Idea Transcript
Back in the 1970's, you were either a TI person or an HP person. The two camps had irreconcilable differences, constantly eager to prove the superiority of their chosen brand of calculators. TI calculators, of course, had a major advantage: they were a lot cheaper. Which is probably one reason why they were more readily available in my native Hungary. I admit: at the time I also preferred the "AOS" data entry method (algebraic entry with operator precedence) of TI calculators over HP's RPN. Today, I am no longer sure: RPN, once you get used to it, is a lot more efficient, especially when it comes to calculator programming. Back in the late 70s, however, it was a TI-59 that I was dreaming about. Today, I have several; sadly, except for "New Old Stock" machines, their card readers have either failed or are about to do so, and they're a lot more difficult to repair than the card readers of HP calculators. Yet another point in favor of HP technology!
Keystroke Programmables Like Hewlett-Packard's, Texas Instruments' first "electronic slide rules" were non-programmable machines, including the SR-50/SR-51 line of products, effective rivals to HP's HP-35 and HP-45. Shortly after the legendary HP-65, however, TI also introduced its first programmables: the SR-56, and the high-end SR-52, a calculator with magnetic cards and an I/O connector for an external printer unit. And now the race was on: for many years afterwards, TI and HP were leapfrogging each other with ever more impressive technological achievements.
Electronic Slide Rules Texas Instruments was one of several early manufacturers who called their scientific calculators electronic "slide rules". The distinction was important. To an engineer of the 1960s, a calculator (mechanical or electrical) meant a digital device performing the four basic arithmetic functions; the values of transcendental functions were usually computed using printed tables or slide rules. High-end electronic calculators in the 1970s opened up a new frontier: portable calculating devices that went beyond the four arithmetic functions, and packed ever more of the functionality of the engineer's slide rule into a pocket-sized package.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Special functions
Conditionals,
SR-52
Scientific
10+2 LED digits
Partially merged
Branching,
keystroke (224
Subroutines,
program steps)
Labels, Indirect
Trigonometrics,
60(22) numbers
Exponentials, Magnetic cards
addressing
SR-56
Scientific
10+2 LED digits
Partially merged
Conditionals,
keystroke (100
Branching,
program steps)
Subroutines
10 numbers
Trigonometrics, Exponentials
The Ultimate LED Series The second generation of TI calculators featured a machine that can easily be called the ultimate LED programmable calculator: the TI-59. This machine's prodigious amount of memory, magnetic card, solid state software modules, and printer interface made it a true marvel of its time.
-
Model
TI-57
Type
Scientific
Display
8+2 LED digits
Programming
Programming
model
features
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(50 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
Memory
Special functions
Trigonometrics,
8 numbers
Exponentials, Standard deviation
Conditionals,
TI-58
Scientific
10(8+2) LED digits
Partially merged
Branching,
keystroke (480
Subroutines,
program steps)
Labels, Indirect
Trigonometrics,
60(0) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression
addressing Conditionals,
TI-58C
Scientific
10(8+2) LED digits
Partially merged
Branching,
keystroke (480
Subroutines,
program steps)
Labels, Indirect
Trigonometrics,
60(0) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression, Continuous memory
addressing Conditionals,
TI-59
Scientific
10(8+2) LED digits
Partially merged
Branching,
keystroke (960
Subroutines,
program steps)
Labels, Indirect
Trigonometrics,
100(0) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression, Magnetic cards
addressing
Low-end LED Programmables Before the era of LED calculators has drawn to a close, we saw the birth of a new concept in programmable scientific calculators: that of a low-end machine, cheap in construction, with minimal programming capabilities.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Special functions
Keystroke entry MBA
Financial
10(8+2) LED digits
(32 program
12(8) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression, Financial
steps) Keystroke entry TI-42 MBA
Financial
10(8+2) LED digits
(32 program
10(8) numbers
regression, Financial
steps) Partially merged TI-51-III
TI-55
Scientific
Scientific
8+2 LED digits
8+2 LED digits
keystroke (32
Exponentials, Linear
Trigonometrics,
10(8) numbers
Exponentials, Linear
program steps)
regression
Partially merged
Trigonometrics,
keystroke (32
10(8) numbers
program steps)
Exponentials, Linear regression
TI-55 LCD Family Among the first Texas Instruments programmable calculators with a liquid crystal display was a series of machines that built upon the earlier success of the TI-55 and the MBA. These machines were characterized by a clean keyboard layout and a very simple programming model, capable of storing only a few dozen program steps.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Keystroke entry BA-54
BA-55
TI-53
Financial
Financial
Scientific
8(5+2) LCD digits
8(5+2) LCD digits
8(5+2) LCD digits
(40 program
Special functions
Exponentials,
5(0) numbers
Financial, Continuous
steps)
memory
Keystroke entry
Exponentials,
(40 program
5(0) numbers
Financial, Continuous
steps)
memory
Keystroke entry
Trigonometrics,
(32 program
1 numbers
steps)
Exponentials, Continuous memory Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
Partially merged TI-55-II
Scientific
8+2 LCD digits
keystroke (56
8(1) numbers
Hyperbolics, Linear regression,
program steps)
Continuous memory, Unit conversions Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
Partially merged TI-55-III
Scientific
8+2 LCD digits
keystroke (56
8(1) numbers
Hyperbolics, Linear regression,
program steps)
Continuous memory, Unit conversions Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
Partially merged TI-56
Scientific
8+2 LCD digits
keystroke (56
Hyperbolics, Linear
8(1) numbers
program steps)
regression, Integration, Continuous memory, Unit conversions
LCD Programmables Other early LCD programmables offerred an increased amount of memory, but surprisingly (with the exception of the successors to the TI-57) the programming model remained primitive.
