TI-Nspire

The TI-Nspire product line is a series of calculators developed by Texas Instruments. This line currently includes the "TI-Nspire" and "TI-Nspire CAS". It is available as a handheld and also as software for Windows-based PCs.

Handhelds

The TI-Nspire line of handhelds have greatly improved hardware compared to older TI graphing calculators. The new LCD screen has a higher resolution (320x240 pixels) and is capable of displaying sixteen [http://www.datamath.org/Graphing/NSpire.htm Datamath Calculator Museum] ] shades of gray. [ [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/nonProductMulti/nspire_cas.html?bid=1 TI-Nspire.com – TI-Nspire Handheld and Software Learning Technology for the Math and Science Classroom by Texas Instruments ] ]

The TI-Nspire line features the ability to display dynamically linked variables from application to application. For example, a calculator application with an equation stored in the variable "x" might be displayed alongside a graphing application which would graph the shared variable. Changes made to variables made in one application will affect the others in real time.

In order to deal with this split-screen interface, the Nspire has the larger screen and a cursor-like control. By using the cursor many things can be adjusted fluently. Application window sizes can be adjusted. Equations can be dragged and manipulated while the coefficients of the equations change accordingly in real time. The graphing window scale and center can also be controlled using the cursor.

TI-Nspire

The "TI-Nspire" calculator excluding the acronym CAS is comparable to the TI-84 Plus in features and functionally. It features a TI-84 mode by way of a replaceable snap-in keypad (included) and contains a fully working TI-84 Plus emulator. The likely target of this is secondary schools that make use of the TI-84 Plus currently or have text books that cover the TI-83 (Plus) and TI-84 Plus lines, and to allow them to transition to the TI-Nspire line more easily.

Since the TI-Nspire lacks a QWERTY keyboard, it is acceptable for use on the PSAT, SAT, SAT II, ACT, and AP Exams.

The TI-Nspire also features a "testing mode" LED indicator, designed to stop potential cheating, informing test supervisors that the calculator is still restricting features and possibly saved files on the handheld during the test. It also features a timer. At the end of a test, the supervisor is required to check the calculator's timer to see if it has not been removed out of "testing mode". [http://ti-nspire.com/tools/nspire/features/press_to_test.html Press-to-Test Features and Configuration] ]

TI-Nspire CAS

The "TI-Nspire CAS" calculator stores and displays values symbolically instead of as floating-point numbers, and includes algebraic functions like deSolve(...) and eigVc(...) as well as calculus based functions, including limits, derivatives, and integrals. For this reason, the TI-Nspire CAS is more comparable to the TI-89 Titanium and Voyage 200. Its likely target is for college students and universities.

Unlike the TI-Nspire, it is not compatible with the snap-in TI-84 Plus keypad. It has a "testing mode" but not an LED indicator. It is accepted in the SAT and AP exams, but not the ACT.

TI-Nspire CAS+

Prior to the Nspire CAS's final release, a number of prototype models were developed for evaluation by educational establishments around the world. These units came in numerous colour schemes and were all denoted "Nspire CAS+". Some of these prototype CAS+ units were leaked and put up for sale on sites like eBay. As they do not contain final firmware and are not upgradable, TI advises against their purchase [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:TI-Nspire#Nspire_CAS.2B] .

Memory

Both calculators have 32 MB of NAND Flash, 32 MB of SDRAM, and 512 KB of NOR Flash. The NAND Flash contains the Operating system and saved documents and is not executable. The SDRAM likely contains an uncompressed version of the OS, and a copy of all active documents. The NOR Flash contains boot instructions for loading the operating system.

The NSpire family does not contain a backup battery (like all previous models) so when a battery is removed, the SDRAM is deleted, hence why it needs to load the operating system and file structure from the NAND Flash to the SDRAM Flash.

Other features

One feature includes a periodic table with the TI-84 keyboard, useful for chemistry classes. As with some other TI calculators, the TI-Nspire can be used with sensors to deal with the real world (data acquisition) such as Vernier EasyTemp, Vernier Go! Motion, Vernier Go! Temp or Texas Instruments CBR2 motion detector. [ [http://www.vernier.com/calc/tinspire.html Vernier Software & Technology Global Gateway ] ] [ [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_cbr_2.html CBR 2 by Texas Instruments -US and Canada ] ] [ [http://www.ti-nspire.com/tools/nspire/resources/data_collection.html Data Collection - TI-Nspire.com by Texas Instruments ] ]

Issues, bugs and criticism

One major criticism of the TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS is the lack of I/O commands (Input, Custom, CustomON, CustomOFF, EndCustom Dialog, EndDialog, ToolBar, EndToolBar etc).The latest version released on 2008-07-09 (Math and Science Learning Technology Version 1.4.11643, Boot1 Code Version: 1.1.8916, Boot2 Code Version: 1.4.1571) contains significant improvements such as a program editor and accordingly the first real programming capabilities yet. The new programming editor has many features including syntax checking when saving. There are also other additions to the operating system involving documents and library functions LibPub (public library) and LibPriv (private library) statements for defining 'library' variables/functions/programs that may also appear in the Catalog (LibPub). This was a serious problem in previous versions, where it was not possible for one to share variables/functions/programs across all problems or documents. Another welcomed feature in 1.4 is compatibility with the Mac OS. At the current time though, only the computer link software is available for Mac, there is no evidence that full Nspire Software will be released for Mac. All new features can be found in the updated guidebooks for the Nspire and Nspire CAS and Trial versions of the software have also been released alongside this software upgrade. [ [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_nspire_software.html TI-Nspire Computer Software by Texas Instruments -US and Canada ] ] [ [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_nspire_cas_software.html TI-Nspire CAS Computer Software by Texas Instruments -US and Canada ] ] Another criticism of the current software release is the lack of 3D surface plotting available on the TI-89 and Voyage 200.

Prices

Prices vary; TI says that the cost of the TI-Nspire (without CAS), as a guide, would probably be slightly greater than the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition; the cost of the TI-Nspire CAS would be slightly greater than the TI-89 Titanium. [ [http://www.ti-nspire.com/tools/nspire/resources/faq_availability.html#2 FAQs - Availability and Purchase - TI-Nspire.com by Texas Instruments ] ]

imilar products

*Derive (computer algebra system)
*Comparison of computer algebra systems
*TI-92 series
*TI-89
*Casio ClassPad 300
*HP-49 series
*HP-Xpander

References

External links

* [http://www.ti-nspire.com/ TI-Nspire official site]
* [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/downloadcenter/SoftwareDetail.do?website=US&tabId=2&appId=6691 TI-Nspire Reference Guide (English)]
* [http://education.ti.com/educationportal/downloadcenter/SoftwareDetail.do?website=US&tabId=2&appId=6690 TI-Nspire CAS Reference Guide (English)]
* [http://education.ti.com/ Texas Instruments Calculators & Education Technology]
* [http://hackspire.unsads.com TI-Nspire Hackings]
* [http://www.atomiclearning.com/ti_nspire TI-Nspire CAS training videos]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/tinspire Google] discussion group
* [http://www.calculatorforums.co.uk/forums/show/4.page UK forum]
* [http://www-s.ti.com/cgi-bin/discuss/sdbmessage.cgi?databasetoopen=calculators&topicarea=TI-Nspire+Family&do_2=1&viewmethod=Thread TI discussion forum]