3XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET (Sari Khoury) (03/18/91)
Hi, my son is going to take an Algebra II class and the teacher says that a graphing calcuator is required for the class. I am looking for recommendations /good buys on a calc. I have heard a lot of good things about the Hewlett Packa rd. I'd like to spend under $80 new/used. Thanks... ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::Sari Khoury Art Department :: ::3XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET Central Michigan University:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Our true nationality is mankind." -- H.G. Wells.
rouben@math13.math.umbc.edu (Rouben Rostamian) (03/18/91)
In article <91076.1521423XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET> 3XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET (Sari Khoury) writes: >Hi, my son is going to take an Algebra II class and the teacher says that a >graphing calcuator is required for the class. I am looking for recommendations >/good buys on a calc. I have heard a lot of good things about the Hewlett Packa >rd. I'd like to spend under $80 new/used. Thanks... Well, I don't think that you can get a graphing HP (new or used) for under $80. But then, an HP may not necessarily be the best tool for your son. I own an HP48sx calculator (retail price ~$250) and a Texas Instruments TI-81 calculator (retail price ~$80.) Both are programmable and both have graphics displays. I prefer the HP calculator by far. For a high school student (which I assume your son is) I would recommend the TI-81. For college students, especially those majoring in enginnering, I would recommend the HP48sx (or at least its predecessor, the HP28s.) If you are not familiar with the TI-81 and the HP48, the following analogy may help you in making your decision: The TI-81 to HP48sx is like a simple instamatic camera to a full-fledged 35mm Nikon. Now, would you buy a Nikon camera for your son? -- Rouben Rostamian Telephone: (301) 455-2458 Department of Mathematics and Statistics e-mail: University of Maryland Baltimore County bitnet: rostamian@umbc.bitnet Baltimore, MD 21228, U.S.A. internet: rouben@math9.math.umbc.edu
ressler@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu (Mike "IR" Ressler) (03/18/91)
In article <5441@umbc3.UMBC.EDU> rouben@math13.math.umbc.edu.UUCP (Rouben Rostamian) writes: >In article <91076.1521423XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET> 3XMQGAA@CMUVM.BITNET (Sari Khoury) writes: >>Hi, my son is going to take an Algebra II class and the teacher says that a >>graphing calcuator is required for the class. I am looking for recommendations >>/good buys on a calc. > >Well, I don't think that you can get a graphing HP (new or used) for under >$80. But then, an HP may not necessarily be the best tool for your son. I >own an HP48sx calculator (retail price ~$250) and a Texas Instruments TI-81 >calculator (retail price ~$80.) Both are programmable and both have graphics >displays. I prefer the HP calculator by far. For a high school student >(which I assume your son is) I would recommend the TI-81. For college >students, especially those majoring in enginnering, I would recommend the >HP48sx (or at least its predecessor, the HP28s.) Don't forget the Casio FX-7000G. It's got a 94x62 display and can be had for about $70-80. I've had one for over three years now - it's been dropped a few times, survived a dozen trips to the summit of Mauna Kea (14,000 ft), and travelled from Hawaii to the East and West coasts many times, and it's still going strong. Granted, it's no HP or TI, but it's easy to use and it has enough stuff in it to handle some serious calculating. I highly recommend it for a "beginner's" graphics calculator. In fact, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a reasonable graphics display as long as they don't need kilobytes of programming ability. -- Mike Ressler - Infrared Photon Jockey ressler@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger sledgehammer.
ghot@ms.uky.edu (Allan Adler) (03/18/91)
As long as the topic of such calculators has come up, what kind of chips and other devices are in it and what is burned into their ROMS (if they have ROM)? Where might one find a design of such a device and the parts for building one's own ? And why is it possible to make them so small ? Even if we buy black boxes and use them in education and research, we don't lose the right to ask what is in the box and how and why it works. Allan Adler ghot@ms.uky.edu
iceflow@hpuxa.acs.ohio-state.edu (William A. Jones) (03/18/91)
As a college instructor who uses a graphing calculator to teach algebra and precalculus classes, I would have to recommend buying the TI-81. It is what we at Columbus State Community College use, it is slightly more expensive than the Casios but it is far easier to learn to use (my opinion and my students). It also has enough capability that you won't be shelling out for another calculator any time soon. Bill Jones bjones@geo1s.mps.ohio-state.edu