You know what really sucks? I live in Texas, and as far as I know, there are NO Staples in the state of Texas....looks like I'll be waiting...

Yeah.. I don't think it is even in one of Texas' bordering states!! It's kinda ironic that we can't the TI's new calc anywhere near Texas, isn't it??

You can get it in Texas but you have to order it from Wholesale Electronics. I just ordered mine today.

Do they have a web-page we can visit? Thanx

Ok, I found the web page (www.calculators.com), but I found no mention of the TI-89 anywhere on the page. Could you help me out here a bit? Where you found the place to order the calc, etc....

I'm sorry I forgot to say that it is not on there website. I had to order it over the phone. There phone number is 1-800-880-9400.

Has anyone started on a TI-89 linking program for the Parallel link, Serial, and/or Graphlink? Also, have anyone started on a compiler program (ie- Assembly Studio 86 for the 86)? That's it.
Pat

I may be wrong, but it would seem like any link program that works with the TI92 (TI92Plus?) would work with the 89.

Should someone get a 89 and try out the different link programs through different link ports and see before they start making any new link program? Or am I just not thinking right?

1. Will it help me in physics?
2. Will it help me in AP calc?
3. Will it help me in Chem?
Cause if it won't i will just keep my 86.

1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

But only if you learn how to use it correctly and utilize it completely.

No one will probably find this because there are so many comments here already. The TI-89, as nice as it may be, will not be of great help to you in any of the courses you listed. It might be useful for checking homework in AP Calculus. Don't forget that on the exam you have to show all of your work in the free response section which means that you won't be able to just rely on the 89 (although you would be able to check your work).

1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

Of course it will help you in all three of those classes. However, if you already have a TI-85 or TI-86 or something, that should be sufficient in AP Physics and AP Chemistry. Only AP Calculus really benefits from the difference between the 85/86 and the 89/92. On the AP Calculus test you have to show steps in the free response section: the 89 can help you do that while the 86 cannot. That is because of the symbolic manipulation in the 89. It lets you enter the problem with variables instead of numbers so you can sort of figure out what the problem looks like simplified and so on. In AP Chemistry/Physics, the main use of a calculator for me was the equation solver, which I think is available in the 85, 86, 89 and 92+. The equation solver in the 89/92+ is really no better than the one in the 85/86 (actually I don't know if the 86 has it; I used an 85 and I am just assuming that the 86 has everything that the 85 did), so ...

what are the main differences between the 86 & 89 (besides the obvious differences in OS and such). what would make me want to shell out an extra $30 to buy an 89 instead of an 86? thanks for any help!

Check out This address for a clac compairison...

http://www.ti.com/calc/docs/gmtrx.htm

-Phil

I don't have a TI-89, and I don't plan on getting one for two reasons:

1: I'm a junior in high school, and the standardized tests I need to take <b>don't allow it.</b> So what good is it until I get in college?
2: It costs $150!!! I'm having trouble saving $109 for a TI-86! I'll wait till I <b>AM</b> in college, so the price calms down. Remember way back when the TI-82 was $100, and now it's only $75.

XaVIeR

What standardized tests are those? It is allowed for the ACT, SAT, PSAT, and the AP Calculus test.

Last time I looked, the ti-89 wasn't allowed on the ACT because the advanced mathmatics software(because of the algebra part of the software).

The ACT won't allow it. The algebra stuff is not allowed. The SATwill, but nonetheless, the TI-86 is more than adequate. Most people use a cheapie little Solar TI-36X which does nothing outside of tangents!! If the ACT does allow it, then I'll only have to worry about the 89's price. But I only need to take the SAT and ACT this year, and if the 86 is sufficient, the 86 it is. I'm sorry, all the TI-89 fans.

XaVIëR

So far I have called EVERY store that I can think of that has TI calc now, looking to see who carries them. Can someone please tell me where they got theirs? Thanks.
Pat

I didn't actually get a TI-89, but I found a site selling them for $133 each.

The site is www.calculatorsinc.com/ti/ticlass.htm