Survey posted 2003-01-19 22:08 by Magnus.

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I use Fastlink, send is so much faster than any TI software.

Oh, I forgot about that :) I have FastLink on my harddrive but I don't use it much. I use it mainly for getting programs from VTI.

TI-Graph Link - Old
TI-Connect - Slow
FastLink - Compatible with VTI
TILP - never tried it

FastLink = Good
TiLP = ??? (Doesn't work, dammit!)

I use Graph-link because that was the first thing I got way back when. Plus my first link cable was serial one so I had no need to use anything else. Then I got a USB link and downloaded TiLP at school. It's a lot easier to get stuff there.

When you use Linux most of the time, you have no choice. But TiLP really is the best, even for you Windows people. It's faster than any of TI's software, supports every calculator and cable, and is very stable. Like most free software, it was written by a competent programmer, has none of the limitations imposed by a commercial product, doesn't waste time trying to look fancy... generally doesn't do anything stupid.

So where do you get it? I'm guessing it's in TI-Calc's archives...?

I detest that. TiLP is bad on my XP system! Heck TI-Connect is better than it! becuase TiLP doesn't get ANYWHERE (btw, I did install the drivers)

I use TiLP because it is pretty fast, even on a serial link. But one thing I dont like about it is that it cant send programs straight to Flash memory, it sends it all(except Apps) to Ram. But other than that, it is alot better than Ti-Connect or Ti-Graphlink.

Your remark has been taking into account. I will add
this in the next release...

I don't know of any program that sends directly to Flash ROM (except, of course, flash-based apps/OS/etc). Have I just been overlooking this option? It is a wonderful idea, especially for the large apps like Arena3D that have to be in ROM to work.

Arena 3D isn't an app. It's a C program.

Ti Graphlink will send programs directly to flash and i think that ti connect does but im not that sure, i dont use ti connect that much. But right now I cant send any thing to my calc because ti's USB cable fried my link port and Im going to have them fix it. :/

But, just wondering, how much faster is the USB cable compared to the serial link?

The USB cable *can* be a lot faster. If you have a TI-89, it takes advantage of the full speed of the link port, which (if I'm not mistaken) is the same speed as a 56K modem. It's a *lot* faster at times. It used to take me ~10-15 minutes to download a backup of my 100% filled calculator before, and now it takes only ~3-5.

The maximum link port speed is roughly:
- 45/50 kbits/sec for m68k based calcs
- 30kbits/sec for Z80 based calcs

The USB cable is very fast because it has buffers, I think

Ok, a few bad choice of words. By Flash ROM I mean Archive and I meant to say Program, not App, when referring to Arena 3D.

So, I ask again, is there a way to send programs directly to the Archive?

The GraphLink is great, but it needs to be updated (at least the 83+). It doesn't have 8+ character filename support!!! It just looks ancient!!!
TI Connect is good because you can send stuff w/o opening GraphLink, even if it is slower.
And what's with the TI-81 thing? I don't get it.

The 81 doesn't have a link port.

To the (currently two) people who don't have a graphlink: there is currently a $15 rebate in the US for the silver USB link, which makes the final price about a dollar after tax, plus the cost of a stamp.

Yeah... isn't it true that the TI-80 also doesn't have a linkport?

Yeah, I think your right

You haven't dusted them in quite a while, have you??

Yes... but it's in secret. ;-)

LOL, I wonder if anyone here DOES have a TI-80... so does anyone?

Yes, I do have a TI-80. The best part about it is that it's smaller than other graphing calcs, so one could concievably use it on "no graphing calc" tests without any hassles. :o)

I also have a TI-81. It's not really useful for anything except as collateral, but it's still kinda funny.

One small problem:
My computer is so old it doesn't have a USB port.

No problem for us, we just went out to the local Radio Shack and got a USB card. :)

well, to be fair, the calculators only have 8-chara support; that's probably one reason they haven't bothered with the graphlinks to upgrade. the second connect is faster and can edit the programs, the graphlinks are probably going down the tubes, by both TI and the users.