Need help with calculators

[Breezy_Carol]

I have 2 kids in high school. We already have a TI-83 plus. We need to purchase another one because both kids need one in class. It has been suggested that we get the TI-83 plus Silver Edition. I can get the regular TI-83+ at Target for $89 and a $10 gift card back. The Silver Edition is $128.88 at Staples, but they are out of it.

My questions:

1) If you have any experience with these 2 calculators, is the Silver worth the extra money?

2) Where else can I shop for calculators like these?

Thanks for your help.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Check online and then also check to see fi the place that you are looking at has any internet specials like free shipping, etc.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here are the 'extras'......

http://gottagetyourown.com/extras.html

My experience is to go with what the school/teacher requests. If just the 83, go with it. It is a time tested standard calc in school, been around forever.

If you go to http://ebates.com, sign up and then go to Office Depot from within ebates, you will pay $89 for calc, get a $20 discount applied to the total, because of Ebates, get a $5 rebate from Office Depot, free shipping and a 2% rebate added to your account from Ebates. I really like Ebates, if I can use them, works great. If you have a hard time finding all those discounts, etc, email me.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

From the TI-83 Instruction Manual:

About the TI-83 Plus and
TI-83 Plus Silver Edition:

The TI-83 Plus Silver Edition is the same as the TI-83 Plus except:

· it has more memory, and thus more spaces for calculator
software applications (APPS).
· it has a processing speed that is 2.5 times faster than the
TI-83 Plus.

Since all the functions of the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition and the
TI-83 Plus are the same, both manuals can be used for either the
TI-83 Plus or the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition.

So... it depends on what the calculator will be used for. Who suggested the silver... the school or the store? What do your kids plan on doing after high school? If they're going into fields like Engineering, I'd be very tempted to go with the better calculator as the extra features will eventually likely be quite useful. If they might end up eventually wanting the more expensive one anyway, it's cheaper to get it to start with. If the calculator is likely going to be used while in high school only, then the regular one might be fine. Especially if the calculator won't even be used for loading applications onto it! Do they use it for a LOT of graphing, in that the faster processing would be really useful?

I'm in my last year of Engineering so I have a fair bit of experience with programmable graphing calculators, but not specifically Texas Instruments (I'm an HP girl ), so not I'm familiar with this calculator specifically. However, from what I've read on various web sites, the increased processing speed really does make quite a difference, especially in graphing. Does your first child notice that graphing is slow on the regular? If so, this could be a great upgrade then.

Another difference I found not listed there was that it appears as though the TI-Graph Link for Windows is included with the Silver, but not the regular, since it sells as an extra with the regular for $19.99 online. I really love the fact that I can connect my calculator to my computer... it's been really useful in a few courses. Not sure that would be as useful in high school though, I just don't know. If you never bought a cable for the first calculator, it might even be compatable with both calculators and that would take 19.99 off the difference of the price right there.

I found the TI-83 Silver on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...34414-9715006?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
Reviews are listed there too... it really starts to sell you on the silver, LOL!

This calculator will be just as "tried and true" as the regular TI-83 plus because it *is* the same calculator, and won't be any different to operate, but has these extra features as well. So I wouldn't go with the regular just because it's "known" and works well, since that part of it doesn't change.

So I started off writing this post thinking that "it probably didn't much matter" and now I'm definitely swaying over to the Silver side... realizing the extra power and capabilities that the Silver offers. HOWEVER... if those extra features won't be used... then of course it's a waste of money. The faster processing, 10 times the memory space and a computer cable would totally sell me on this calculator over the other one, but on the other hand, the basic one might be just fine for their purposes. To me I'd base it on how long you figure they'll use this calculator for and if they'll continue using it past high school when they're more likely to need the upgrades.

Wow... I wrote A LOT. Whoops, hehe! I was just going to quote you the manual, then I got interested and started researching the calculator! LOL! Anyway, good luck with your decision and have fun with the new calculator! (LOL, I'm using fun and calculator in the same sentence... you could tell that I'm in Engineering even if I hadn't mentioned that above ) Let us know what you decide!


............And PS... I know this shouldn't really be a deciding factor... but how cool does this look! ...

 

[LisaTx]

We went with the Silver Plus Edition for all of the reasons that #1 Disney Fan listed. He may not use all of the features right now, but they are there whenever he needs them.

Our school only required the 83 plus, but highly recommended the silver edition.

 

[jsmith]

From experience-if either student will be taking Calculus or Physics later in HS buy a TI-89-they cost about $149.99-but you will need one later and they do everything the 83 does and then some. I bought the 83+ for my oldest-then had to spend another 150 for the 89. He took his to college with him but the little brother is going to get an 89 right out of the box so I don't have to do it twice

 

[sharbear]

I think like the last poster we went with the TI-89 just because he'll need it later and who wants to spend another $130+.

My DH is an engineer (he's a HP guy too!). He bought his calculator in HS and used it for the next 20 years. I guess his mom got her money's worth! He finally got a new calculator about 5 years ago because of the graphing capabilities. I know that it seems a lot to spend on a calculator but you do use it.

I would upgrade to the silver package also. You might want to have a talk with the Calculus teacher or head of the math department to see which calculator will take him through HS and beyond.

Our school uses TI calculator's but my DH prefer's HP's. Does anyone know why schools favor one over the other?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Thanks for all your help.

I had emailed DD's teacher and she suggested the Silver. I was able to get it at Walmart for $107. Just in time too, both kids are fighting over the 83+ we have. They will have to work out who gets which. DD is a senior taking AP stats. DS is a sophomore taking a special honors trig/stats/precalc class and physics. I think DD will get the Silver but DS may get it next year because he is more math/science oriented and DD likes English/history.

And now to date myself. I didn't have a calculator in high school, I had a slide rule.