That doesn't seem like a feasable option. Most laptops go into suspend mode when the lid is closed. What happens if the teacher asks the student to come to the board, or something to that effect? Oops! Student walks up with bag dragging via graphlink cable, and cable pulls at shirt. I think the user would be better off putting games on the calculator, if it's fun they are looking for. If it's help on a test, then I would suggest a good e-cheet-sheet on the calculator. Don't get me wrong... Nothing wrong with daydreaming, but that's about all that idea is... a daydream.

With no disrespect,
Tip DS

Hold on.
First of all, this doesn't seem realistic. Second of all, just what the *hell* is the point of doing this? If you are trying to cheat on a test, just make a prog with all the formulas you need or "study" (GASP!) for your test! If you want games, just download one off of this nice website called ticalc.org the night before. Yeah, and most laptops do go into suspend mode whe the lid is closed- except for the older 486s. But also, why would you be surfing the internet during an exam? And usually school internet connections are slow as crap. By the time you load your cheat page, class will be over and you'll only be on question 2.

there is no real pratical point besides just screwing around for the hell of it, and actually most schools have pretty fast internet access, at least mine does, and i think its pretty average, and for a calculator the fastest you could use in this case is 300bps or so if i read it right... and all you can see on your calc is text anyways so the speed doesn't really affect this purpose, i mean 300bps is nothing at all, but it works for a unix shell i'm sure

My laptop has an option not to go into suspend mode when the lid is shut. And the point would be that it is somewhat possible, and you could tell everybody that you can access the internet on your calculator until your teacher hears about it and confiscates your laptop.

My laptop has an option in the power management section for what to do when the lid closes (turn off LCD, suspend, or hibernate). I know all laptops aren't like this though, such as the old HP Omnibook I had which would always suspend no matter what. Of course, if it's an old laptop that you don't mind messing around with, you could always just open up the laptop casing and find the switch that is detecting the lid closing. I'd want to do that even if I wasn't going to involve a TI calc. There are many good reasons to want to shut the lid but have the laptop stay on (as a car MP3 player for instance).

As for the cable caught in your backpack, etc: just disconnect it when you get up. You'll most likely need an extension cable anyway, so wear the extension cable. This way you can disconnect one end from your backpack and the other end from your calculator, but still be wearing the cable when you get up.

Although it sounds like a daydream, it's only because no one has done it. It is easily possible with the right setup and equipment. Sure, it's a little weird, but it would be fun nonetheless.

-Justin

Yea, I know it's possible. So's converting an old butane gas tank into a furnished apartment, then setting it up as an underwater observatory in Lake Ray Hubbard. I consider both a fanciful daydream. Something I like to think about when I'm bored. I don't think I'll waste the time to do either, though.

Respectfully,
Tip DS

Well, "converting an old butane gas tank into a furnished apartment" would take a lot longer to do than this. For someone who has all the components (like myself), this could be up and working in a matter of minutes. I agree it would be a really dumb idea to go out and buy a laptop just for this reason. But if you already have everything, then this is a "bonus feature" that you never knew you had.

Maybe I should have written the article not as a suggestion, but rather as an expo of doing it myself. Then I wouldn't have gotten comments about it being "impractical", "stupid", or "daydreamy" because I would have proved that it is do-able. I could do it right now if I had a TI-83, and what would it cost me? Nothing. I could do it for free. It is daydreaming for those that can't afford all of this perhaps. I'll give you that much.

-Justin

Duh, this is all painstaking, fanciful and daydreamlike. And not terribly practical. But he demonstrated the specifics of how it could be done, and shouldn't the net be used as an outlet for creative daydreams? If this isn't the place, where is?
As far as browsers go, I use lynx and it kicks a@@! Text-only, quite fast, I don't have to wait for any images to load or text to render into the appropriate fonts and styles. I don't exactly have mountains of cash lying around, so I use streamlined software without the bells and whistles to get the job done.
Also I was consdering posting some programs amd program ideas on ticalc.org but with the amount of negativity going on, it makes me want to consider otherwise. I can handle being told my ideas are a "fanciful daydream", but I seriously do not want a request to "take the sand out of my pussy" just for making a program that isn't revolutionary.

ok, if you really want to do this, alot of laptops do go into suspend mode, but all you have to do is open up the laptop and disconnect the switch or leave the lid cracked open a bit! and all you have to do is let the cable slip out of your shirt when you stand up! geez! have some imagination, and nooone ever said this was feasible!

