New calculator - no tsure where to put this 3

[SperlingPE]

I am in the market for a new calculator.
It has been several years since I purchased my current calculator and it is starting to decline.
So I have been doing some looking around when I have time and I ran across Texas Intruments Nspire series calculators.

Has anyone used these?
Are they more for the student than for real world use?
I have the basics from TI's web site but I have more questions.

Can you really do yor calculations on your calculator and save them and then down load to your computer?
Fully programmable?
There are some functions that if they work like I think they do would be nice.

 

[271828]

The 50g looks intriguing

I had one for about four months. It's an extremely powerful calculator. For me, it was similar to the 48 except much faster (like if you enter a symbolic algebraic expression to simplify, for example), but was slower for day-to-day calcs. The enter key is in the wrong place and the keys are stiff and with a long travel distance. After three or four months, I was still making a lot more calculator errors than with the 48, so I sold it and bought a 35s. If you don't mind the keys, you might like it a lot.

 

[sasa2k]

I recently bought HP15C on e-bay. Probably the best calculator ever. You can check here:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp15.htm

I also have new 35s that I like but I don't use any programing capabilities. I think now days that's completely redundant.

 

[PEinc]

Good. 21 responses and not one addresses or answers the original question.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[271828]

Texas Intruments Nspire series calculators.Has anyone used these?

Just for PEinc's sake, surely someone used one of these somewhere on the Earth, so "yes." LOL! Sorry, just giving you a hard time.

To answer the intended question: I can only speak for myself: No.

Are they more for the student than for real world use?

Looks to be geared toward students, but you've probably spent more time researching the subject than I have. I watched a demo video when they first came out and came away thinking I'd never want one. I'm an HP fan, though, so am biased. If HP came out with one with similar features, I still wouldn't want it.

Can you really do yor calculations on your calculator and save them and then down load to your computer?Fully programmable?

I'm sure the HP50g can do this. It's unbelievably powerful, has USB connection, etc. I have actually thought about developing a vibration spectrum analyzer with the 50g as the base, and have no doubt it could easily handle the FFTs, IFFTs, digital filtering, etc. etc. that would be required. Someone's probably done that by now--last time I looked was 2-3 years ago.

 

[connectegr]

Another vote for HP 48GX. I even have apps for my iPad and iPhone that emulate the 48GX keyboard. Got to give TI credit though. Most of my young engineers learned the TI keystrokes in high school and are loyal customers.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

 

[IRstuff]

"21 responses and not one addresses or answers the original question."

?? see my response stamped 29 Jul 11 12:26

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[ToadJones]

since the thread has been somewhat derailed, I'll also mention that I am on the RPN bandwagon and have been using an HP48G for yrs.
I pray nothing ever happens to it.

I know the 48G was not allowed onthe PE test when I took it so I used an HP33s. It can be switched back and forth from RPN to standard. Theres no stack. So as I studied for PE and in my everyday work for about 3 months, I used the 33s in order to get used to it.

I'd say once you get used to RPN, you'll never go back

M^2-
Your bro-in-law have any 48G or 48GX laying around?

 

[dik]

Toad... Did HP quit making the 48G/48GX?

Dik

 

[ToadJones]

I don't think they have made them for a long time.
I tried to buy one about a yr ago b/c I thought mine was toast.
I almost passed out when I saw how much they were begin sold for online.

 

[271828]

dik, they stopped making the 48 many years ago. They made the 49 for a few years (heard lots of negative reviews) and then started making the 50g about five years ago. It's still their flagship powerful graphing calculator.

The 48 can be had online for a reasonable price. It doesn't (yet LOL) have the cult following of the 10, 15, 32, and 42.

 

[dik]

Thanks... got 48G amd 48GX... both working well (one for office and one at home)... also carry TI in laptop bag... guess you can't have too many calculators. Didn't realise they were that old...

I liked my old 42S, smaller... and lamented the day it gave up... tried to buy a new one without success... guess the same thing will happen with the 48's...

Dik

 

[connectegr]

Do people still use the programming features of their calculator?

I am a HP RPN believer, and remember my 41CV and the magnetic memory cards with hours of programming prep. My dad got one before me, and it was revolutionary, his first "computer". And I remember programming my 48SX for all my engineering classes. I have a few programs on my 48GX, but my calculator has almost been entirely replaced my computer, and MathCad. I use my calculator to, balance my checkbook, check other peoples calcs, and to calculate the geometry of brace frames.

