Note that the TI83+SE has twice as much RAM (yes, ram) as the TI86. (256k vs 96k)

Just none of the extra 224k of ram is accessable to users.

I've written this before, but i will write it again for its relevence.

The TI83+SE and the TI86, as far as hardware is concerned, are very similar.

The TI86 has a larger screen (128x64 rather that 96x64), and it is mapped to memory. This is good for games, as grayscale is practical. They both have 128k of RAM.

The TI86 has a 256k ROM, whereas the OS that the TI83+SE has takes up 256k, plus 192k for "future OS use". In addition, the TI83+SE has 1.5Mb of user-accessable Flash memory.

The TI83+SE has inbuild quartz crystals that can be used to power an accurate stopwatch and may also have other unexploited uses. It also has "link assist", that speeds up linking.

Finally the CPU in the TI83+SE is alot faster than the TI86. (15Mhz vs 6Mhz).

As far as the inbuild OS capability is concerned, the TI86 kicks ass. Sure, it may not have the menus that some people "know and love", but I won't bring that up.

The advantages the TI83+SE has are apps, and very large user-contributed files (332kb in LISTING vs 156kb in LISTING on the 86). Also, TI has released an SDK for the 83+ that is 600-800pages long. Compared to the 8 web pages that there are about the TI86, this is a magor plus for programmers.

The adventages of the TI86 are more functionality in the OS, and the fact that most ASM programs do not require a shell.

My conclusion: As far as mathematics is concerned, if there is a possibility that your calculator will be reset, a TI86 is the best bet.

If, however, your calculator will not have the archive cleared (which contains all those useful apps eg. symbloic), get a TI83+SE.

If you plan to do z80 programming, the TI83+SE is better, as there is alot more unexploered terrain.

That's my $AU0.20

PS. I am working on a new OS for the TI83+ and TI83+SE that will use all that extra RAM..... If it has enough popularity, I may design an 86-type shell for it....

Note that TI has not told us if the TI84+SE has the extra RAM

Technically, they didn't. But I can't imagine the 84+ won't have something the 83+ does have.

how do u plan to access the RAM if its not user-available?

I think Omnicalc (and other Michael Vincent apps) use some of the extra ram, but not the full 256k.

it's only 128k.

That first remark was wrong...

To use the extra RAM, output the RAM page number to port 07 or 08 (can't remember which). TI found with the TI86 that this was abit slow, so they skipped the feature from the TI83+SE (also to save the bother of writing a new OS)

see website for info on the RAM used by the TI83+SE

(thanks Michel Vincent)

It's not available to users of TI OS. It can be used by assembly programs and apps.

Is this a full OS, like PedroM? If so, It's about time. I would do it, if I didn't go to school.

Whoops. I would make a full operating system if I had the time. And it would take a lot of time, as I don't know any ASM.

Don't forget the ability to run (nearly?) all zshell games for the TI-85(with a shell)...

I've never ownbed an 86 so I don't know if it's fully compatible or not...

Don't forget the ability to run (nearly) ALL TI82 games on the TI83+ (with a shell)

I agree that the 83+SE has advantages over the 86 as far as memory and processor speed (and maybe those hardware timers) is concerned, but I still think that the 86's other advantages outweigh those.

Although I love the idea of a USB port on the 84, the 86 has my favorite OS... which in my mind takes precedence.

What specifically do you like about the OS?

I like the GUI, I don't like the 89 or 83+ GUI, and I assume the 84 will have the same OS as the 83+. If the TI89 Ti was on the list I would have chosen it, though... Of course, the 89 is not Z80, which is half the reason I love the 68K calcs so much.

Yes, I like the GUI a lot better on the 86 too-especially the small text in the menus...

What's so great about the USB port? It's pointless to me. Nice question to get the person to explain more, Morgan. Useful for your class. (that was praise, not sarcasm)

I think the TI-86 is the best because of many reasons.

I like the menu system on the TI-86 a lot better than the full screen menu on the TI-83+. It works much better for RPG style games and stuff and you can see what you are doing with them.

I also like the fact that the TI-86 has a huge chunk of RAM instead of a little RAM and some flash ROM. I think it is stupid to be able to use the flash ROM for whatever you want because that just wares it out very quickly and you have to keep doing that garbage collect thing. It should only be available for flash applications. If people care about the crashing business so much just do what I do. Make a backup of all the variables on the calculator onto the computer every once in a while. And if you think about it, having one thing of storage is more efficient when it comes to archiving and unarchiving and that business that shell automatically do so they can run programs.

TI-86 asm programs are great because none of them require some special shell with some weird interface. People are able to use whatever they want.

I like also the fact that the TI-86 can store pictures and strings in whatever variable they want instead of using a preset one.

I also like the high screen resolution and grey scale quality of the TI-86. I checked out Phoenix III on the TI-83plus and it was terrible because the scores were not displayed on the screen because it is too small and the gray scale was really flickery.

I have this list of additional reasons somewhere why the 86 is better than the 83+...as soon as I find it, I'll post it here.

Wow, I must be psychic. I didn't know there was something like that. I just thought of some stuff.

I think there's a misunderstanding somewhere here... :-)

Forget I said anything there.

OK. :-)

TI83+ Flash ROM wears out quickly.

Here is a test, or maybe a future survey.

1. How many of you have had a TI83+/TI83+SE/TI73 that has had its flash ROM worn out?

2. How many of you have heard from a reliable source about a TI83+/TI83+SE/TI73 haveing worn out flash?

For the regular TI83+, AMD claims that (see web page for proof) "Minimun 1000000 program/erase cycles guaranteed."

When would you do 1000000 garbage collects?

A while ago we did some calculations on the ASM-83 list. IIRC, at ten garbage collects a day, the Flash wouldn't wear out for many decades (over a century even if memory serves).
Long story short, unless you're gonna write some program to deliberately wear out your Flash, the rest of the calc will die first (and even you yourself, probably).

TI-73? *laughs* You'll NEVER EVER EVER put enough on that calculator to fill up the RAM to even consider using Flash ROM...
wait... on the TI-73, you can archive stuff? That's news to me... I have to see this

I don't have a TI73, and the only way to use the archive is with apps.

THis means you will have to install/remove an app 1000000 times for the flash to have to possibility of failing.