TI-89 is an amazing calculator. With TI-89, you can enter any formula you want and solve for any variable in the formula without rewriting the formula for each variable. That is even more powerful than a spreadsheet. I find this very helpful as I can solve for any variable at anytime. It provide us with basic graphing, differential graphing, sequence graphing, 3D graphing, data/matrix editor, statistics and data plots, numeric solver, split screen, standard zoom features, connectivity with computers and calculators. The CBL 2 (calculator based laboratory) and CBR (calculator based ranger) systems offers static and real world data collection. Using Ti-presenter video adapter we can connect the Ti – 89 to video display/recording devices, such as TVs, VCRs, video cameras, and computer projectors. I think it is one of the most powerful calculator ever built.
All this seems very neat and clean but there is one catch that makes these amazing features little foggy, “The use of these applications”. Yes, it is indeed true we can do wonders with this calculator but we have to learn the use of this special machine which is like climbing a mountain covered with snow. I was very astonished by the work of engineers who have designed this machine. It is really a master piece but the work they have done on manual, which will help all those will use it, is surprisingly disappointing. The problems are handled in this manual have only complicated the use of Ti-89.
The first problem with this calculator, that I faced, was solving algebraic equations. When I looked into the manual in order to find a solution to my problem I was astonished by work of manual writers. Everything in that manual looked like Arabic to me. I was looking for the solution and I ended up in another problem. This manual has been written in a way expecting that you will start reading from the start and then move forward. Incase you have to find a solution to a particular problem you are asking for trouble as it will be mentioning some things that it assumes that you already have read. In my case I have to go back and forth in the ion order to find solution for just a simple thing like solving an algebraic equation.
Secondly, I was not able to understand the multiple graph features on Ti-89. I was looking for some help in my manual and I was disappointed again as the manual was so elaborative in this particular area that I almost spent three hours just to figure out how to get a simple graph on my screen. But the problem was still persisting as I have spent three more hours to find out how to get the multiple graphs on the same screen.
Moreover there is answer to some problems in the manual but not a single word on how to deal with error messages. I was solving the matrix using the Ti-89 but it was giving me some weird errors. I tried consulting the manual but my experience was not so good again as there was nothing at all in the manual handling the errors. This was really an upset as the error message is prompted by the calculator so there must be something which was wrong with my usage of calculator. The help for the error message is must for any manual.
In the end, I will like to say that TI-89 is becoming the important ingredient of engineering and even non-engineering majors. If students start using this calculator from high school or starting of the college, they will be master till they become sophomore or junior year students and it will help them. It will do all kind of calculation on the students will and save time during the exam. The popularity of this amzing instrumeny is increasing by every passing day and support system for this that is the manual and online help both are not that competitive at this time. This machine can do wonders if it is properly used as I have mentioned in my introduction.
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