Introduction
Calculators have become a necessity for students, scientists, engineers, and most professionals in their day-to-day work when performing complex calculations. Texas Instruments is one of the most prestigious players in the calculator market and has produced innovative and high-quality calculators for over the last 50 years. This reviews the Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator, making it among the top-of-the-line calculators designed specially for advanced users.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS Features
Purpose:
TI-Nspire CX II CAS is meant for an advanced user who needs a calculator that comprises an entire calculus, statistics, and engineering toolset. It has an extensive function capacity-from graphing to data analysis and calculus.
Usability:
The calculator has a stylish, modern design, with a full-color screen and touchpad, making it very easy to navigate. A built-in user guide fields detailed instructions on using the calculator, along with easy directions.
Display:
The TI-Nspire CX II CAS has an easy-to-read, 3.2-inch color display with high-resolution graphics. It is a backlit, adjustable screen, allowing it to be used in any lighting.
Battery Life:
A single charge gives a lithium-ion rechargeable battery up to 2 weeks of use. The calculator also has an automatic power-off feature when it is not in use to save battery life.
Memory:
The TI-Nspire CX II CAS gives users 100 megabytes of storage memory, allowing them to store and easily retrieve data. Aside from this storage, the machine comes with a computer algebra system (CAS) that can manipulate equations and expressions symbolically.
Cost:
The TI-Nspire CX II CAS is available for well around $150, which is fair to its state-of-the-art functionalities and potential.
Advantages and disadvantages of the TI-Nspire CX II CAS
Advantages:
The calculator has a wide range of advanced features that extend beyond those needed by more advanced users.
In-built yet intuitive color touch screen interface eases navigation.
Rechargeable battery lasting long is complemented by auto power-off feature.
The computer algebra system (CAS) enables users to perform complicated calculations with ease.
Disadvantages:
It is a relatively expensive offering, making it rather prohibitive for some users.
Some users may find it a bit overwhelming to be guided through the means of using the calculator, and learning how to use it would take some time.
Comparison to Other Calculators
In fact, when you compare it against some of the other graphing calculators around, the TI-Nspire CX II CAS shines as possibly one of the most powerful as well as the most versatile one on the market. Certainly, these features, along with its sleek design and color display, make it a favorite among professionals and students alike, although international travel can be made easier.
The reader should note that, compared to many of the other graphing calculators on the market, this particular model runs on the higher end of the price scale. Advanced features and programming capabilities also mean the TI-Nspire CX II CAS will probably prove more difficult for some users to learn and find their way around.
Some of the other popular graphing calculators here include the Casio fx-9750GII, the HP Prime G2, and of course, the TI-84 Plus CE. The Casio fx-9750GII would be considered a budget floating point for the entry-level feature set, with its large display and significant memory but without color and rechargeable battery, as some would expect.
HP Prime G2 is yet another highly developed graphing calculator, featuring all aspects of sophisticated programming and very much more.Additionally, this device is well-known through its touch screen displaying and wireless feature. It is, however, more expensive than many other graphing calculators that now reside in the memory of the market.
At last, what you have in the nest is TI-84 Plus CE—an option most students would definitely be keen on putting under consideration because it’s not only very friendly with one’s pocket but also easy to use. This one may not have either the special capabilities or programmability of a TI-Nspire CX II CAS or a high-end graphing calculator, but indeed, it still amply serves a student as useful and versatile for most basic calculations and graphing exercises.
Conclusion
In summary, Texas Instrument’s TI-Nspire CX II CAS presents a very powerful and versatile graphing calculator for students and professionals needing advanced mathematical functionality with programming capabilities. Their highly sleek, sophisticated design combined with a brilliant color display makes them easy to read and navigate. Even better, with huge memory and its powerful processing, it handles quite well deeply complex calculations with concise and sophisticated analysis of any data.
It proves much more expensive than a majority of graphing calculators available in the market, but that advanced feature and programming capability make the extra expense truly worthy of such investment in case one needs them. However, for those tight on cash or needing a simpler computer, if other alternatives shoot their way into the market, they will be cheaper investments. Ultimately, it will be a matter of individual need and preference as to which calculator is best suited for purchase.
Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator with Student Software (PC/Mac): Buy it now