Think about it, folks. It is a calculator. A couple cool games is nice, but its main function is math. Colour, sound, expansion slot. It is not needed in the base model. Part of the fun is getting things like sound to work without built in support.

When you have sound with a hack, it is one thing. But no calc needs, nor should have, it standard.

-W-

Yes, but this contradicts the whole human race. Ever since the Technological Age began, we have been constantly adding on and finding out new add-ons to make primary. Just think... 30 years ago, a computer was meant to handle math and other simple operations very quickly, and now a computer comes with software (and hardware, for that matter) such as the INTERNET, Speakers (not originally planned on), and much more that the first computer could have never dreamed of. This is how the whole race works. We find something by pure chance, and investigate more and more until it is easy to repeat this incident over and over until it can be controlled easily. Before long, the thing that was so hard to get the first time is made mandantory for all devices of its type. Of course, once something is discovered, many people will want it, and only a select few consider it "fun" to have to hack into an OS every single time they want to do the thing that could be very easily pre-implemented into the OS for easy programming references. I believe before it is all said and done, many new devices and software for these calculators will come out of the midst and also become a primary element of the calculator. It has been done throughout history, so why not now???

We have to remember the fundamental reason why these features aren't there yet. TI can't make money marketing to people who don't buy their products. Students do not buy 25 million TI-83s. 1 million teachers send a letter home to 25 million parents telling them to buy a TI-83 and they do so. Where would TI be if teachers said to buy a Casio Fx7400G because they are "concerned about the possibilities for disruptive behavior involving certain features of the TI calculator line such as sound, backlighting, and wireless linking?" Remember, HP has the engineering market cornered, so TI would be forced out of schools like the HP calculators but wouldn't have any other niches to go to. They would end up like Trapper Keepers.

But REAL TI users BUY their TIs...

<<math and other simple operations>>

Finally, someone who thinks math is simple :)

agreed

Math is simple...1+1 = 2 and always equals two...Just because someone new comes along and makes a theory, it doesn't change what 1+1 equals...most other subjects constantly change....yes, the boundaries of Math expand, but it's a concrete subject

The very definition of a hard science.

Leave the speakers to the computers. I don't see you driving your calc around...why? because we left that feature to the vehicles....

you could give your calc weels though

Speakers would be awesome!!

Sometimes a buzzer or speaker would be useful, as long as it could be turned off. It wouldn't have to be anything fancy, just something that you can set the tone, duration, and possibly volume, to produce simple sets of sounds. It could be useful to signal different events in a program when you're not looking at the calculator, to signal the end of processing, to use as a simple timer, etc.

Speakers would be a great addition, no matter what kind/quality of sound would come out of them. Who really wants to wear headphones while playing a game? Speakers would make playing any game with sound much more enjoyable.

Thats true, but I played Mario with a 1 foot subwoofer and two smaller 6 inch speakers, and it worked great. Headphones aren't really necessary, and most current games would not even be compatible with them :-(

Hey, it's been known that math geeks are also chess geeks. Does anyone here really like chess?

I enjoy playing chess, but I'm not that great at it...I do know a set of moves that makes me win in 4 moves if the opponent doesn't mess it up...

I can beat that. There is a pattern to beat your opponent in 2 moves if you are black.

I'm not a math geek (not even good in maths), but i am in a chess club.

If anybody is wondering I found a really cool website for chess. They have a place for everyone. They have grandmasters, international masters, every day players, and beginers. It is a fun way to improve your chess. I've looked at other chess site and this one is the best. Click on URL to go there. Sign up and try it out.

Sorry that URL doesn't work. Try this one.

This is a good question, but difficult to answer. If a calc had built in speakers, all the games that use sound right now would be non-compatible. Currently, sound is programmed through the link port. Speakers would have their own port, and games like Mario wouldn't work with them :-( ..unless there was a switch that allowed them to run on the same port as the link...

Also, speaker size should not be a problem, considering the kind used on cell phones (which can be REALLY loud)

However, I doubt TI would ever do that. I mean, what use do speakers have, except primarily gaming? Why would TI make a calc with them? They might as well make a TIGB (TI gameboy :D)!!!

Disable the no baqck button script on your website, or you'll just piss people off (like me!).
Speaking of phones, how about the new Ti one-chip-cellphone?
That is pretty []D[][]V[][]D!