Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 78
 Easy to operate, does what it needs to do September 1, 2009
kdea473
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought my first TI graphing calculator in 1993 (the TI-85) and used that for several years until I was required to upgrade to an HP 48G+. Since those calculators had carried me through the past 16 years of college and work, I was wary when this year's "school supply list" required us to spring for a TI-84 Plus.
Since these calculators are often "required" for middle school through college these days, I understand how the manufacturer can get away with its exorbitant price tag. That being said, we were persistent bargain shoppers and pounced the day we saw the price take a nose dive.
The calculator is fairly straight forward to use, and batteries are included. We have found that school textbooks tend to have step-by-step tutorials on certain subjects, and that the teachers use the calculator daily in class (whatever happened to graphing with pencil and graph paper?). Because I have used a very similar calculator before, I have been able to instruct my student in every issue that has come up so far. We have not had to use the manual.
Overall, I have no problems with this calculator, which does what it needs to do. I do know these are a prime target for thieves at school (often turning up at pawn shops, where you can buy your own calculator back for about $45), so we are protecting the calculator as an investment. If your school gives you the option of using a TI-83, however, you can get essentially the same functionality at a lower price. (Go for it.)
Awesome calculator August 3, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wow, this SERIOUSLY can bring back memories of DOS. Even better it can have games and all sorts of stuff on it! So.. my sister had this, and my dad noticed it had a calculator to calculator cable and bought one for me. I must say it is very well done.
You can even make programs for it! I'm making a Rumble Robot Remote program by making a IR transmitter that can hook up to it.Rumble Robots Interactive Fighting Robots - Clamster
 There are far better and cheaper options July 31, 2009
Herbert Powell (Detroit)
23 out of 27 found this review helpful
Many reviews have focused on what the calculator can do, but that's not all you should consider when buying something. Can something else do it better? Can something else do it cheaper? The answer to both of these questions is yes.
So you probably know what this thing can do if you've read the description or the other reviews. It can do all the standard scientific calculator stuff, it can graph functions and with some extra programs it can graph curves that aren't necessarily functions. It can numerically approximate integrals, derivatives, roots, etc. You can create programs and it has financial applications, but I don't know anything about them. It's also portable, which is a nice benefit.
The cons are a lack of a CAS, so there's no algebraic integration, factoring, integrating, or solving differential equations to name a few. The resolution is low and there is no ability to do 3D graphs. But these cons aren't enough to warrant the low rating. The proliferation of laptops and FREE programs that perform all these functions and more is the reason.
Did you know there's a free graphing calculator with CAS called Geogebra that you can download? It will do almost any calculation the TI-whatever will, it will graph everything with higher resolution, it will numerically and algebraically (if possible) calculate derivatives and integrals, and you can create applets with it. In case it seems like I'm advertising Geogebra (which makes no sense because it's free), check out the new Wolfram Alpha site as well. Another free graphing calculator, among other things, with CAS, including matrix algebra and curve fitting. There are many more similar programs or sites available.
Of course, if portability is your main concern and you don't have a laptop, then a TI-84 is an option, but I can't think of any reason that a professional who needs a calculator would want this over what I just mentioned. In particular, I don't know of any mathematician, engineer, or physicist (I only know a few anyway) who actually uses a TI. If they need quick calculations done, they'll use a scientific calculator or for more advanced needs, something like Mathematica or Maple.
This leaves the students and parents who are told that this calculator is a must-have, that it will be used throughout their entire career as a student. I'm a high school math teacher. These are not necessary. A calculator may be necessary at times, but believe me, a scientific one will do just fine. Unfortunately, some AP tests deliberately put problems that require a numerical answer and can't be done by hand in any reasonable amount of time. If this applies to you, you may have to bite the bullet and get something like this. In the meantime, students and parents should be asking their schools why these outdated machines are used in place of better, cheaper options.
Summary for the lazy: If you would pay full price for a 10 year old TV instead of taking a free lower end 2009 HDTV, then buy this item.
Perfect June 26, 2009
E. Carroll (Philly, PA)
Thank you for the TI-84 Plus - it came fast and is perfect - a great price for this calculator. Excellent transaction.
TI-84 Plus June 23, 2009
Yamile Salas Sanz (San Jose, Costa Rica)
I have bought two calculators already. One for my son and another one for myself. The product is excellent and I will recommend it for someone who takes maths seriously.
Showing reviews 16-20 of 78
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