41 replies to this topic

[polo961]

hi everybody this is my first topic in this great forum
i have a question
which calculator shall i buy?
the casio fx-9860g SD
the ti 84 plus
the ti 84 silver edition
???
??
?
please help me...

[kucalc]

Hello polo961 and welcome to the UCF!

The fx-9860SD for sure is a lot more powerful than the TI-84 series. Buy the fx-9860SD.

[polo961]

Hello polo961 and welcome to the UCF!

The fx-9860SD for sure is a lot more powerful than the TI-84 series. Buy the fx-9860SD.

thank you for your fast reply but i need more replies

[E_net4]

I support the previous answer too. The fx-9860G is much more powerful. It was the one I chose, in fact.

[polo961]

ok but there is a strange thing that when i search for the prices the casio one is always more cheap
so why if its more good???

[kucalc]

Well, let's take a look at the facts. We will compare the best out of the fx-9860G series and the TI-84 series: fx-9860SD vs TI-84 Plus Silver Edition.

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition:
* 1.5 MB Flash storage memory
* 24kB user ram
* 96x64 pixel screen with green display
* Old inefficient Zilog Z80 8-bit processor @ 15MHz

fx-9860SD:
* 1.5MB Flash storage memory
* 64kB user ram
* 128x64 pixel screen with crystal clear display
* Highly efficient and incredibly fast SuperH 3 32-bit processor that can go up to 58.96MHz
* Plus bonus features:
- Natural textbook display
- Spreadsheets
- E-activities
- Programmable in C/ASM via the fx-9860G SDK

Not trying to be harsh, but if someone had to choose between a TI-84 or a fx-9860G, only a idiot would choose a TI-84 over the fx-9860G.

[polo961]

thank you for your good reply

[kucalc]

No problem.

[polo961]

No problem.

ok but why when searching for the price the ti 84 plus is more expensive than the casio fx 9860g sd if the casio one is better?

[kucalc]

Because a lot of people are miseducated and are willing to pay >$120 for a TI-84, when it should only cost like $75. TI is betting that the average consumer doesn't know about CASIO or HP, so they put any price they want. TI wants people to think that paying a lot of money for their calculator makes their calculator very awesome, but that's false.

[polo961]

Because a lot of people are miseducated and are willing to pay >$120 for a TI-84, when it should only cost like $75. TI is betting that the average consumer doesn't know about CASIO or HP, so they put any price they want. TI wants people to think that paying a lot of money for their calculator makes their calculator very awesome, but that's false.

ok but i heared that you can put games on the ti84 butyou can't or can but a very little bit put games on the casio calculator
so is that true?

[kucalc]

You can put games on the fx-9860G. But I will tell you the truth. The truth is that their isn't as much games for the fx-9860G as the TI-84. So if you want a cheap calculator with bunch of features, then get the fx-9860G. If you want to play games and are ok with a weak calculator, then get a TI-84.

[LordNPS]

There is a very simple reason why the Ti84 is worse and at the same time more expensive than 9860, it is because people will have to pay for it.
If you are in the US (and even in some European Countries where CASIO is more popular) you will realize that most math books come with their instructions for the calc use oriented for Texas machines, so the unaware buyer is faced with 2 choices : less money and self learning , or simple obtuse use of their calc and a few extra bucks.
(Even though the Casio calcs are very much more user friendly and easier to use than texas)

About games, Texas comes a long way, Ti83 series (games are easily portable as they are both for Z80) first spawned 12 years ago, and plenty of games have been developed ever since, however I am most confident that when 9860 reaches the age of the TI84 series the number and quality of games will outnumber Ti Calc's ones by far. (pure speculation however)

[kucalc]

Psst.... If you're patient, you could perhaps wait for something better.

Btw, welcome back LordNPS.

[polo961]

has casio anounced a new calculator?

[kucalc]

No, CASIO hasn't announced a new calculator. But I'm just saying, perhaps in the future... But if you need something now, I highly suggest getting a fx-9860SD. You wanna get a good grade in school right and pass tests?

[polo961]

thank you
ok but i have a question if i write something like this on this casio model is it gonna solve it
example: (x+2)(x+3)
is it gonna give me an answer like:x(with 2 on the top)+5X+6
or its not gonna answer
another question can this model factorise equations?

[kucalc]

Yes, using Symbolix CAS you can expand and factor: http://www.casiocalc...?showtopic=3632.

[polo961]

is this an app for the calc?
ok another quetion did the fx9860sd has a natural input and output display

[kucalc]

Yeah, Symbolix CAS is an app for the fx-9860G. And yes again, the fx-9860G does have Natural Textbook display allowing you to input equations exactly as it looks like in the textbook and displays them also as a textbook would. Great feature that the fx-9860 has.

