Customer Reviews

Texas Instruments TI-89 Advanced Graphing Calculator

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

The TI-89 is an excellent calculator. It has an absolutley HUGEfeature set, and is so advanced that it can basically do most math for you. My favorite features are the CAS (computer algebra system), which can solve a lot of algebraic equations for you, and the factoring function (I dont have to waste time factoring on paper anymore! whoohoo!). My old ti-83+ seems like a slide rule compared to this thing, but the 89 is still quite easy to use. In addition, not only is this calculator great for math, its great for games! There's a multitude of mathematical programs and games that you can find for free online. . . The only downside to this calculator is that the rich feature set can actually be a problem. A lot of students that use this calculator rely on it too much, and some of them barely understand any of the math that they are supposed to be learning. It is probably for this reason that it and its brother the TI-92 (difference between the TI-89 and TI-92 is the 92's qwerty keyboard, useless for a calculator in my opinion,and the 89 is smaller) are banned in some colleges, and on some tests, like the ACT's. If you've got the discipline not to rely too much on this fine piece of equipment (if you're a student), I highly recommend this calculator. But be warned, keep your old calculator around for tests that you can't use your 89 on, and NEVER rely to much on it.

1) arithmatic calculator functions: cause I'm too lazy for 6*7 in my head

2) entry memory : ever forget how you arrived at your answer? Your TI89 stores up to the past 80 calculations you've done

3) graphing functions: oh so much easier to do math when I can see the problem... function, polar, differential, parametric, sequential, even 3D graphs

4) algebra support: x^3 + 42x^2 - 8x + 2.1 = 0 ... forget factoring by hand : x = -42.1907945554 of course!

5) data tables: set up matracies, lists, and other data stuff...

6) units: A MUST for a science student... put in all your units and it will convert them

7) Calculus capabilities: differentiate, integrate, find limits (and MORE) of functions you type in!

8) Numeric solver: type in your own equations and plug in the numbers... KE = 1/2 * m * v^2

9) Easy interface, very intuitive

10) Seemingly limitless capabilities: download programs from the internet and load them on to your calcualtor (my favorite: the Periodic Table, with lots of data on each element). (you need the TI-graph link for a PC-Calculator hookup)

11) You CAN use them on SAT1, SAT2s, APs, and many other standardized tests.

11 reasons doesn't come close to how much I love this calculator! If you are or will be taking any of these classes I highly recommend the TI-89 : Calculus I, Calculus II, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, ... and beyond!

This Calculator absolutely does it all! It's ability to find derivatives and antiderivatives (which the TI-85 cannot do) as well as many other calculus functions is invaluable. In calculus, I was always far ahead of my class due to this calculator! In statistics, its tables and graphing is extremely easy to use and its statistical summaries are much easier to access and read than those of the 83 or 85. The pretty print feature makes finding mistakes and reading the answers much easier. The graphs (3D) are far superior to that of the TI-83 or 85. I would recommend this calculator over the 92 for high school students due to the fact that the TI-92 (with its QWERTY keyboard) is not allowed on the SAT I or II tests or AP tests. The TI-89, with very similar operation and features, is allowed on these tests. For more information...e-mail me.

The TI-89 is a great calculator, don't get me wrong. However, in light of its reputation as the "supercalculator," I cannot give this product a five-star rating.

As a high school math team student and three-year owner of the TI-89, I can tell you first hand that when you put in the time to fully learn its capabilities, it can be an awesome tool. Its 10/12 mHz (depending on how new your calculator is) Motorola 68000 processor is to this day unmatched in the world of graphing calculators, and 1 MB is plenty of memory.

The main reason that anybody would buy this calculator, I would assume, is for its computer algebra system, a piece of software based on the Derive engine referred to as the Advanced Mathematics Software. This software is stored in Flash RAM, so it can be upgraded via Internet download using a Mac or Windows PC (of course, you will have to purchase a $25 cable to link the calculator to the computer. I would highly recommend this purchase). While the TI-89's CAS (computer algebra system) certainly puts a sparkle in the eye of any algebra student, being able to symbolically factor and multiply expressions, integrate, differentiate, and so on, it is not quite the greatest thing since sliced bread. The functionality of the 89's CAS, especially when it comes to symbolic integration, can be limited to the more simple, textbook-example types of problems. For example, try integrating (2*x^2+1)*e^(x^2)dx on the 89. It can't do it. In addition, the 89 lacks any kind of sequences and series functionality. These limitations on the CAS would make something like the H49G, with its powerful Erable-based CAS, more appropriate for professional users.

