Texas Instruments Keyboard?

[Zerileous]

I know this isnt the best place for this post but i think it fits best here. I just got me a nice schwanky new TI-83 Plus SE calculator and noticed that they make a keyboard and basic word processor for it. Since its the Silver Edition it has more rom and more ram so i figure i might be able to fit a days worth of notes on it. Im in Junior year of High School and got it for Trig and future classes. Being a highschool class keyboard input for notes is a rather unconventional idea. I do not like to write, i dont mind typing. I basically have 3 questions: How loud is the KB? How good is the actuall word processing program (is this a waste of time)? Will i really be able to fit a functional ammount of notes onto the calc?

[Frodo Baggins]

uh......do you honestly need to type up notes (especially Trig notes) on a TI? I can't say I see the point.

Just use a paper and pencil, it's a big effort to type everything out on a TI when a much simpler and easier solution will suffice

The memory for aTI calc (83) isn't that great, so unless you plan on transferring your data between computers, I wouldn't suggest it

Even if the keyboard is soft like a lappy, I'm sure it makes a clicking sound, which amoung a quiet class taking notes is very very very very annoying.

But hey, that's just my two cents

[Zerileous]

well it would be other classes, and it was just a though, i do much prefer typing but it was just one of those, wow i can get a keyboard for this?

[n17ikh]

You also have to consider the "dork" factor of carrying around a keyboard that won't fit in your backpack, and being the ONLY one using a calculator and a keyboard to take notes with.... :rolleyes:

[Frodo Baggins]

Originally posted by n17ikh
You also have to consider the "dork" factor of carrying around a keyboard that won't fit in your backpack, and being the ONLY one using a calculator and a keyboard to take notes with.... :rolleyes:

yeah, I was scared of mentioning that, lol

sadly enough, I'd probably be the one to make fun of guys like you

TI calcs are very powerful (especially the 89 model). Though I think in high school, they are only useful for calculus. I never saw a need for them for any other courses (Except Matrix Algebra, but you usually don't do much of that in high school) Oops, also useful for stats work.

[emericanchaos]

i don't know about the 83 but the 86 is handy for lazy algebra people.

good ol' STO>RCL.

[Jared555]

How loud is the KB? How good is the actuall word processing program (is this a waste of time)? Will i really be able to fit a functional ammount of notes onto the calc?
I bought the keyboard a few days ago. It isn't very loud at all, the word processing program is ok for basic things but you will probably still want to do some work in MS Word. I haven't taken many notes with it but think, that calculator has around 1MB-1.5MB of memory that is 1048576-1,572,864 letters, figuring 6 letters per word average 174,762.66-262,144 words.

You might be able to get permission to install the computer software on one or two of the computers and transfer it over to a floppy even (I asked and my school doesn't care as long as it isn't on every computer).

You are not going to be able to do advanced charts, etc. quickly of course but you can still set it up so you can make the chart on your computer.

I just thought, remember the calculator takes 4 AAA batteries and then the keyboard takes 3 more, so you will probably want to carry some batteries around too.

[Frodo Baggins]

How big is this keyboard? like a lappy?

[Jared555]

nearly every key from the ~/` key to the bottom right ctrl key is on there full size, arrow keys, etc. replace some of the keys like ctrl

[Coolio]

Yeah..i had gotten the silver edition calc too at the beginning of this year. It was kinda useful for some of my physics stuff too. I did return it though cause i found out that i would not be able to use that calc on any tests etc. So i just stuck with a normal scientific calculator. If u don't care about that then well...the keyboard is an ok idea. Although for trig you are prolly gonna need some diagrams and things.

[Luie]

Paper and pen works best for me for taking notes.

Computer-like things = for making things neat etc. eg projects, essays, etc.

Saw the keyboard for the TI somewhere. All I know is: nope. not for me.

I got a TI-83+ silver version too. Originally, I was planning to put games on it (stupid...) but nah calc games are not fun. lol! I don't like the feel of the buttons and the closing of the lid compared to the normal TI-83+...
but it's good. it draw graphs faster.

[n17ikh]

I love some of the ASM games for my (now-broken :cry: actually it's just the link port and the rubber thingiess, but still...) 83+SE, and my new 89...

And the closing of the lid: That goes away. It's just the stiffness of the plastic and those new tabs holding it on. They wear down in time.

[Zim2411]

My friend has a silver edition that broke... and i have the 83plus

The games are pretty dumb, but i did find a really good mario one.

I do not like how the buttons feel on the Silver Edition... they are looser... or something....

Going back to the keyboard, my friend saw the picture of it on the cd thing, and just laughed

[eab]

if you want something to take notes on get a palm III along with a palm III keyboard and you are set. You propaly can get both for under 40 bucks.

My thoughts though why would you want to take notes in a math class on a computer device? You are writing equations and drawing graphs and stuff and can do it so much more quicker on a note pad.