Which calculator? Hp 50G vs Ti89 Titanium

odobo

[QUOTE=J77;1096438]

"What's wrong with a pen and paper?

Kids these days...

<wanders off grumbling to oneself>"


If you can integrate, for example, e^(-x^2) from 0 to 8 without a calculator or computer, then I guess you don't need one. But for most people, calculators save time.

Rpn alone makes hp superior, but rpn serves as a solid foundation for building powerful tools. In sum, hp built calculators for engineers and professionals and for use in the real world, and ti builds, well, toys for children.
Do you use a steel hammer to build a house, or do you use a childrens plastic toy hammer?

Just look at the resale value of old hp calcs on ebay. I saw an hp 15c go for 430 dollars. People that have used hp know their quality, and will pay ridiculous prices to get their favorite tool.

No one will EVER pay that much for an old ti, even if it still works.

Danger

I readily admit that I skipped all but the first page of this thread. Too damned many numbers in it.
All that I want to ask is: Why would you buy a calculator of any sort when you can get a laptop with calculator software for the same price or less?

FrogPad

A TI-89 is ~200.00 (USD)

A cheap laptop is ~500 (USD).



A calculator is very convenient to use when compared to using more complex math programs. It is often useful when prototyping an answer to a problem. A calculator will have orders of magnitude more battery life than a laptop. Each serve a purpose.

bfr

"A TI-89 is ~200.00 (USD)" -> More like 150.00 these days. Calculators are even more portable than laptops, as portable as laptops are, and plus, they are probably allowed on more tests.

EDIT: Oh, and I think I'm missing something - what's so good about RPN? From what I can tell, it doesn't really seem more powerful or easier in to enter, and I don't see how RPN alone would make HP superior. Could somebody please kindly explain the advantages of RPN? (And note that there is a program that lets the TI-89 have RPN)

Danger

Ahhh... I'm not sure about calculators, but if you don't mind using one of those Windows-burning pieces of ****, you can get a Pentium 4 laptop for $350 CdnD, which is probably about $320 USD at today's exchange rate, where I live. The good stuff, unfortunately, runs a bit steeper.

FrogPad

True that. A Pentium 4 would run what can be done (and a lot more) on a calculator just fun.

I would just vote for convenience than. I can easily have my calculator on me at all times, it is not so easy to take a laptop around.

Plus, with heightened security at the airport ... just kidding

ranger

This has been discussed already.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=157962

If you're still unclear about RPN, feel free to resurrect that old thread.

[And yea, that $200 USD is an exaggeration of the current price]

ranger

I think you're relying too much on the forum censorship software You could have said **** and kept the angry vibe.

EDIT: OK then, probably turd

FrogPad

Damn. Those things have dropped in price.

Danger

It's not really that funny. I know that if I were an airport security officer, I'd never let anyone with the last name of 'Pad' onto a flight. You're obviously a terrorist.

jkotecha

I have both TI89T and 50G. I bought the 50G first because I'm use to RPN (12C, CX, SX). I had a lot of problems with the 50G. Basic keys that should be on the keyboard have been removed. I did a lot of customization. Then
I started to find other issues. E.g. no true support for vector transpose, slow integration, lack of programming support.

A friend of mine turned me on to the TI89T. He was a HP buff, but moved to TI89T. Now he uses a free 3rd party RPN. He has a 3rd party equation writer, but once you see how easy and powerful the 3rd party RPN is you wonder why you bothered loading the EQW.

For typical problems, I'm finding the TI89T to be faster data entry, faster results. For example, $(x/(x^2+y^2), dx) take the TI89T < 1 second. Its so fast I don't even know how to time it. With the HP50G, it takes about 4 - 6 seconds.

For pathological cases, but TI89T and HP50G do badly. For example, try
$(sin(x)/x, x, 0, inf). Both calculators give up. The HP50G returns with the wrong answer. The TI89T keeps "BUSY". You basically have to QUIT. I don't know what's better, getting the wrong answer or getting a "BUSY". I suppose if you don't know the answer, getting the wrong answer might be a problem.

I think more people should know that there is a 3rd Party RPN utility. The debate between TI89 and HP50G would become very interesting.

FrogPad

that really is my last name

Danger

....

FrogPad

wink ....

berkeman

I don't get it. But then again, I haven't read much of the thread. And then again, I also know very little about terrorists. What's the joke?

chrisakel

I have only used the TI-89 and its been good to me.

Danger

I probably shouldn't respond to this, since I just got a PM from Jkotecha giving me **** for not staying on topic, but since you're a Mentor and he's not...
It wasn't really a joke; just sniping at the concept of racial profiling. If someone named Rajid is obviously a terrorist to the US government, then someone named Pad is obviously one to me. The whole point was that there is no point.