Someone else mentioned the HP 49. It stinks, I had great expectations and was very disappointed. I still have a few 41CV's. I bought 10 from a closing engineer office 15 years ago, because I could not imagine working without them.

Now these programmable calculators are not allowed in the PE exams.

I have a display on my wall of my dad's slide-rules. I should display the 41CV and accessories. And maybe the 48's in a few years. Maybe my kids will display my iPad and laugh about it too.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

 

[connectegr]

Oh, and in response to the original post...

Get yourself a simple scientific calculator, and a nice laptop computer.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

 

[Teguci]

Now, in order to continue to not answer the OP, the fancy TI NSpire has the following issues:
1. Color Screen - Might be good for games but I have never needed (wanted?) color for my calculator.
2. Digital imaging - I can't think of a reason to have this.
3. Rechargable battery - TI says it will last 2 weeks with normal use. AAA batteries in my calculator last longer.
4. Calculate in style - No really, this is one of the features TI states on their site. "The ladies will really dig you with this on your hip!" (I made that quote up)
5. 3D graphing - Never used this for my calculator for engineering.

I stated above that I am hooked on RPN. How numbers are inputted is very critical to error checking while I am calculating on a calculator. In the past, using the standard input methodology, I have produced more errors. I have a higher powered HP for the use of simplifying complicated Integrals and matrices in rare circumstances. Excepting those situations, I think I'd prefer having a simpler, RPN calcualtor not a more complicated TI with bells and whistles.

 

[Spartan5]

You should go old school geek and get a vintage TI-92. I'm still rocking the one I bought back in 1996. There is something about the way in which it displays inputs/equations (i.e. "natural display") and its powerful solver that keep it within arms reach on my desk. For quick and dirty work, I rely on my Casio FX-115 that I used on the PE. I don't trust my touch screen cell calcs one bit as it seems way to easy to wind up with input errors.

 

[IRstuff]

1. Color Screen - The color screen on the CX is a direct fallout of having a backlight. The nSpire monochrome screen is often difficult to read. The backlit display is REALLY nice, particularly for my old eyes. I've got both an original CAS and a regular CX, and the CX display is way easily to read.

2. Digital imaging - It's probably documentation, since the intent is to use the calculator for notations, explanations, etc.

3. Rechargable battery - Only had it for about 3 weeks, but haven't used it quite to the level of "normal," but it's still claiming 100% battery charge

4. Calculate in style - Yeah, that works GREAT! not...

5. 3D graphing - I think that depends on what type of engineering. There are a variety of disciplines where 3D graphing of say, laser beam profiles, is nearly mandatory.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[BAretired]

I blew the budget in the early seventies when I bought an HP 67 programable calculator with the magnetic memory cards. If I recall correctly, the price was $1,008 which seemed a bit much for a hand held calculator. However, I wanted it and spent many late hours devising little programs to use in my practice. I still have it hidden away in my archives. The magnetic card reader ceased to function years ago. Until then, I thought I was really using cutting edge technology.

Oh and by the way, I too am a fan of RPN. It seems a shame that there are no new calculators using it.

Here is a short blurb on the HP 67.

http://www.vaxman.de/my_machines/hp/67/67.html

BA

 

[IRstuff]

Yeah, what's up with those HP card readers? My card reader attachment on my 41C is likewise tango-uniform. Well, kind of unclear whether it really is, since I haven't convinced myself to get a new battery, and there's not enough power coming from the battery and charger to run the card reader, although it seems to give a good college try.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[IDS]

I haven't used a calculator for work purposes for years.

I can understand why people would like to have a calculator for quick simple calculations (although I find even those are easier done on a spreadsheet), but what is the benefit of doing complex calculations on a calculator, rather than a computer?

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/

 

[IRstuff]

I don't think there's necessarily a benefit. The primarily desire, at least for me, is to have something that'll fit in my pocket that does what I want. Ideally, I'd like a copy of Mathcad running on my iPod.

As iPad-like devices get more capable, or laptop/notepads get smaller, they will eventually be capable of running Mathcad directly, and that'll be the end of the matter for me. Right now, I've got an HP emulator and SMath Studio on my pocket PC, but the display is awfully dinky, and the controls are awkward. If either could run on an iPod Touch, that might end things right there.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize