the "new/newer" ???? model comes out, why can't they just let the students buy them now too? Think about this, even if the new 83Plus ROM turns out to be a bit buggy, it is flashable, right? So why can't they offer them to students for sale now?

     12 January 1999, 10:41 GMT

Huhh, I don''t think people know what the flash rom is for
Yo Falt

The flash rom is something new that Texas Instruments is putting into all their new calculators from now on. The flash rom is made so that people can upgrade their calculators, by downloading off the TI website(for probably a fee of course) and loading it into the calculator for an instant upgrade(which is easier then having to buy a whole new calculator to get the newest features). Eventually programmers will probably figure out a way to access it but I'm just telling you all that this is what the flash rom is for those who don't know what TI put it into their calculators for.

     12 January 1999, 12:49 GMT


Re: Huhh, I don''t think people know what the flash rom is for
Ville Järvi

Yeah, but why not making a whole new model and using FLASH there? Even if the softwares are upgradeable, the hardware gets old. In a matter of fact, it's already old. I seriously think we should see some differences between -92 and -98 calculators. But there seem to be none..
In my opinion, FLASH isn't a must in calculators. It also doesn't make calcs worth buying itself.
Yeah, and in case you want to use newest features, there are always these great programmers who make their programs available for free. Just browse the TiCalc archives, there's plenty of programs that'll help you with maths, and more.

     12 January 1999, 21:30 GMT


Re: Re: Huhh, I don''t think people know what the flash rom is for
David Moreno

The Flash ROM would be used to fix buggy microcode as well as possibly enhance existing code (read better algorithm), so you can Flash it as new upgrades are made available (read, now everyone can benefit from upgrades, and not have a calculator with potentially 12 different ROM revisions with no ability to upgrade them short of removing the old ROM and putting an upgraded ROM in.)

     13 January 1999, 19:58 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Huhh, I don''t think people know what the flash rom is for
Ville Jrvi

And now everyone that have got original TI-83 has to buy this new model IF they want to get these little bug fixes and small stuff? Is it worth it?
And about ROM versions; on Ti-85, ASM shell Usgard works even on ROM 2(i guess). Current version is like 10-> ....so it isn't really that important to do TI-83+, FLASH could be useful on new calcs but no need for old stuff in Flash.

     14 January 1999, 18:24 GMT

Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
JW

What is everybody's problem? So TI has rehashed an old calc; so what? Got an 83? What are you complaining about, it's still the same calc that you paid for, it doesn't instantly become useless when the plus is released. Apparently all of the 83+ stuff will work on the 83, so, if anything, there'll be an even higher volume of 83 programs to work with. On one hand, we've got people whinging that TI isn't putting any "new technology" into its releases, and on the other hand there are those who are saying that all of a sudden this FLASH addition threatens to split the ti community. Make up your minds, if you don't want it, then don't buy it; it's as simple as that. Oh and as for trade-ins... keep dreaming.
To all those "geniuses" out there who are after souped-up machinery to play their games on: it's a CALCULATOR! TI is not marketing a portable games console. It's supposed to be an educational tool. As far as calculators go, these are as good as they get. The only people I can see with a reason to complain are those solely using it for games; in which case, get a GameBoy, or something, and program for that! So if you want your 16meg RAM and x86 processor, buy yourself a wintel machine and get over it.
I, for one, think TI is doing a great job.

     12 January 1999, 15:06 GMT


Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
ville Järvi

It's not like that at all.
This faster processor and more memory would give opportunity to much more than just play games. Sometimes calcs act very slow, and that's where faster processor would be needed. Also, if there were faster processors etc., the calcs could be fairly better, using color screens or at least grayscale(w/o any flickerin'), and would make it possible to create much cooler graphs, maybe even smooth 3D objects.
It's not a game console as you said, but that doesn't mean they must use old technology. I dare to say, every TI calculator has more or less the same chips and parts in. And that sucks. Also, when they're always so similar to each other, why release new models? Because it then seems like there's something new coming, when in reality it's just the same model with a new covers.
That's how it is, basically. NOT worth releasing.
That same 'educational tool'has already been released, what's the point in releasing it with some FLASH later? Nothing-TI should just get over it.-

     12 January 1999, 21:24 GMT


Re: Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
JW

Let me say the C-word again... CALCULATOR. I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of TI's graphing calc purchasers are high school students after a calculator that they need for a particular subject. So what has TI done? It's produced a quality, _affordable_ (key word) product for the target market.
What you are saying is absolutely absurd. TI is not going to put top of the line technology into its calcs for one reason only: they'd be damn expensive. Way out of the price range of their biggest market. Nobody is going to pay many hundreds of dollars for a colour calc, with "cooler" graphs, when they can invest the money into a solid, professional PC mathematics package; and that's if they even need features so advanced as to not appear in a calc already.
And as for the disappointment of the 83+ not being a "real" release, and your hopes for something new being dashed, all I can say is "Ignore the 83+! Don't buy it!". I can't understand why you are so concerned about TI's commercial ventures. I'm sure they know what they're doing more than you do... "NOT worth releasing", we'll let TI and the public be the judge of that.

     13 January 1999, 13:55 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Ville Järvi

most of the people here seems to think this is useless release, as for the public.
and about calc prices; of course prices would be expensive, but if you haven't noticed, they already are damn expensive. At lease in Finland(where i live) TI-92 costs 1300-1600 marks(~290-355 dollars). So does Ti-89. TI-86 costs ~200 dollars. That's more than enough, considering the stuff inside them. Some crappy old 6Mhz(-10Mhz) processor, few kilos of mem, b&w screen, old things. When the prices are high, I expect the product to be hi-quality too. Not any 80'ies pocket game chips.

     14 January 1999, 18:36 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Eugene

Those are overpriced. In the United States, a TI-86 costs $120, an 89 $150 (at least at Staples), and a 92 $200.

Maybe you might want to take into consideration the presence of a numeric solver. It makes life one hell of a lot easier.

     19 January 1999, 09:02 GMT


Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: TI announces TI-83 Plus graphing calculator
Ville Järvi

Does anyone know how expensive it would be to order TI-89 from States to Finland?
Just a thought, since they seem to be a half cheaper there...:8

     22 January 1999, 07:31 GMT

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