This sounds like a cool project, although a little painstaking. It would work well if you or a friend lived right next to the school and had an internet connection, and if there are not too many obstructions (such as thick concrete walls) in the way. Once the server gets set up, it can probably be worked out that more than one kid in the school can use the same connection. It is also possible that a student may be friends with a very nice teacher in a good location that has internet access that has an extra expansion slot in the computer in their room.

This is a little off topic, but not too much: Does anyone know a way to use a TI-89 for packet radio?

Nathaniel

True, once there is a server set up, any number of people (well, up to the maximum supported by the WLAN. mine is 60) could use the system. That would be especially cool among friends to IRC with.

As for packet on the TI-89, you could probably do it with a TNC as long as the Graphlink likes it (the Graphlink is very picky). You need a terminal program for the TI-89 though.

-Justin

use the graphlink to connect it to a TNC and write some software for it, or have someone write you software BTW, is there a Telnet-85 or some telnet prog for the TI-85?

I fail to see the usefulness of this setup.

Quite awhile ago, when telnet83 and rterm and others were released, it was made apparent that by connecting the graph link to an external 9600/2400/300 baud modem via the serial connection, then connecting the modem to a cell phone with proper jacks, you could achieve the same result, without having to buy LAN cards or another computer.

This is sort of like the obfuscated PERL/C/C++ contest. Let's see how complicated we can make something!

Levine

I think instead of surfing we need to focus on cheating ! I mean sure, we could study. I was pondering this... a program wich allows you to enter the answers to mutiple choice, or ture or false test. Then this desired program would output these ansewrs on another calc, after they linked between classes of course. I mean load this up with fake graph screens, the works ! The only flaw is you need someone smarter than you that takes test before you do. Still I think it can work.
-Dan

Why use the TI any way???
Why not just get out the laptop and a network cable and use that and tell the teacher you are taking notes and saving them on the school network, while realy you are surfing around ticalc.org downloading cool ti games. This is what I do and it cost less than the $300. $200 for the 486 and $50 for the network interface card.
That seems to be a much better solution. That is until the RadioLink is finished, then the idea of TelnetTI and NetscapeTI would be great. Another thing WLAN can only reach so far and I know that ALL high school students must change classes.
Anyway I give the creativity an A+, but the practicality is around an F.

The Aviator2.4 WLAN box states that they have 1000ft range in open space, and about 500ft range indoors. If the computer is in the center of the school, a 500ft radius should almost reach the whole campus depending on how the school is laid out.

As far as "practicality" , I could do it right now quite easily. In fact, it would take me less than 3 minutes to have it up and working since I already have all of the components. True, it's not very practical for someone who doesn't have all of the components because then they have to buy them. But for me, I have everything already. To be able to use the calculator with it is just a nice "extra". Almost like, "gee, I have everything required.. by golly why not?"

-Justin

Who in the world would actually try this plan out? Its creative, but crazy! If you are please reply to this message and let me know. (boy, cheating is getting complicated these days)

Did we say this was a cheating setup? Nooo. We just said that this was a fanciful little way to check your mail and surf the internet and such, if you had all the equipment.

And, if I did have the equipment, I'd try it out. But I'd probably not use the wireless stuff ... there's phonejacks all over the school and I have a 9600 modem laying around, somewhere....

Nik, who is playing catch with a TI-82

I did it, but i used a direct network connection to my laptop instead of a WLAN

there are much easier ways to cheat than shell out 500+ for a damn lap top and WLAN cables. Try wireless chat communication with your class that is what me and my friend did. We got As on the damn FINAL.

WLAN = Wireless Local Area Network, so there are no cables involved. Also, how are you achieving 'wireless chat' without a WLAN?