i hope that there will be some kind of reaction from ti...
650 names is not very much, looking at all the peoples who have TI's and visite this site...

Lets face it TI knows that their calculators are popular do to games. Why else would they release a calculator with 500k of memory. That must be one big periodic table program. I think that TI should give us the ASM information. But, as of right now 3/13/99 I have recicved no response from TI on the petition. I hope to hear from them soon. But in reality I will porbably not hear from them until atleast late Monday at the earliest.
Now as far as 650 names not being very many. I disagree with you. Yes maybe in the grand scheme of things 650 names are not very many. But I talked to many other TI Webmasters and they were suprised that I had recicved even that many names.
Now I hope TI takes us serious.

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Matt Peresie
Head Webmaster - 89 Times
matt@calc.org

personally... I don't think this petition is going to do anything whatsoever... TI isn't going to listen to programmers... because they know that the number one thing that programmers write are games. TI will wait and release the asm info as soon as they are done documenting it. Do you realize that the asm code for the HP-48gx hasn't yet been completely documented yet?! and that calc has been out a hell of a lot longer than the TI-89 and the TI-92+. Also, what do you think a petition is going to do? nothing more than let TI know that all we use their calcs for are games, because for any math type program, their built in basic language works pretty damn well. Same goes for chem Programs and Bio programs. And they don't need to worry about you bitching about lack of memory, or size of programs, that's why they included the 500+ k of memory... Personally, I think that TI will probably tell you, oh, well, we aree still in the process of documenting this information, and will release it as soon as possible, please check here for further updates,

http://www.ti. com/calc/docs/ 89.html

Mind the spaces of course... damn 15 letter limit, what's up with that?!

well, hope you all aren't too dissappointed when nothing happens...

I think TI has a pretty damn good idea that us programmers make tons of games for their calculators, and that we are willing to shell out $100+ for the calcs. I don't know of any math or sci prog that uses 500k of memory, but I do know of games that can. The reason calculators, like the 89, have so much memory is so we can have space for our games. All Ti wants to do is make money, they don't cre whether we use our calcs for heavy calculous equations, play games, or through it in the toilet; they still make $100 per calc.

although i signed the petition and feel strongly that it is something that is quite needed, i have to agree that TI is just going to blow us off. think about it: they've got the market cornered, and even if they don't release the information, we'll still be buying calculators from them. oh, they know we use the things to play games, why else would they have put so much memory in them? 26k is plenty for math programs. so in the end it all boils down to this: is TI going to be "nice enough" to give us the info? i doubt it.

-KAKE
"pessimisem pays, especially at golf"

The documentation will be of some use and will help the creation of math programs. The 86 and 83 have fairly good asm math programs that the undocumented calculators don'tD have. (Eveü[Dn if it one or two more math programs, that is about 50% more.)

At least one or two math programs may result if documentation is released. Then again, the 86/83 asm programs still aren't anything compared to the equivilant "normal" functions on the 89/92+. The documentation will at least make it easier to write an asm math program.
PS It would be nice if TI would release an 89/92+ specific C compiler that works better than the current, generic 68k compiler.

There is a C/C++ compiler that will work on the TI-89/92/92+. The problem? It is megabucks.

who are YOU to stand forth and smite progress.

Who are YOU to ask him WHO he is? He has the write to post whatever he wants just like anyone else. And he is not 'Spiting Progress' as you called it and if you say he is explain to me why you have come to that conclusion?

smite.

SCREW YOU...YOU SUCK

Are you "The original Eugene" or "Eugene (the original)"?

The reason I believe there are so many games is that TI didn't release any asm info yet. Without detailed information on the TIOS it is almost impossible to write math applications. For games you only have to know the hardware.

I would like to, with no disrespect, dispute your claim that only game writers want asm info. I am waiting for this information before I release some programs I have written for economic analysis on the 89/92/etc.

Respectfully,
Tip DS

TI is only interested in one thing, and that is money. The only way to make this mony is to make the customers happy. I agree with higimonster that TI doesn't care what we do with the calculators just that we buy and use them. I think TI will listen and do what is best for its customers.

