355 of 359 people found the following review helpful:
Great Calculator
Before I bought a TI-89 Titanium, I had used a TI-83 Plus for four years. After taking calculus and learning about limits, derivatives, integrals, infinite series, Taylor series, differential equations, and multivariable functions, I decided that I would look for a calculator which was capable of symbolic computation. After analyzing my options, I decided on a TI-89...
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
The Potential Was There but TI Didn't Deliver
After having used the TI-89 Titanium for a couple of years, I have discarded it for the older HP48GX. I have found that I prefer the Reverse Polish input of method of the HP but the TI-89 has a number of other problems.
1) Yes, it is a very powerful machine. However, Texas Instruments did not see fit to provide an Equation Writer: attempting to input...
This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
Before I bought a TI-89 Titanium, I had used a TI-83 Plus for four years. After taking calculus and learning about limits, derivatives, integrals, infinite series, Taylor series, differential equations, and multivariable functions, I decided that I would look for a calculator which was capable of symbolic computation. After analyzing my options, I decided on a TI-89 Titanium. The TI-89 Titanium is able to expand polynomials, factor polynomials, and do all of the calculus techniques that I mentioned -- symbolically and numerically. One of the other things I found helpful was the TI-89 Titanium's ability to plot direction fields using different algorithms (including Euler's method). One of the nicer things about this model (compared to the TI-89) is that it has USB connectivity (cord included) for installing applications and transferring data. Another nice thing is that it also supports connectivity to older model TI-89s via the old I/O port which is right next to the USB connector. I also found the "exact mode" very useful (exact mode will give you exact answers rather than decimal approximations). Yet, the most useful feature of this calculator is probably the "pretty print" feature which displays expressions as you would normally write them on paper. This feature allows you to easily see the expression that you typed in. All these features plus copy and paste ability make this calculator nearly perfect. My only complaint is that the cover does not initially slide on and off easily. However, I'm sure that with more use it will wear in. Overall this is a great calculator -- I recommend it
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
After using a TI-83 Plus calculator for the last 5 years, I decided to upgrade to the TI-89 Titanium. This calculator is unbelievable in its features and power. First of all, it is more suited for advanced math, such as calculus and beyond. This calculator is NOT meant for high schoolers who are taking algebra, geometry or trig classes. If you don't know what a derivative or an integral is, then save your money and buy a TI-84 instead. (Besides, I believe most high school math teachers ban the TI-89 on tests) This calculator can also run programs in its Flash memory, which can be downloaded from the TI website. A USB cable is included standard. TI has made the newly designed sliding cover much more secure than the old TI design (TI-83 plus, TI-86, TI-89 regular), whose sliding cover was not very secure and became looser over continued use. The cover is very hard to get off the first few times (I was almost afraid of breaking it off), but over time it has gotten easier. Switching over from the TI-83, the only problem I've encountered is the operation of this calculator is very different from the 83. The menus are different, the interface different, different buttons. It takes a while to get used to.
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
This is the most powerful scientific calculator in its class.
If you're majoring in Engineering, or plan to major it, then you must get this one (or regular Ti-89)
If you buy anything else for cheaper price, you'll have to spend $150 more to get this later anyway. (like me)
However if your Math class will end up in Calculus or Algebra(i.e. if you're not going to learn Diff. equation or harder), you don't really need this, you will just waste extra $70 for the features that you will never use (or features that aren't allowed to use in exam)
So think logically. It's really cool looking calculator and it got best software/hardware in the world.
But if one is going to use it for simple graphic or solving polynomial equations, then it's really like simulating windows and playing Doom3 on NEC Earth Simulator..
Used Ti-83 will do as good for those..
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
Pros:
- The display has a Pretty Print option (default), which is very helpful when inputting long formulas.
- Great for Statistics, which is why I bought it in the first place since that is my major in college.
Cons:
- This is important if you are a college student. The math and statistics books all refer to the TI-83 when explaining how to perform the calculations using a calculator. So while the teacher is talking out loud walking the students step by step on how to perform a calculation, you're sitting there with the most powerful calculator in the class and out of luck. Then you have to scramble flipping thru the menu items to match the menu path of the TI-83, AND you're trying to learn the math at the same time. That happened to me in a statistics class and that wasn't fun at all! So be prepared for the inevitable; this is your warning. I recommend you study the upcoming textbook chapter ahead of time and learn how to perform those functions before you get to class.
