This Teacher Pack (model TI83PLSILVERTP) contains 10 Texas Instruments
TI 83 Plus Silver Edition calculators, 5 TI I/O Link Cables (not graph-link cables), CD Version of Manual, and 40 batteries (each calculator
requires four). Following is our review of the single-unit TI-83 Plus
Silver Edition.
Leery of "special edition" products, we regarded the
TI-83 Plus Silver Edition with some healthy skepticism. It's silver--so
what? As you may have noticed, in the post-iMac era, everything
electronic seems to boast cool translucent or glittery casing. However,
the features of the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition are substantial, offering
useful, powerful extras at a remarkable value.
While the
mathematic and graphing tools are comparable to the TI-83 Plus, the
Silver Edition boasts significantly improved speed and memory. Its
processor is 2.5 times faster, and it has over 1.5 MB of memory--10
times that of the TI-83 Plus. These upgrades make the Silver Edition a
significantly improved graphing tool, enabling you to work faster and
save more of your equations and programs.
Like the TI-83 Plus,
the Silver Edition has a large, easy-to-read 64 x 96 pixel LCD that fits
16 characters and 8 lines. Altering the contrast of the screen is
intuitively easy, as is the key layout and graphing interface.
Mathematic tools are substantial, including viewing equations, graphs,
and coordinates simultaneously; advanced statistics and regression
analysis, graphical analysis, and data analysis; and tools for
engineering, financial, logarithm, trigonometry, and hyperbolic
functions. The calculator is ideal for students in algebra, calculus,
and statistics, as well as those taking the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT I or II, and
AP College Board Tests.
The calculator is also rich in tools
for those studying biology, chemistry, or physics, including a
pre-programmed periodic table. Other programs included with the
calculator include a spreadsheet, organizer for phone numbers, puzzle
pack, probability simulation, and CBL/CBR applications.
The calculator uses four AAA batteries and one lithium
battery for backup. All batteries are included, as well as a hard slide
covers, the TI-Link Cable and software CD. Overall, the improved power, faster speed,
and solid build quality provide to make this a truly
special "special edition," and we have to admit that the silver casing
does look pretty cool. --Johanness Jacobs