This is meant to bring to light some of the numbers involved in those 'mear' 650 users who signed the petition. These 650 are what you might call the upper-tier users of TI-calculators. These are the people for which TI adds features such as Built-In ASM and Expanded Memory for. Also out of these 650 users most have more than one TI calculator. I have a total of five myself. Now assuming everybody has at least two (I would imagine it would average out this way) then TI has made a total of 130,000 dollers off of us. That may not sound like an impressive amount of money but there are also other factors playing in. It is these 650 that program their Calculators. It is these 650 that provide the majority of TI-calc based support. It is these 650 that give us Ticalc.org, calc.org, and Ti-files.org. And most importantly in TI's view is that it is this 650 that will buy every new calculator they come out with and it is this 650 that will evangelize the Texas Instrument platform fervently. To use a cliche it is not the Quantity but the Quality of signatures that truly matters. And this is why Texas Instruments both needs us and will make sure we are happy.

You make a very good point thanks for posting your comments. The 650 people on the petition probably do own atleast 1000 calculators if you combine them all together. I also agree that the 650 people on the petition are one of the reasons that the TI Community has grown. Without games being made for their calcualtors TI would not be as big as they are. They owe us some thanks. We are not asking for that much just some information on Assembly Porgamming hopefully they can provide us with that.

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Matt Peresie
Head Webmaster - 89 Times
matt@calc.org

That's really all I can say other than I feel that TI listens to its customers.

ok, first off, what is it that we are petitioning TI to give out? second off, everyone is right, i personally am not gonna "never buy a TI calc again" if they decide that we can wait. and they realize that. this petition may speed them up a day.

I signed this petition, although I must admit I am sceptical as to whether it will work. Has anyone checked out TI's website lately? They're now SELLING flash ROM applications for the TI-89. In particular, the periodic table application (costing $7, if I remember) caught my eye because it's available for free on the TI-86 (and I think the TI-86 version is better!). If TI released the information we are asking for, someone would soon write free versions of these programs, and TI wouldn't be able to make any money from them. Maybe if we offered to become affiliates or employees of TI and distribute programs through them (so that they can control what programs we write), they'd be more interested. Still, I hope the petition does work, and well done Matt for coming up with the idea!

What's the URL for the non free Upgrades ??

There are five applications available or in development for the TI-83 Plus at http:// www.ti.com/ calc/ flash/ 83papps.htm (with no spaces, but it's the only way to avoid that lovely 15 letter limit...). There's one TI-89 application at http:// www.ti.com/ calc/ docs/ eepro.htm, which you should be able to order later this month if you've got $75 spare! And for the TI-73, try http:// www.ti.com/ calc/ flash/ 73sunburst.htm. I think these show TI's commitment to making money by selling applications for the flash ROM calculators.

I think that it is ridiculous that TI is trying to sell their Flash ROM programs. That just shows that all they care about is making money. They are probably afraid that if they release the ASM information that the petition asked for that programmers will be able to make better programs for free than they can.

http:// www.ti.com/ calc/docs/ downloads.htm
Try the above link for free downloads but you might not be able to find many free programs TI only wants to make money.

Also as of Sunday March 14th, 1999 I have recicved no reesonse from TI about the petition.

--
Matt Peresie
Head Webmaster - 89 Times
matt@calc.org

I have a question: How can they sell calculator applications anyway? With linkports and linkcables, it is painfully simple to distribute programs. I can't imagine them selling very many programs, as everyone would get it from their friend, who got it from a friend, etc. For example, I put the [free] 85's periodic table on my calculator a little over a month ago, and now it is all over my school!

Todd

I'm not sure how they plan to overcome that one, but I do know that to install these applications you can't just transfer them to your calculator. You have to run a special installation program on your PC which copies the program over. Maybe you'll have to enter the calculator's serial number when buying the application so it will only work on that calculator. Either that or they're just targeting schools who may not realise how easy it is to copy the applications from one calculator to another - they offer site licences for over 100 calculators!

From what I've read in the manual on using the link and installing flash upgrades, there will be some sort of key (probably serial number based) that will unlock the flash upgrades.

And what's wrong with TI charging for flash upgrades? You bought the calculator (presumably) for the features it had. If you want TI to develop more, isn't it fair of them to charge for them. They claim that bug fixes will be free.

Actually, the 89 and presumably the 92 plus us the RSA assymetric encryption system
There is a patent number in the front of the 89 manual, register RSA Secure Data.
I look it up, the patent described amethod that looked like what I rembemered RSA to look like. It also was granted to Shamir, Rivest, and the guy whose name starts with an A that I can't remeber

The 14th is a Sunday; TI doesn't check their mail on the weekends. Since you sent it on Friday, they'll probably read it on Monday. They'll then forward it x # of times and you probably won't get a response until the following Monday or Tuesday. But they will respond.
Wait at least until the 22nd before you resend the petition.