Texas Instruments TI-73 Graphing Calculator

The highlight of the TI-73 is its large display, which shows the history of your calculations, depicts graphs and charts, and has a high enough resolution to simultaneously display several rows of stacked fractions. The stacked-fraction feature is a boon for struggling middle school students, as the results of calculations involving fractions are displayed as fractions, not decimals. The TI-73 is fully programmable and comes with a fairly large library of built-in formulas, making things like time and distance conversions a snap.

The product comes with two features that few other calculators boast--firmware with flash memory and link capabilities. The use of flash memory means Texas Instruments can upgrade and enhance the features of the calculator and make them available to TI-73 users without requiring a hardware upgrade. Instead, you simply download the new firmware or software applications, connect the calculator to your computer, and copy the new stuff over the old stuff. The package comes with a cable for linking two calculators, but unfortunately, the cable for connecting the TI-73 to your computer is sold separately.

Texas Instruments didn't skimp on the documentation and bundles a 350+ indexed manual with the calculator. This tome is chock-full of illustrated examples that demystify the device's more advanced features like statistical analysis, lists, tables, and function graphing. We were graphing within 10 minutes of unpacking the TI-73, and cobbling together simple programs within an hour. The TI-73 is marketed as a calculator for middle school students, but it has enough power and features to satisfy all but the most advanced high school and college students. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Large display
• Comes with a good assortment of built-in functions
• Programmable
• Documentation is excellent

Cons:

• Superior TI-83+ costs about the same amount of money

This calculator is upgradable, allowing classrooms to keep up with changing curriculum for long-term value. Students and teachers can also download software from the Texas Instruments Web site.

The 64 x 96 screen allows students to explore data, simultaneously see entries and results, and visualize patterns. The TI73 has 32 KB of RAM with 25 KB available for the user and 64 KB for application space.

This calculator is made especially durable with an impact-resistant slide case. It comes with a unit-to-unit link cable, a manual, and a one-year limited warranty.