I am just entering college, and unfortunately my old, beloved 83 and 83+ may not be able to handle the math courses I am going to take. Now I am stuck between the 89 for $149.99 US and the 92+ for $189.99 US. Anybody have an opinion?

Check out www.tinews.net on an unofficial news post they have some pretty good detailed arguments over whether the 89 or 92+ is a better buy.

i mean, well detailed arguments... not good detailed
hahah

I posted that news item.

Buy the 89 for the simple reason that it is admissable in more situations. (Plus it's cheaper)

Get Both!

I have both and it helps sometimes.

If I was to get a new calculator, it would be an 83+, a 92+, an HP or a Casio. I have most of the TIs below that (83, 85, 86, 89). However, My parents are worried that I may be becoming obsessed with them.

e of pi and the unimatrix's 45.59985035114 cents

92+ feels more like the classic Game Gear :-)
Besides, bigger screen, more shiny buttons makes my day. No more shift-alpha locking. At my school the math dept. doesn't allow any graphing calcs, so I can get what I want, so the better one is the obvious choice. Besides, if someone complains, scream and rant about how the 89 and 92+ are virtually identical.

I would question whether you really have to upgrade. I would suggest waiting to see what your courses are like before you shell out a bunch of money. I am a second year math major and only just got an 89. I easily survived Calculus without it (although it certainly could have come in handy). I think I learned Calculus much better since I wasn't able to let my calculator do everything for me. What course do you think you need it for?

My math course is designed for those who are in the pre-med program. It is (at least the book seems) largely a trig and stats course, with some pre-calculus thrown in for fun.

I would say that your 83+ will do fine. Unless you really want to play around with an 89, I would suggest sticking with your 83+. What do other people think?

I'd recommend an 83+ because it has more bult-in stats functions than any other calculator.

Whatever you get, get it at www.calc.org: they sell TI-89's for $131 (+7.50 S&H) and TI-92's (not 92+) for ~$165 (+ S&H). I would definitely say don't get a TI-92. A 92+ is OK, but not a 92. I recommend the 89 and you've already heard the reasons why. I think www.acz.org sells calcs, too.

Are you from the Bay Area? I knew a guy who had your nickname...

Buy the 89 it has the same functions as the 92 and can play the same games and it can be used on the act's where the 92 can't because of the qwerty keyboard.


--mbro

I think you mean the SAT's. The 89 can't be used on the ACT's either.

Nor can any other calculator with a CAS.

Do you think they'll ever allow me to use my IR link?
Hehe

Keep it. Even though they suck, you don't need a super calculator in college. College math is oriented around working things out, not punching buttons. I think you'll find that you don't need or want anything powerful, especially since you probably won't get to use it on tests.

What if you do buy a graphing calculator, but different.
I bought a CFX-9850GB+ (Casio, color), and I have a 89.(I got it mostly for SAT.)