Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator
by Texas Instruments
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium Graphing Calculator
Customer Review: The power of this calculator is unreal
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to actually using this product, I wouldn't have been able to imagine such a wealth of features being incorporated into a single hand-held device. It's the most powerful calculator I've ever seen, and even 6 months after my initial purchase of it I still occasionally discover useful and shockingly-advanced functions I didn't even realize it had.
For higher-level mathematics (undergraduate level calculus and beyond) it's just too useful for words to describe. I've been using similar models all the way back to the TI-82 (that's not a typo, I do mean the TI-82), and despite having become familiar with Texas Instruments' powerful graphing calculators, the TI-89 still blew my mind.
The flipside of this truly impressive device is that it's just overkill for basic applications. You just don't need the incredible power of this calculator for anything but serious engineering or other fields that deal with advanced mathematics; if you're not a science or engineering student, you may well be better off with a less costly and less complicated model. If, however, you have a use for such things as symbolic equation manipulation/solving and parametric/polar/differential/3D graphing (among an endless list of other capabilities), this is THE calculator for you.
Customer Review: It's almost unfair...
Summary: 4 Stars
Currently I'm not in a calculus class, but I will soon enough. It's incredibly powerful. Anything you think it can do, it probably can. Sometimes its a bit TOO advanced, sometimes you just want a simple answer. This won't solve all your problems though, you still have to use your brain and think. It looks pretty awesome although the size is a bit ridiculous for a calculator (even though it's more like a computer). The buttons are nicely laid out and have a good feel to them. Theres a bit too many "shift" functions though (there's like 3). There are an incredibly large amount of pixels on this screen, I'd say about 4-5 pixels for every pixel on the screen of a TI-83 or 84.
The main downsides are that this is much too pricey, making it even worse if this gets stolen (I've already had 2 of my friends lose theirs). Also, the learning curve is incredibly steep, you can spend an entire year or two using it for various classes and not even know everything it can do. First party apps are also not very abundant and are mainly academic based resource apps, rather than general utility apps that I find awesome.
All in all, this is a big commitment, its not perfect but its still boss. This is one of the strongest calculators on the market so think carefully.
Customer Review: Surprisingly easy to use calculator
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this calculator and also got the TI-89 Dummies book because I was intimated by what I had seen from this calculator and expected it to be hard to get used to with a steep learning curve. Immediately after receiving it, I loaded the four *included* Duracell AAA batteries (I wish I had known they were included) and went straight to my Probability & Statistics class. Even without ever touching a graphing calculator before (I used to do all my Math with a Casio scientific calculator), the interface felt almost second nature to me, and I say "almost" because I had to ask a friend a few questions regarding the way it gave me certain answers.
I highly recommend getting the TI-89 Dummies book, because it has eased me greatly at figuring out how to do certain advanced calculations without having to research too much on them (the ~280 pages manual included is not particularly helpful sometimes). Finally, I also love how all the connectivity cables I'll ever need are already included (that's a TI to TI cable and an USB TI to PC one).
Customer Review: Good calculator but can't use for National Engineering and Surveying exams
Summary: 4 Stars
I agree that the TI 89 Titanium is a good calculator. I use several for labs that I teach using Vernier Technologies LabPro interfaces. They are a good alternative to using a laptop for outside experiments.I also have a personal one because so many of my students have them( or other TI calculators) I also have a couple of other TI calculators I bought at my universities lost and found sale.
Of course I also have a HP50G calculator too.
As far a sturdiness is concerned, I have to agree that they do not make TI or any other calculator a well as they used to.
The TI51.52,58 59 and all the older HP products were built like tanks.
My HP25C and my TI 59 and HP41CX still work. I did have to rebuild the battery packs, but the LED and LCD displays still work OK.
I must warn all you Engineering students that the 89 as well as many other calculators are not allowed on the National Engineering exams or Surveying exams.
Here at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga most of the engineering faculty do not allow any of the banned machines for their exams either.
I am in the Physics Department and as far as I know the only calculator policy we have is that no cell phone calculators are allowed.
Customer Review: Wow.
Summary: 5 Stars
So today I just got my new TI-89 Titanium. Now, I've written a review for TI-89 way back in 1998 when I bought my first one and was impressed back then.
So, why go to TI-89 Titanium when I have a perfectly functional TI-89? Why not? I had the money, I got a pretty penny selling my used TI-89 in prestine shape, and I love toys. I'm an enginerd, it's what we do.
What floored me was when I turned it on. All the coveted programs I wanted for my TI-89 in undergrad school, but couldn't afford are now FREE and preloaded with the Titanium. Also, speed speed speed. You ever run a rootfinder equation with more than 4 outcomes? Well, TI-89 was sooooo slow. Powerful. But slow. It could take literally minutes, sometimes causing a lock-up. With the beefed up ROM, well, it's fast. Plus, turning it on, it looks like a PDA for mathematicians.
I guess it's not the greatest review because I just got it and played a little bit. If you are an engineer, you'll love it. If you're not, well, it's very powerful and you probably don't need it. Now, with all these improvements, I wish they would make it in color like Matlab or Maple. No real necessity, but it's just something for TI to think about.