-
Model
TI-57 LCD
TI-57 LCD Constant Memory
TI-57 II
Type
Scientific
Scientific
Scientific
Display
8+2 LCD digits
8+2 LCD digits
8+2 LCD digits
Programming
Programming
model
features
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(48 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(48 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(48 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
Memory
Special functions
Trigonometrics,
7(1) numbers
Exponentials, Continuous memory
Trigonometrics,
7(1) numbers
Exponentials, Continuous memory
Trigonometrics,
7(1) numbers
Exponentials, Continuous memory
Trigonometrics, Exponentials, Hyperbolics, Linear
Keystroke entry TI-60
Scientific
10(7+2) LCD digits
(84 program
12(1) numbers
regression, Integration,
steps)
Continuous memory, baseN, Unit conversions Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
TI-60X
Scientific
12 LCD characters
Formula programming (96
Hyperbolics, Linear
12(0) numbers
program steps)
regression, Fractions, Complex, Continuous memory, baseN, Unit conversions Trigonometrics, Exponentials, Hyperbolics, Linear
TI-68
Scientific
12 LCD characters
Formula programming (440
regression, Solver,
55(0) numbers
program steps)
Integration, Complex, Continuous memory, baseN, Unit conversions, Constants
"Galaxy" series The "Galaxy" series represented a change in both appearance and design. Externally, they were characterized by a horizontal layout; internally, these machines were no longer TIdesigned, for instance the chipset of the TI-66 was made by Toshiba.
-
Model
TI-62 Galaxy
No Image Available
TI-64
Type
Scientific
N/A
Display
10+2 LCD digits
LCD
Programming
Programming
model
features
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(100 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
Memory
Special functions
Trigonometrics,
10(1) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression, Continuous memory
Trigonometrics, Exponentials, Hyperbolics, Linear
TI-65
Scientific
10+2 LCD digits
Fully-merged
Conditionals,
keystroke entry
Branching,
(100 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels
regression,
16(1) numbers
Integration, Complex, Continuous memory, Real-time clock, baseN, Unit conversions, Constants
Conditionals,
TI-66
Scientific
10(8+2) LCD digits
Partially merged
Branching,
keystroke (512
Subroutines,
program steps)
Labels, Indirect
Trigonometrics,
64(0) numbers
Exponentials, Linear regression, Continuous memory
addressing
Trigonometrics,
TI-67 Galaxy
Scientific
12 LCD characters
Formula programming (1536 bytes)
Exponentials,
Conditionals, Branching, Subroutines,
Hyperbolics, Linear
1536(0) bytes
regression, Solver, Integration, Fractions,
Labels
Complex, Continuous memory, Constants
High-end Programmables At the highest end of TI's keyboard programmable product line are two notable machines: the TI-88 is a legendary unreleased model, whereas the TI-95, despite having the appearance of a BASIC programmable pocket computer, is in fact another high-end keystroke programmable.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
TI-88
Scientific
16 LCD characters
Keystroke entry
Branching,
(960 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels, Indirect
Special functions
Exponentials, Linear
120(0) numbers
regression, Continuous memory, Real-time clock,
addressing
Sound
TI-95
Scientific
16 LCD characters
Conditionals,
Trigonometrics,
Keystroke entry
Branching,
Exponentials, Linear
(1000 program
Subroutines,
steps)
Labels, Indirect
Continuous memory,
addressing
baseN
250(0) numbers
regression,
Handheld Computers Like other manufacturers, Texas Instruments also made a few handheld computers; in TI's case, all were programmable in the BASIC language.