[polo961]

ok thank you very much
if i have questions i'm gonna ask them later, ok?
again thank you and the manager of this great forum

[kucalc]

Yeah sure, if you have any questions just go ahead and ask.

[polo961]

is the fx 9860g sd allowed in most exams?

[kucalc]

I believe it should. But maybe perhaps the fx-9860G is allowed on more exams than the fx-9860SD. If you want to be safe and don't need a SD slot, then get a fx-9860G.

[E_net4]

Well if you live in Portugal, the SD version is allowed.
The SD version is recommended to those who'll want to transfer many files to the calc. I store all my add-ins I downloaded into my 256MB SD card, and then I just need to copy them to the storage memory.

[ZweiLynx]

Either the shopkeeper lied to you or s/he is a complete ignorant. Given the prices ($57 for TI84+, $82 for fx9860gSD), I don't see why s/he would of lied; so I conclude s/he is a complete ignorant.

1 - NO, the TI84+ is not more powerful than the Casio fx-9860g SD.

2 - BOTH are programmable.

As for the advice... Think about this:

Not taking price into account, the Casio fx-9860g SD is by far the best choice. Why? For starters the TI84+ is a "mature" calc. That means not much else can be done with/to it that hasn't already been done. Regardless of the model branding, it is a refurbished-revamped TI83+. It uses an old CPU, the screen is small (at least horizontally), and (again) is an old calc.

On the other hand, the Casio fx-9860g SD is still a pretty new calc, has a fast CPU, bigger and better screen, and most importantly: The community is starting to tap its potential. And the SD option comes in handy from time to time. The 9860g has many years ahead of it, while the 84+ is starting to become HISTORY. (IMHO of course)

Now, taking the prices you mentioned into account, that makes for a different story. My above arguments still hold, BUT for 30% less the 84+ makes for a good value for money.

So how should you base your decision? Well, first take price into account (obviously). If you're short on cash, then by all means go for the 84+. If money is of no concern to you, then please, do yourself a favor and go for the 9860g SD.

Second, if you want your calc to be useful for a long time, then go for the 9860g, even if you're short on cash. In the long run, that extra 30% will prove to be a great "investment," while saving the extra cash (if you chose the 84+) will prove expensive.

And most importantly, don't chose the TI just because most people in your school has it, books give exercises based on it, teachers use them, etc. That's all marketing crap. I still haven't found a thing the TI can do that the Casio can't. None. On the other hand, I can do a few things with the Casio that would be impossible with the TI. (And the speed at which the 9860g can run programs is just amazing)

Edited by ZweiLynx, 16 May 2009 - 06:49 PM.

[DrCoyote]

I've said before that the FX-9860G is one of the best non-CAS calculators out there, and I still hold this opinion. The excellent display and keyboard alone are compelling reasons to buy this calculator. It's also fast and fairly easy to use. However, choosing a calculator at this level is pretty complicated.

When my daughter went to high school, she was required to have a graphing calculator. The 'suggested' model was a TI 83. I looked over the curriculum and bought her a Casio FX-7400 for several reasons. Of course cost came to mind. But the main reason was this- I was afraid that if she had a TI 83 (like most of the class) she would not actually learn the math. Rather, she would be taught how to get the answers on the TI, and nothing else. As it was, since she had to translate her lessons into Casio-speak, she actually had to understand the math.

When she went to college, she was required to have a TI 83 Plus or better. (TI Plus SE, TI 84, etc...) And things went exactly as I feared they might in high school. She was taught how to get the answers from the calculator, and the underlying mathmatic principles suffered. Worse, since she was given keystroke-by-keystroke solutions, she really didn't even learn to use the calculator itself. She still has only a vague idea how to use her TI 83 Plus.

So, here's my two cents, for what it's worth...

If you want to truly learn the math, buy the Casio. It is a very fast, capable machine with superior ergonomics.

If you want to learn general programming, buy the TI. The on-board programming language, which is much like BASIC, is superior to the on-board language of the Casio. (Though, the version in the FX-9860 GII closes that gap a bit, and the GII's OS can be hacked into the FX-9860 G SD.) Also, the software for transferring files to your PC for storage and editing, as well as downloading programs and data from other sources such as the 'net, is far superior and reliable than the same software for the Casio. If you use a Macintosh computer, the software is excellent for the TI. There is no software from Casio for the FX-9860 series.

If you want to learn more advanced programming, it is a toss-up. Though there is far more 'stuff' out there for the TI, the Casio has a good, active user community. So, if you want to venture into the depths of either calculator's OS, as long as you don't use a Macintosh, either machine is a good choice.

