Re: Why are TI Calcs so inferior?
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At the size of the calculator, I'd say it would cost more like thousands
more bucks (like perhaps $3000).
"This is the most logical route, Captain"
-= Zenon@bbs.nexes.com =-
----------
: From: jjv200@ACF2.NYU.EDU
: To: Zenon
: Subject: Re: Why are TI Calcs so inferior?
: Date: November 15, 1996 3:33 AM
:
:
: In article <328b645b.582990@news.sprynet.com>, lcappite@sprynet.com
: (Goatboy) wrote:
:
: >I've been looking over the tech specs for all the TI calculators, and
: >I can't argue that these calculators are spectacular. They are the
: >most ingenious pieces of equipment for school use and such. However,
: >they're hardware is very inferior. The hard disk so to speak only is
:
:
: It is not a hard disk, it is RAM. Hard disks are mechanical, while RAM
is
: something a little different.
:
: >about 30K. The processor runs at 6MHz? It only has an assembly
: >language,
:
: The calculator uses TI-basic, which is a simple programming language, far
: superior to anything I've seen on other calculators.
:
: >not something better? My gosh, on today's technology, hd
: >space is 6 *cents* a meg? And hard drives are the size of a TI calc
: >If u shrink down the hd to that of a mini cassette, and put it in the
: >TI, u could get about 1/3 a gig. And you could probably do better,
:
: Shrink down a hard drive? What on earth are you talking about?
:
: A hard drive for a _calculator_? A removable cassette drive? And that
: is supposed to run off of double-a batteries?
:
: >because I've seen a mini cassette for the computer that holds a gig,
: >and the drive it goes in to is only 1 cm bigger on each side. And the
: >chip? The 486 chips are like $30 bucks nowadays, and they run at
: >66MHz. AMD chips are $75 for a 133MHz version. And the display screen.
: >I've seen sony watchman that were smaller and they have a color screen
: >at 320x200.
:
: Do you know how much this would increase the price of the _calculator_?
:
: The TI-92 is not supposed to be a PDA (although it can work as one), nor
a
: personal computer. It is a CALCULATOR. If you want to play games, buy
: a gameboy, if you want to do sophisticated programming buy a PC, and if
: you want to do things in color, use a PC.
:
: Check out Mathematica. That might do what you want. Get a laptop, and
put
: Mathematica on it. That should make you happy.
:
:
: >Basically, what I'm saying is with today's current technology and its
: >cheapness, TI could probably come out with a calculator that could
: >outperform my computer (mine is a 486 DX2-50) for the same price as
: >their 92, and I don't know why they aren't trying.
:
: Why bother?
:
: The TI integrates some pretty complicated functions in less then a
second.
:
: Putting in a powerpc chip, or a pentium would make the calculator cost
: hundreds of dollars more. What difference would it make?
:
: --
: ===========================================================
: Jonathan J. Vafai New York University
: mailto:jjv200@acf2.nyu.edu Computer Advocacy @ NYU
: http://pages.nyu.edu/~jjv200/ PGP + Blue Ribbon
: ===========================================================
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