I think the new models are really weird looking. (In fact, I have played with them. The curvy-ish stuff makes them difficult to use effectively.) They were probably designed by marketers, not engineers.

Really? I like the design, and I think that it is very easy to use. It looks very sleek.

If they were designed by marketers, they should be designed in response to their market research.

Designing in response to market research will not always lead to a good product.

Well, if the market research is sound and the product actually reflects the market research as seen by the market, it does. This doesn't.

I don't like the new arrows because you can easely press both arrows when you don't want to, which makes playing games harder

I think keeping the keys separate would have been better, as well... but then again, maybe they're trying to keep you from playing games. That's what the program limit problem was all about on most of (or all of?) the TI-89 AMS 2.xx versions. That's why we needed (and still use) those fancy launcher programs. I think they're trying to keep people from playing games, yet, at the same time, they use that as an advertising feature of the calculator. (That's why they have the PuzzPack APP on the TI-83+SE) I think they should just make up their mind. Do they approve of games or not? I think it all comes down to who they're trying to appeal to. The kids see the games on the calculators and go "Oh, wow, I'm getting one of those!" But then, TI makes stuff like that 24k program limit for the teachers, so they'll be happy too.

Eh... that was kind of a pointless rant. :-\

This is how I see it:

We all (most of us at least) have more than one calc. Often the other calc is not in use. All that would need to be done is switch the internals out. While this may not be possible with the 84 series, I am pretty sure that the HW3 89's have the same board size. (I used HW3 to show that the previous HW versions were the same in size.)

-W-

the titanium seems thicker so it could have two bords in it.

I think it's likely that the keyboard contacts for the 89TI wouldn't be in the same place as those for the olded 89's. This curvy-layout would prevent the keypad from hitting the board in the right place.

I like my 83SE, but these faceplates are making me jealous. Would it be possible for Ti to make one of those cool 'Angelic' faceplates for the 83? Or are they trying to make it obsolete?
Why try to replace an already good calc with a more stylish imposter??

The 83+SE already is obsolete. The official "current" line of Z80 calcs is:

The Blue 83+
The 84+
The 84+SE

What? The 83SE being replaced by the Blue 83+???? Ti is REALLY pissing me off!!!

I don't think so because I have never seen one and it is not on their websight. and the SE is

I do believe that there is no 83SE but that's debatable. The 83+ Blue Edition has been released for quite some time now quite simply for promotion. Who doesn't want a jazzy see-through blue calculator? This ofcourse leads onto even more changes in the case design. Some of late have been a change for the worse but key design is improving. *Have they solved that problem with the slide cases wearing the calculators grip-notch away?
Calculators will continue to be phased out. Lets face it, it's marketing.
Just as long as calculators aren't be phased out of the education systems because of poor upgrades.
"NEW SLIDECASES! IMPROVE YOUR MATH!"

The SE is being phased out in favor of the 84+es, I believe.

I don't think they're moving to the BLUE 83+s specifically...

That's how I feel about the 86...

Yes, we get it, you love the 86. Now you and morgan could meet somewhere in Kansas and have a nice talk with each other about how great your 86's are.

-W-

No, the 83+SE is being replaced by the 84+SE. Note that they're really just about the same machine already.

The 83+ has not been replaced at all.

The 84+ has been added as a middle-ground between the 83+ and the 84+SE.

The mapping goes as follows:
OLD--->NEW
83+--->Blue 83+
83+SE--->84+SE
--PLUS-- brand new 84+

...err, I guess the 'Blue' is quite inconsequential.

Suffice it to say, the bottom-of-the-line machine is still the original 83+ hardware.

Of course, I left the TI-73 out of the list. Quite frankly, I never really think about it at all, anyways.

That doesn't make sense. If the TI-83+SE is obsolete, as you say, then the TI-83+ ("blue" edition or not) is going to be obsolete as well. The 83/84 calcs are compatible enough that the TI-83+SE won't go obsolete... at least, not for a while. TI's very selective in what they choose to support. Ignore that... most of the software people use is 3rd party anyway.

I don't think that's his point. The 83+ is cheaper than the 84+, so if you want to spend as little as possible, you'll go with the 83+. If you are willing to spend a little extra money, you'll go with the 84+. Now, if money isn't a problem at all, you'll buy the 84+SE. There's no point in buying an 83+SE, because if you're already spending that much, you'll probably spend the little extra to get an 84 instead of an 83 too.

But I'm surprised that TI would still support the TI-83+. They could get a lot more money by tricking incompetent people into thinking that the only z80 calcs they can buy (and get support for) are the TI-84+ and TI-84+SE. And that sounds like something they'd do, right? Isn't that why they dropped support for other calculators? To make more money off the newer ones?

No, if money is no problem, you are getting the 89ti, or atleast that is what I will be doing, soon as money is no problem for me.

-W-

...and what a day that will be...

Not if you're not allowed to use a CAS.

Really?

The last time I checked at OfficeMax, the TI-84+SE and the TI-89Ti were priced exactly the same...

Exactly, that was my point....

-W-

By 'obsolete' I mean that it is not being produced anymore. It has a replacement on the market already. That replacement is the 84+SE.

The 83+ is not obsolete because it has not been replaced. It is still in production. It is the only member of the 83 series that *is* still in production.

Since the 83+ and 83+SE both share the same OS file, it's safe to say that any fixes and upgrades that continue to be released for the 83+ will still be applicable to the 83+SE.

to rip people off

You can make it yourself.

Get: silver model paint, acetone, a spare cover (whatever color)

1. Put the model paint on the keys, as well as a line below the screen, and quickly snap (not slide) the cover on and then remove it.
2. Use the acetone to clean off the keys.
3. Drill holes along the pattern on the cover indicated by the paint. Cut (using a small reciprocating saw or Dremel) the top of the cover off.
4. Keep the original as a template in case you ever need to make more and make a new one by tracing the usual pattern.
5. Try snapping the cover on. If some buttons are obscured, refine your process until you get the desired result.

This won't be an actual faceplace because the buttons will be recessed. However, it is an approximation. :)

Not faceplace. Faceplate.

Not a bad idea...I feel better all ready! :^)