If you use a scientific calculator heavily every day as I do, and you use a PC, go with the Casio. The superior keyboard alone is enough reason. The main reason I use my TI 84 Plus SE as my everyday calculator is because it interfaces so well with my Mac for data storage and program development. The keyboard, however, is quite inferior to the Casio's, and if you're working with a calculator for an entire workday, that can make a big difference.

If you want a machine on which to play games, I cannot give you any input there. I have not ever used any calculator for games.

I hope my input has helped you a bit. Always consider the price differences as well, of course, but think about what you'll want to do with the calculator now as well as in the future.

Edited by DrCoyote, 14 July 2009 - 06:35 PM.

[DrCoyote]

Hi i have a TI-89 titanium calculator too but i notice the speed of graphing and solving functions are far more inferior to that of Casio fx9860 G AU.

I have to agree. The processing speed of the TI 89 Titanium is strangely slow when doing certain tasks. It is a very powerful calculator, and can do much more than the 9860.

So, yes, I'd say it is normal. But then, if you become more familiar with your TI 89, you can show your friends how much more genuinely useful stuff it can do.

[ZweiLynx]

@ Toy vs Tool (Guest)

If you're talking about doing statistics on complex numbers on the TI-89, then I have nothing to argue about it. The TI-89 is in a different class than the Casio fx-9860g.

On the other hand, if you're talking about doing complex numbers statistics on the TI-84+, then SHOW ME how to do it, and I guarantee you I can do it better with the fx-9860g.

Comparing the fx-9860g to the TI-89 is simply idiotic. The Classpad is the comparison to make, which is not what this thread is about.

Given that you talk about statistics on complex numbers, I'd guess you come from the engineering/physics field. I must admit, this is the first time I even hear about statistics on complex numbers

But I'll tell you this: In my field (Economics/Finance), if you can't do it with a calculator, it's because you should be doing it on a COMPUTER, using SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE. I'm completely sure this same principle holds on ANY FIELD, including yours.

Heck, I can even manage to do some things the TI-89 can do on the fx-9860g, although it takes a lot of creativity to program it.

-----------------

So I stand my ground, fx-9860g series is the best in its class as of today. And if you want to play games on your calculator... get a PSP, or even a GameBoy/DS. If you want to program games (for whatever reason)... save the money, get the emulator.

If you want to learn programing, the Casio is as good as the TI. By the time you start to notice the limitations you'd be already moving on to some serious programing on a computer. So it's null to say the TI is better for learning programing.

With regards to the Apple Mac issue, two words come to mind: Boot Camp.

Transferring files from the computer to the calculator: Nothing beats the SD card. Write your programs on the emulator (much easier), copy them to the SD card, pop it in the calculator.

I better stop it here before I start sounding like a fanboy.

[jhgenius]

oh what?
im not even logged in!!!

lets try again!!!

um
how about the TI-Nspire calc
is that better or what

which one is better TI-Nspire or Casio 9860

my school now uses casio while my new school is going to use the TI

should i ignore what my new school says and get a casio
i already prefer casio anyway becuase my older cousin gave me a 9850

I made a new game anyway

so help me choose
TI-Nspire or 9860!

[DrCoyote]

The TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS are in a completely different class than the FX-9860G series. TI-Nspire uses a completely different operating paradigm than any calculator to date. It would be more appropriate to compare it to the ClassPad, though even that would be an apples to oranges comparison.

The TI-Nspire is a remarkable machine, but it has a steep learning curve. It is not because it is particularly hard to use. It is actually fairly easy to find all the functions, and there's some on-board help and Wizards. The difficult part is learning a whole new way of doing things. Once you understand how the TI-Nspire works, it is actually very powerful.

But if you want to hit the ground running, you would be better off with either a TI-84 series or a casio FX-9860G series.

[jhgenius]

hmm... i dont know what my next question should be
what do you exactly mean by hit the ground running

(also a question of interest: how old is the TI-Nspire)

[DrCoyote]

hmm... i dont know what my next question should be
what do you exactly mean by hit the ground running

(also a question of interest: how old is the TI-Nspire)

If you do not want to deal with the TI-Nspire's learning curve, you should buy a more traditional calculator like a FX-9860G or a TI 84 series.

The TI-Nspire is a fairly new model.

[jhgenius]

Question: what if the teacher requires you to use the TI-84 Plus? Would the casio fx-9860g SD still be ok to use?
Thanks.

HI guys now that i know more about the ti-nspire i can tell you guys much more about them
(i have yet to update my profile of calculators ok?)
I bought the ti- nspire CAS (notice the CAS) from officeworks but then my school said that it was not allowed and i refunded it and got a ti- nspire (non-CAS) it is better becuase you can take the whole keyboard off and replace it with a ti-84 calc with all the features of the ti-84 so the non-CAS version is better than the CAS version