What the 89 lacks in built-in functionality, however, it makes up for in ease-of-use and expandability. One highly recommended (albeit expensive) software package for the TI-89 is the $30 Geometer's Sketchpad, available for download on the TI web site. The free Statistics upgrade is just about the finest statistics package I've seen on any calculator. And although the TI-89 lacks fancy, time-saving features such as the HP49's Reverse Polish Notation entry and Equation Writer, such features have been duplicated by calculator hackers and can be downloaded freely at volunteer sites such as ticalc.org.

The main reason that I refused the five-star rating to the TI-89 was TI's current lack of support for the platform. By this I mean support for those willing to program it, to extend its functionality. As far as I know, assembly entry points, a necessary bit of information needed to program the calculator in its most powerful language, have not yet been published. Programmers have to pay fees to release software apps for the calculator (by apps I mean flash upgrades, different from mere assembly programs). This closed nature of development severely limits the quality of the applications that may be developed for the calculator. Of course, this may change in the future, but for now the HP49 is clearly a better choice for anybody interested in a fully programmable, expandable calculator. Of course, to the average user, such things may have no direct meaning...

For the average student, I would highly recommend the TI-89. One word of advice, though: Use it to check your work, not to do it. I learned the hard way that depending on such a calculator for classwork for too long can lead to severe memory lapses when the time comes for that exam where the calculator _isn't_ allowed ;)

I'm a Senior Electrical Engineering student, and I've owned nearly the entire ti-8X line. Based on my expierince the ti-89 is worth the money for two distinct groups of people.
1) Lazy people. The 89, when used properly, does almost all of the Algebra that one would encounter in non-calculus based algebra class. It also does most of the calculus that one would see in their first three semesters of college calculus. Thanks to this machine I've forgotten huge amounts of the calculus that I once knew.
2) People who need its power. This calculator is almost neccesary for Electrical Engineering majors at my University. It can do impressive amounts of complex domain algebra, numeric differential equations, symbolic algebra and calculus etc.
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Who shouldn't buy this calculator?
1) People who aren't willing to learn how to use it, and don't need its power. The 89 is fairly intuitive, but still takes some getting used to. If you don't want to spend a nerdy afternoon learning to use your new investment, then you're cooler than me, and should get something cheaper.
2) Lazy People. It's really really tempting to not learn something in a Math class because your calculator can do the operation. In the long run you will get in trouble doing this and the 89 is a very tempting tool in the hands of the indolent.
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I must say that the TI-89 calculator is the best calculator currently available. The TI-89 is identical to the TI-92 Plus, except for that it comes in a vertical platform and it does not have the Geometry application. However, with the 89's flash memory, you will be able to obtain free downloads from the Internet to upgrade your calculator. Also, for a small charge, you will soon be able to download the CABRI-Geometry application for the 89, so the TI-89 is definetely a better purchase than the 92 (although it does not have the QWERTY keyboard, which in my opinion is worthless.) Some of the features of the 89:

* Statistics/List Editor (free app downloadable from ti.com) * Differential Equations * Symbolic Algebra/Calculus * Metric Units * Equation Solver * Function, Parametric, Polar Graphing * 3-D Graphing, Rotation, and Contours * Text Editor * Pretty Print (expressions appear exactly as they would on the chalkboard) ..and much more.

Other reviewers have discussed the pros and cons of this calculator's features. In this review I will discuss more practical considerations that argue for a less powerful calculator for classwork.

First, despite the fact that this calculator is acceptable for use on various college admissions tests (e.g., certain SAT II and AP exams), it may be banned for coursework (at least during tests). For example, the symbolic math capabilities may make the calculator too powerful for calculus and other math classes (for example, I cannot use my TI-89 in my linear algebra class). A TI-83 or TI-86 would generally not be considered too powerful.

Second, the varieties of the TI-83 seem to be the current classroom standard. Teachers tend to know this calculator and may demonstrate how to solve problems with the TI-83. You may be permitted to use a different calculator, but you may be on your own.

Third, while the TI-89 may be more powerful, various functions are harder to access than on a TI-83. For example, if you need to compute a common logarithm, it's a single keystroke on the TI-83 but only available through a menu on the TI-89. Similarly, the TI-83 has a single key to get to matrix functions, but for the TI-89 you enter a matrix using an application from the APPS key, and matrix operations are accessed through the MATH/Matrix menus.

Fourth, the TI-83 displays larger characters on the screen than the TI-89. This generally makes the TI-83 easier to read (but sometimes being able to fit more information on the screen improves readability).

The TI-89 is arguably a more powerful calculator than the TI-83 or TI-86. Consider whether that extra power is worth the extra cost, both monetary and other as described in this review. You may find the TI-83 provides all the functionality you need at a lower cost.

My rating of four stars is for those people who need its power. I do not rate it a five-star product because it is not as usable as it could be (there is a fixed, relatively small size for the displayed characters, and some common functions such as log should be easier to access).

This is the ultimate calculator (at least up to this point in time). Probably the nicest thing about the 89 is the ability to display the functions and eqations in the same format as they would appear written on paper. Additionally it, whenever possible, will give an exact answer in terms of mathematical constants like pi, e, and i, instead of the decimal approximation. For large answers like 75^76 the calculator has the ability to print out an exact answer up to several hundered places without having to resort to scientific notation. Add to these features such unheard of things for calculators as symbolic integration, taylor series expantion, a text editor (for scanning in the pages form your text book into), and even symbolic simultaneous equation solving. About the only thing i was really disapointed in with this calculator is the inability to solve functions such as ln(-1) which should be Pi*i. It was possible to compute this with earlier TI calculators. I cant see why they would take out that feature. But so much is built into this calculator that I actually learned some stuff from it. For instance it is possible to take the factorial of a number like Pi even though it is not an interger. Some other features of this wonderful calculator include 3d graphing, an unbeatable selection of games (including zelda and super mario brothers), built in assembly programming, a complete library of physical units and constants, and copy and paste features. I have owned the TI-85, TI-86 and now i have the TI-89. I make fun of all my friends who have the TI-83 because it looks like an abacas next to the 89. Trust me, this is the best calculator out there. It got me a 5 on the AP Calc and Physics Tests.

Don't let the 92's name affect your opinion of the 89. The keyboard is useless and geometry isn't that helpful unless your taking an advanced geometry course (post-High School). Well, with those features removed and the price dropped, this 89 is all that you will ever need. Don't get too addicted to it however; you've got to spend the time actually SOLVING the equations once in awhile. It becomes very easy to become over-dependant on the calculator, so you have to gauge yourself every once in awhile.

It's a good thing my Advanced Algebra + Functions teacher never let me use this mini-computer on any of his tests or quizzes. I'd be the first one finished but I'd never have the steps to prove I'd actually done it!

In Honors Pre Calc I actually get to use this, and most of my class has 82s or 83s, so they're stuck factoring and all that tedious stuff while I'm playing Tetris (the version that actually moves when you press the keys).

Games on this calc are phenomenal. There's a version of Final Fantasy 7 and of Street Fighter that are great! They take up lots of memory, but they show off the power of this calc quite conspicuously. Every website on TI-89 games has a large variety games...THEY'RE FREE!

Though the calculator is still a little expensive, it is a must-buy for high school honors math.

Check with your instructors if you plan to buy this calculator for use in math if you only wish to fill your degree requirement. Many instructors are aware of the power of this calculator and may not allow you to use it on tests. (This calculator is a portable answer key to anyone who knows how to use it.) If you plan to fill your math requirements and move on, maybe the Ti-83 may be better suited because it is cheaper yet still a good graphing calculator.
If you are in need of a portable math computer, or even portable math tutor this may be for you. It takes time to figure it out. The manual that comes with is a book, but it is an abridged version of the full manual, which is 600 pages. Once you get the hang of it (this could take days, weeks, or months), you may find that the format is so consistent that you don't need to consult the manual to learn new functions.
I have a second calculator to use on my calculus exams because this particular calculator is not allowed, but I find this to be a great answer key to even problems. I also use the algebra functions to break down calculus problems if I have trouble finding the answer on my own. To me the Ti-89 has saved itself its cost in solutions manuals - this is me and may not fit your study needs.
Since I keep 2 calculators, this one and a lesser calculator for may tests; I can see a vast difference. The Ti-89 is built mechanically as well as it is electronically. The display and format are very crisp and easy to use. Both my calculators get knocked around. My cheepy is dented a bit, but the Ti-89 is still like new. I've had this calculator for 8 months with continual use and the buttons are not even worn. If you use this calculator enough you may find yourself automatically using both your hands at once - this calculator is so fast and easy to use once you get the hang of it. The display gives an instant verification of your entry in a beautiful,easy-to-read format.