[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

A92: Re: TI's numbering system




>
>knocking all the high numbers and lower numbers off and just leaving 
>70-100:
>
>first came the 80 and 81
>
>these calculators were going to be used just to do easy graphs and 
>semi-fast calculations with only about 50 or 100 commands, these two 
>calculators became basically obsolete and shunned upon (like New Kids on 
>the Block--lol).
>
>then came the 82
>
>this calculator was suppose to solve the problem with limited graph 
>work, and also use tables.  it also included sequential graphing.  with 
>about 100+ commands this calculator still is used by science/math 
>teachers (not only low price, but does everything necessary for the 
>class)
>
>slightly after the 82 came the 85
>
>this calculator was based more on engineering with it's base conversions 
>(binary, decimal, octal, and hex).  it also had a constant library, and 
>you could use more letters in the variables.  this was suppose to end 
>the problem for programmers having not enough material, they could get 
>the 82 for the pxltest type programs, and 85 with it's wide matrices and 
>150+ commands.
>
>then came the assemblers
>
>these people were known as the hackers, although they weren't hackers 
>(or at least they didn't need to be a hacker to do what they did).  they 
>just did some backups on the computer and reverse engineered what the ti 
>company gave them.  they found a loophole in each calculator (explained 
>at ticalc.org) giving them the ability to do assembly.  ti was mad that 
>they didn't get any benefits from this, they thought that if they had 
>featured the assembly in the first place, and sold some assembly 
>games/software they would've made more money.
>
>ti-92 and 83
>
>the ti company was currently developing the 92 around the time they got 
>mad at the assemblers.  they didn't want to scrub the calculator and 
>make another one, so they coincided the project.  the 92 i believe came 
>out first and then the 83 later.  the 92 was suppose to halt the 
>assemblers from "hacking" it, and the 83 was ti's first assembly access 
>calculator.  the 83 was the same as the 82 except for the assembly.  
>they had to make another one for the 85s.
>
>ti-86 and 92-hack
>
>the ti company was developing a calculator that was the same as the 85 
>with more commands than the 83 and with the 83's power, more memory, and 
>had assembly access.  about this time came the assemblers with their 
>"fargo" on the 92.  ti got mad again, they thought they secured it, but 
>they new they could fix the problem.  they started the 92+ project after 
>finishing the 86.
>
>92+, 89, and 76
>
>the ti company was working hard on figuring out how to make the 92+ 
>module be "software upgradeable," and they came up with (or rather 
>found) FLASH technology.  in the process of doing this they realized 
>they needed to make another calculator after a recent conference for the 
>SAT students because the 92's profit was low on the count they thought 
>it was the SATs problem.  the 89 was designed to counter this problem.  
>they also realized that they were thinking of highschool kids, they left 
>out the middle school, so they thought up a calculator with pie chart, 
>and all that other stuff you do in middle school.  they basically ran 
>out of numbers in the ti8x series.  the ti84 wasn't going to be the name 
>because the ti8x's were for highschool, so they just found a number in 
>the lower range, the ti-76.  this 3 projects are now running 
>simultaneously at the ti company, what will they come out with next?
>
>if you ask me they should change the processor to a 16-32 bit system 
>instead of 8-16, and maybe have multiple "windows" (like the Dialog box 
>on the ti-92).  they should also see into being in COLOR or have a 
>program to run a small color lcd screen through the port (imagine that, 
>color--that would be a good change).
>
>-Rob
>
>p.s.  if any of this information is wrong, please feel free to correct, 
>i got this from my thoughts, not research, just don't say "you're so 
>stupid, you mixed everything up."  to me it sounds good.
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>

its the 73 not the 76. =-)

ViRtUaL mAlFuNcTiOn