BASIC Programmables Before the era of LED calculators has drawn to a close, we saw the birth of a new concept in programmable scientific calculators: that of a low-end machine, cheap in construction, with minimal programming capabilities.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Special functions
Conditionals,
CC-40
BASIC
31 LCD
BASIC (8
Programmable
characters
kilobytes)
Branching, Subroutines,
Trigonometrics,
8(0) kilobytes
Indirect
Exponentials, Continuous memory
addressing
TI-74
TI-74S
Scientific
Scientific
31 LCD
BASIC (8
characters
kilobytes)
31 LCD
BASIC (8
characters
kilobytes)
Conditionals,
Trigonometrics,
Branching,
Exponentials,
Subroutines,
8(0) kilobytes
Hyperbolics, Linear
Labels, Indirect
regression,
addressing
Continuous memory
Conditionals,
Trigonometrics,
Branching,
Exponentials,
Subroutines,
8(0) kilobytes
Hyperbolics, Linear
Labels, Indirect
regression,
addressing
Continuous memory
Graphing Calculators Presently, Texas Instruments is most famous for its highly successful line of educational graphing calculators, which became the de facto standard in many classrooms in North America and elsewhere. The high-end models, in particular the TI-89, give even Hewlett-Packard a run for their money, matching HP's top-of-the-line models in both features and quality.
Graphing Calculators TI offers a variety of graphing calculators for all students from high school to college.
Model
-
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Special functions
Trigonometrics,
TI-73
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Formula
Branching,
Hyperbolics, Linear
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Continuous
addressing
memory, Matrix,
28(0) kilobytes
regression, Graphing,
baseN Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
TI-80
Graphing
64×48 LCD pixels
Formula
Branching,
programming (7
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Exponentials,
7(0) kilobytes
Hyperbolics, Linear regression, Graphing, Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
TI-81
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Formula
Branching,
programming (2400
Subroutines,
bytes)
Labels, Indirect
Exponentials,
2400(0) bytes
Hyperbolics, Linear regression, Graphing, Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
TI-82
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Formula
Branching,
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Exponentials,
28(0) kilobytes
Hyperbolics, Linear regression, Graphing, Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
TI-83
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Formula
Branching,
Hyperbolics, Linear
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Solver, Integration,
addressing
Continuous memory,
28(0) kilobytes
regression, Graphing,
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
TI-83 Plus
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Formula
Branching,
Hyperbolics, Linear
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Solver, Integration,
addressing
Continuous memory,
28(0) kilobytes
regression, Graphing,
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
TI-83 Plus SE
Graphing
96×64 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Formula
Branching,
Hyperbolics, Linear
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Solver, Integration,
addressing
Continuous memory,
24(0) kilobytes
regression, Graphing,
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
TI-85
Graphing
128×64 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (28
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN, Unit
28(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
conversions, Constants Trigonometrics, Exponentials, Hyperbolics, Linear
Conditionals,
TI-86
Graphing
128×64 LCD pixels
Formula
Branching,
programming (96
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
regression, Graphing,
96(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration, Complex, Continuous memory, Matrix,
addressing
baseN, Unit conversions, Constants
Advanced Graphing Calculators TI's advanced graphing calculators feature a 16-bit processor, high resolution display, a powerful programming language capable of symbolic manipulation, Flash programmability, and a considerable amount of memory.
-
Model
Type
Display
Programming
Programming
model
features
Memory
Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Branching,
Unconfirmed sighting
TI-84 Plus
Graphing
LCD pixels
Subroutines,
Special functions
Hyperbolics, Linear regression, Graphing,
Labels, Indirect
Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics,
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Branching, TI-84 Plus SE
Graphing
LCD pixels
Subroutines,
Hyperbolics, Linear regression, Graphing,
Labels, Indirect
Continuous memory,
addressing
Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
TI-89
Graphing
160×100 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (192
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Complex,
addressing
Symbolics,
192(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
Continuous memory, Matrix Trigonometrics,
No Image Available
TI-89 Titanium
Graphing
LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Exponentials,
Branching,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Subroutines,
regression, Graphing,
Labels, Indirect
Symbolics,
addressing
Continuous memory, Matrix, baseN Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
TI-92
Graphing
240×120 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (64
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Complex,
addressing
Symbolics,
64(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
Continuous memory, Matrix Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
TI-92 Plus
Graphing
240×120 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (192
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Complex,
addressing
Symbolics,
192(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
Continuous memory, Matrix Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
No Image Available
TI-92 II
Graphing
240×120 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Complex,
addressing
Symbolics,
kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
Continuous memory, Matrix
nspire
nspire CAS
N/A
Graphing
LCD
320×240 LCD pixels
Trigonometrics,
(16 megabytes)
Exponentials, Graphing, Symbolics
nspire CX
N/A
CLCD
Trigonometrics, Exponentials,
Voyage 200
Graphing
240×120 LCD pixels
Conditionals,
Hyperbolics, Linear
Formula
Branching,
regression, Graphing,
programming (192
Subroutines,
kilobytes)
Labels, Indirect
Fractions, Complex,
addressing
Symbolics,
192(0) kilobytes
Solver, Integration,
Continuous memory, Matrix
Other Models Texas Instruments models that were not yet added to any of the categories listed so far are shown below.
Variants/OEM Versions Several Texas Instruments calculators were sold under the Tandy/Radio Shack store brand name.