TI 84 help

[CSACANNONEER]

So, I need to pick up a TI 84 for my stepson to use in his physics class. Being more of a HP and RPN guy, I don't know anything about these. I was just going to do a buy now off ebay (to use money tied up in paypal) but, there seem to be a few different packages. Does anyone know what the difference between the plus and the silver editions are? Which pakage will really be the best investment in the long run? Let's assume that he actually goes to college and is able to use the same calculator. I'd rather not waste money but, I don't mind spending more now to save having to buy twice. I'd like to order one today or tomorrow.

[LDSGJimbo]

For most college students any of the TI-80s will work fine. For the general education math and any non-technical or business majors you won't need any of the special editions. From my experience as a recent college grad.

[Tom Slick]

I graduated from college a couple years ago (late bloomer, I'm 35) and my wife is a high school and college math teacher. Our recommendation is either TI-84 is fine and be careful buying anything other than what is common (TI-84 is currently common). The TI-84 is going to cover 99% of everything he's going to do even in college. If college work requires something different then he probably shouldn't use that calculator now.

My experience: (models are now outdated)
I own a TI-86 but the TI-83 was common then. The TI-86 had some better features than the TI-83 but was setup (menus, etc) differently than the TI-83 when you get into advanced stuff. All of the other students and the teachers knew the TI-83 well, but not the TI-86 so I sometimes struggled finding the correct function in the TI-86. The lessons and books were setup around TI-83 functions and once in awhile those functions were not in the TI-86. Also the TI-86 didn't have full statistics functions but the TI-83 did.

My point? If you buy a TI-89 or other more advanced calculator instead of the TI-84 he might be on his own to learn to use it.

BTW a new TI-84 costs less than my TI-86 did 13 years ago but the TI-84 has many more features.

[cheesyhybrid]

I am a AP math and AP physics teacher. All the packages get you are some built in programs such as SAT questions or maybe even a cable that can connect it to a computer. Probably not worth your money. In fact the ti 83 and 84 are pretty much identical if you dont plan on connecting it to your computer. A ti 89 is good, but it is not as easy to use, especially in a statistics class.
I was a math major and never used any calculator in college. Most things were more proofs and pencil and paper or we used computer software.

[hunteran]

If your son is even remotely interested in pursuing a major in any sort of engineering when he gets to college, bite the bullet and get the Ti89. Sure, its a little trickier to use but its a freaken calculator, its not rocket science. Its FAR more capable than the Ti83 or Ti84.

[CSACANNONEER]

I think he should stick with an 84 for now. It's what his teacher has and niether he nor his teacher is a rocket scientist. He doesn't want to have to learn how to use it on his own. He's not that motivated right now. Anyway, with all the different 84 packages on the market, which one is the best buy? Is there anything special or different about the Silver? Is the "plus" that much better than a plain 84?

[twoforme2]

We just had the same decision to make for the second time...The first time we chose the neither, we bought the TI Nspire. That kid has stated he never uses the other keyboard...only the TI84 keyboard. So when it came to the second kid needing one we decided on the TI84plus but were met with the decision of the two models

The difference between the TI-84 plus and the TI-84 plus silver edition is the Silver edition has more memory for storing programs (SAT practice questions, etc.), and the silver edition comes in other colors with changeable faceplates if they want a different color. The other difference is the Silver edition costs a couple bucks more. Check out the TI Site it is amazing what calculators can do nowadays.
FWIW we bought the silver edition

[twoforme2]

I think he should stick with an 84 for now. It's what his teacher has and niether he nor his teacher is a rocket scientist. He doesn't want to have to learn how to use it on his own. He's not that motivated right now. Anyway, with all the different 84 packages on the market, which one is the best buy? Is there anything special or different about the Silver? Is the "plus" that much better than a plain 84?

There is no TI-84 only the TI-84plus and the TI-84 plus Silver Edition

[Eddy's Shooting Sports]

Many years ago I made the mistake of trying to use an HP48 in a class where the teacher used the TI82. You spend so much time trying figure out the calculator, you lose track of what you are supposed to be learning. This especially true when the teacher uses a projector with their calculator.

[joefrank64k]

The main difference between the Ti-84 Plus and Silver is that the Silver comes with more apps preloaded, more memory, and you can change the faceplate color. Either one will be more than enough for college. The Silver, in theory, should perform faster due to increased ROM, but my Plus never let me down.

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy anything other than a Ti-83 or 84...the tests, the workbooks, and the lesson plans are developed especially for the 83/84 keyboard layout. You mentioned that he's not that motivated right now, he will become even less motivated when he has to map out his own keystrokes, in addition to learning the basic math concepts from class. Not fun!

Here's a comparison chart that should lay it out for you:

http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/nonProductSingle/graphing_course_comparision.html

TI only makes the "plus" versions currently, so if the 84 you're looking at is not a "plus" it might be old stock.

EDIT: The Plus is going for $112.97 shipped from Amazon.

[cjskalka]

TI-89 FTW

[Datdarkness]

i use a Ti-84 plus silver edition.. they do the same thing, an 84 is an 84..
has taken me through ap physics, ap stats, so going strong in ap calculus bc..

the calculator will outlast him to his 30's... my teacher still uses his OLD ti from when he was in college

[pbchief2]

Being HP/RPN centric myself, I bought my son an TI84 plus. Now I'm learning to use it with him. Still check my work with a 35s or 48gx though.

[CSACANNONEER]

Thanks everyone. I ordered an 84 Silver for him (NIP fir $114.50 shipped). If it was for me, I would have gone for the 89 but, his teachers all use 84s and he needs to learn physics more than he needs to teach himself how to use a different tool than everyone else. If he truely needs an 89 later, I'll buy him one of those too.

[Satex]

Many years ago I made the mistake of trying to use an HP48 in a class where the teacher used the TI82. You spend so much time trying figure out the calculator, you lose track of what you are supposed to be learning. This especially true when the teacher uses a projector with their calculator.

I absolutely despise the new generation of "math" teachers that waste student's time by teaching them how to push buttons on a calculator. None of my teachers spent a minute on a calculator because they were too busy teaching us math. We were taught that a calculator is a tool - nothing more, nothing less.