- PDF files exist to explain the Flash applications loaded on the TI-89 Titanium. Unfortunately they are not easily found on the TI website. To get the PDF's, you have to follow the menu path as if you want to download the application. Then on the web page where you download the application, the PDF is there. TI should have also have placed the PDF in the "Documentation" section of the website. If I had not updated the application, I would not have known the PDF existed. Make sure you download the PDF for the TI-89 Titanium, not the PDF for the TI-89. Some functions are different. For statistics, be sure to download the PDF "Statistics with List Editor Guidebook For TI-89".
General:
- I did the Operating System upgrade, but with a few bumps along the way. For example, I have Windows XP Pro SP2 on my PC and it doesn't recognize the driver when plugging in the USB cable. TI knows this and is part of the calculator-to-PC connection instructions on their website. So you'll have to uninstall the driver and then let Windows search for a driver. Eventually Windows found it but I got a horrific message saying the "Microsoft strongly recommends you backup before installing..." In fact, Windows set a System Restore point before installing the driver. The driver worked but why can't TI certify that driver with Microsoft so that message will not scare the heck out of the average user?
- Make sure you register before beginning the OS upgrade. You need to register to get any of the downloads, so do it as soon as you get the calculator.
- You'll notice that the dates listed in the "About..." menu in some of the Flash applications are almost the same as the dates listed on the TI website. Don't bother to download those because the applications are the same version. Don't know why TI lists a different date on the web page from the date displayed in the "About..." menu in some of the applications.
Hope all this helps,
George
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
After having used the TI-89 Titanium for a couple of years, I have discarded it for the older HP48GX. I have found that I prefer the Reverse Polish input of method of the HP but the TI-89 has a number of other problems.
1) Yes, it is a very powerful machine. However, Texas Instruments did not see fit to provide an Equation Writer: attempting to input complex equations on the Command Line is a real PITA. Once you get the equation input, you will see it displayed in "Pretty Print" which means that it now looks like a written equation but you can't do that in the first place.
2) The TI-89 Ti is not programmed out of the box to handle vectors. The target market has to include a lot of engineering students that would like that feature. The HP48GX on the other hand, with a push of a button can give me the dot product, cross product, magnitude, etc, etc.
3) Without an Equation Writer, the syntax to get differentials, integrals, etc takes some getting used to.
4) The manual supplied with the calculator is terse to the point of being cryptic in showing how to input more advanced mathematical techniques. However, that seems to be an industry wide problem because of the costs of producing and printing paper manuals.
5) The contrast with the silver gray background and the blue and yellow lettering for the secondary and tertiary functions is poor. Additionally, the letters are very small and difficult to see in the first place.
6) The contrast of the screen sucks! If you're the wrong side of 40 and wearing bifocals, good luck in trying to read a dialog box. TI should have also provided a magnifying glass.
Over-all, this is a very powerful calculator and some of the problems can be corrected with add-on programs. But...my decade-old HP48GX has features that TI did not see fit to put on a more "modern" machine. The TI-89 Ti has the horsepower but it is not harnessed effectively.
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
The TI-89 titanium is a very good calculator.
I also own a HP-49G and the TI is way better; the interface is so well defined... it's almost as a desktop.
Compare that to the HP-49G... it's like the command-line interface!
There are a couple of but's though:
First of all, the "2nd" labels on top of the keys are in a soft blue, almost unreadable. This is a very big design flaw.
Second, I don't like the screen a lot. Sure, it's large. Sure, you can set contrast. But if you are looking at it from an angle, it stinks. You can't set high contrast when looking it from an angle, as it just makes things worse. And believe me: if you work with an calculator, nine out of ten times you will be looking at the screen from an angle.
Lastly, why does TI refuse to put in a proper equation editor? The HP has one, and I find it personally very helpfull.
Sure, you can buy an add-on for $15 from TI. And yes, there are freeware equation writers too. So why not give it away then?
Concluding: don't get me wrong. This calculator is a very good performer, and I think the best that money can buy. Just wish they would have made it perfect...
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
I was debating whether to get a Ti-84 Plus or the Ti-89 Titanium. Most of you are probably in the same situation. Of course, with the Ti-89 Titanium is it more money, but the extra features include a bigger resolution, more RAM and ROM, and much more. I decided to get the Ti-89 Titanium -- and I don't regret it at all.
This is a power house. Plug in any calculus question, it will give you the answer. It will also show you steps on how to solve it. This is great for AP Calculus. Not only is it allowed, but gives an advantage over other calculators. It's worth the extra $20 to buy this. If you're into engineering or math, it is a must.
Cons that people see:
- The low contrast screen: I'll admit from comparing the other calculators, it is lower. However the difference is very little. It never bothered me at all.
- The colours on the keys: You can see them fine. I never had a problem with them.
You won't regret buying this.
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
This calculator is a little wonder. Its most impressive feature is the symbolic algebra capability (the feature which lacks in TI-83) which allows one to factor and expand algebraic and trigonometric functions, solve quadratic equations, systems of equations, perform matrix manipulation, etc. I even think that it is a little dangerous for a high school student to have a calculator which such possibilities since at least half of algebra, trigonomtery, and calculus homework can be simply solved on this calculator without ever learning how to do this on paper. Mastering the calculator is time-consuming. The paper manual enclosed with the calculator is outright poor, but fortunately TI offers an extended version of the manual on their web site. Actually, there seem to be at least two versions of the manual, both from TI. One can be downloaded from the link on the Amazon page (scroll to the top of this page), the second one directly from the TI web site - go to http://education.ti.com, click on Support, and then on Guidebooks. Both of these electronic manuals are very good. The speed of the processor is sufficient in most cases, although graphing with small step size may take very long time.
The drawbacks of the calculator are obvious and almost every reviewer has already complained about them - second and third functions of the buttons are labelled in barely visible colors; the display lacks in contrast.
Aside from these minor things, the capabilities of this calculator are very impressive.
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
I saw many reviewers for advanced math and engineering. I just want to add that it is also very good for stat and finance. It can be calculated with almost (I'm saying this because I haven't tried every single one yet ;-) every calculation with this TI-89. The plus side is that it has bigger screen and we can change any value anytime without starting over... especially good for multiple problems solving.
At first, I intendeded to purchase TI-BAII+ required by the professor but decided to trade this TI-89 Titanium with my old original TI-89. Both have flash applications for Statistics with List Editor and Finance as well as Data/Metrix Editor. For finance, you can get PV, FV, i, PMT, NPV, IRR, etc.
You can also download guide books from TI's website. This is a life saver for most business classes.... I used TI-89 from advanced algebra, pre- and calculus, fin & managerial accounting, economics, 2 statistics, and financial management... 10 courses altogether ;-) And this IT-89 costs about the same price of a business text book! Of course, you'll need to know the concepts and how to use this calculator first.
If you're wondering which one to choose between original TI89 and this new Titanium, I recommend original if you've vision problem. Original TI89 has deep purple and dark blue colors for "2nd" and "diamond" keys. This new one has very pale blue and light green keys, hard to look at if you need combination keys. SO do for "the fonts" and "alpha" key. As the manufacturer mentioned, this one has more memory and can be used USB cable.
Just a tip for the two reviewers below and others about fraction and decimal switching (.25 - 1/4 switching) :
Reviewer: MaxiMiner and Reviewer: cool dude (Stockholm)
Just use a "period" between the calculation (if you have all whole numbers) and you'll see decimals in the result without changing the "mode" you preferred. If you have any decimals between the calculations, you'll automatically see decimals. It works for every graphing calculator. I got that tip from a Math Lab Asst. in my algebra lab.
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This review is from: Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator (Electronics)
This calculator is simply brilliant. In my work I have yet to find an integral I could throw at it that trips it up, and the decomposition and factoring capabilities save me a lot of time. The calculator comes with lots of extra programs you can load at your discretion for free.
The biggest problem to me is the documentation. In the days of my youth (stone tablets) software packages came in big boxes with lots of luscious books (sorry, trees). I remember an earlier calculator I got in the 80's that had a great 150 page book called, "Computing with the Scientific Calculator". Now, an infinitely more complex calculator has a manual that's not much bigger and much less helpful. They have lots of info on the accompanying CD, but you've got to go all over the place to get what you need and you've got to read it on a screen rather than a page. In a machine as complicated as this, the documentation is as much of the product as the actual calculator, and TI could do a lot better in this regard.
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