TI-83 series

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The TI-83 (original design)

The TI-83 series of graphing calculators is manufactured by Texas Instruments. The original TI-83 is itself an upgraded version of the TI-82. Released in 1996, it is one of the most used graphing calculators for students (especially those in middle school or higher). In addition to the functions present on normal scientific calculators, the TI-83 includes many features, including function graphing, polar/parametric/sequence graphing modes, statistics, trigonometric, and algebraic functions. Although it does not include as many calculus functions, applications (for the TI-83 Plus -- see below) and programs can be downloaded from certain websites.

TI replaced the TI-83 with the TI-83 Plus calculator in 1999, which included Flash ROM, enabling the device's operating system to be updated if needed, or for large new Flash Applications to be stored, accessible through a new Apps key. The Flash ROM can also be used to store user programs and data. In 2001 the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition was released, which featured approximately nine times the available Flash ROM, and over twice the processing speed (15 MHz) of a standard TI-83 Plus, all in a translucent, iridescent grey case.

An interesting historical note - the TI-83 was the first calculator in the TI series to have built in assembly language support. The TI-85 and TI-82 had ASM support, but only after sending a specially constructed (hacked) memory backup. The support could be accessed through a hidden feature of the calculator. Users would write their assembly (ASM) program on their computer, compile it, and send it to their calculator as a program. The user would then execute the command "Send(9prgmXXX)", and it would execute the program. Successors of the TI-83 replaced the Send(9 backdoor with a less-hidden Asm() command.

1 TI-83 Plus
2 TI-83 Plus Silver Edition
3 TI-84 Plus series
4 Technical specifications
5 External links

[edit] TI-83 Plus

The TI-83 Plus is a graphing calculator made by Texas Instruments, designed in 1999 as an upgrade to the TI-83. The TI-83 Plus is one of TI's most popular calculators. It uses a ZiLOG Z80 microprocessor running at 6 MHz, a 96×64 monochrome LCD screen, and 4 AAA batteries as well as backup CR1616 or CR1920 battery. A link port is also built into the calculator. The main improvement over the TI-83, however, is the addition of 512 KiB of Flash ROM, which allows for OS upgrades and applications to be installed. Most of the Flash ROM is used by the OS, with 160 KiB available for user files and applications. Another development is the APPS function, which allows the user to do things like test probability and create study cards. The sample study deck covers science, math, music, language, and analogies.

Designed for high school, it contains all the features of a scientific calculator as well as function, parametric, polar, and sequential graphing capabilities; an environment for financial calculations; matrix operations; on-calculator programming; and more. Symbolic manipulation (differentiation, algebra) is not built into the TI-83 Plus, but is available as an add-on by Detached Solutions. It can be programmed using a language called TI-BASIC, which is similar to the BASIC computer language. Programming may also be done in TI Assembly, made up of Z80 assembly and a collection of TI provided system calls. Assembly programs run much faster, but are more difficult to write.

A large and active community of third-party developers exists, and a large archive of programs for the calculator can be found at ticalc.org.

[edit] TI-83 Plus Silver Edition

TI-83 Plus Silver Edition

The TI-83 Plus Silver Edition is a newer version of the TI-83 Plus calculator, released in 2001. Its enhancements are 1.5 MiB of FLASH ROM, a dual-speed 6/15 MHz processor, 96 KiB of additional RAM, an improved link transfer hardware, a translucent silver case, and more applications preinstalled. It also includes a USB link cable in the box. It is almost completely compatible with the TI-83 Plus; the only problems that may arise are with programs (i.e. games) that may run too quickly on the Silver Edition or with some programs which have problems with the link hardware. The key layout is the same.

In April 2004, the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition was replaced by the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition. They feature the same processor and the same amount of Flash ROM, but the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition features a built in USB port, clock, and changeable faceplates.

[edit] TI-84 Plus series

Main article: TI-84 Plus series

The TI-84 Plus series was introduced in April 2004 as a further update to the TI-83 line. Despite the new appearance, they are not vastly superior to the TI-83 Plus series. The main improvements of the TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition are a fancier case with changeable faceplates (Silver Edition only), new built in functions, more speed and memory over the TI-83 and base TI-83 Plus, a built-in clock, and built-in USB port connectivity. The TI-84 Plus has 3 times the memory of the TI-83 plus, and the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition has 9 times the memory of the TI-83 Plus. They both have 2.5 times the speed of the TI-83 Plus. The operating system and math functionality remain almost the same, as does the standard link port for connecting with the rest of the TI Calculator series. Because of a few extra features included in the 84's operating system, however, the amount of user-available Flash ROM has decreased slightly from the 83+ SE. Also, the processor has to update a clock as well as support a USB port, so the speed of processing is slightly reduced from the 83+ SE.

[edit] Technical specifications

CPU: Zilog Z80 CPU, 6 MHz (TI-83, 83+) or 15 MHz (Silver Edition)
ROM: 256 KB ROM (TI-83)
Flash ROM: 512 KB (83+) or 2 MB (Silver Edition)
RAM: 32 KB RAM (128 KiB on Silver Edition, however the extra 96 KiB is not user accessible)
Display: Text: 16×8 characters (normal font); Graphics: 96×64 pixels, 2 colors
I/O: Link port, 9.6 kbit/s
Power: 4 AAA batteries plus 1 CR 1616 or CR 1620 for backup
Integrated programming languages: TI-BASIC and machine code. Assembler and C require a computer unless, you use an on-calc assembler such as Chasm, or Assemble a program by hand, and then type in the Hex output code using the built in program editor.

[edit] External links

[edit] Tech

Features of the TI-83 Plus, and TI-83 Plus Silver Edition Texas Instruments Product Info
TiCalc.info TI-83 programs, TI-83 games, TI-83 guides, TI-83 forums, and links to other TI-83 related sites.
TI83+ programs Free programs . Subjects : maths, electrical engineering, control systems
Ti-Calc.org - Overclock your calculator
Ti-News.net - Calculator news and RSS feeds
WikiTI is a wiki documenting the hardware and operating system of the TI-83 Series and the TI-84 Series of calculators.
A TI-8x series Robot