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What do you think would be better between a TI-89 and a HP49G?

TI-89.

TI

Only person I know with an HP doesn't like it. Go TI

...any particular reasons?

Althought for simplicity you might want just a TI-83. TI-89's a bit complicated.

Id personally buy a TI, but Ive seen guys with HP's playing games. That counts for something.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Id personally buy a TI, but Ive seen guys with HP's playing games. That counts for something.

I've seen TIs playing Super Mario Bros. There's game-playing for you

Shinova wrote:Althought for simplicity you might want just a TI-83. TI-89's a bit complicated.

Saying a TI83 is simple is like saying the X-15 is a bit slow...

BTW Go for the TI!!!!

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:

Shinova wrote:Althought for simplicity you might want just a TI-83. TI-89's a bit complicated.

Saying a TI83 is simple is like saying the X-15 is a bit slow...

83's a hell lot simpler than 89, that's for sure.

The least powerfull TI calc I would get would be the 86, I'm in a engineering program at university right now, so I think I'll use enough of the functions it has to justify getting it.

...and you can play games on TI's as well.

HP-49 is a marvellous calculator - a friend in high school had it. It's OS was entirely written in assembly (some of it from HP-48GX hackers) and is rather fast. It has both RPN and algebraic input modes - and IIRC, the engineering field is almost standardized on HP calculators. This may change as HP's calculator division ceased it's R&D. It also has an excellent equation editor. The input is superior, as you can use input both alphabetical and numberic characters at the same time.

The TI-89 is also an excellent calculator. While it's processor is much more powerful (12MHz 68000 vs. 4MHz Saturn) it's OS is written in C and rather less efficient than the HP-49's OS. It is easier to use but only supports algebraic mode natively (an assembly-written RPN stack is available). It also does not have a native equation editor, but one is available for download. I own Revision 1 of the TI-89 (10MHz, some hardware differences) and it is quite good.

Don't bother with anything other than the HP-49 or TI-89 if you have the cash for either of them and require a graphic calculator.

Shinova wrote:

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:

Shinova wrote:Althought for simplicity you might want just a TI-83. TI-89's a bit complicated.

Saying a TI83 is simple is like saying the X-15 is a bit slow...

83's a hell lot simpler than 89, that's for sure.

It's also a lot less capable and slower (even the TI-83+ Silver Edition's 15MHz Z80 is overshadowed by the TI-89's 12MHz 68000 or the HP49's 4MHz Saturn (though it's OS is very heavily optimized)).

Depends what you are looking for. For ease of use I have always used the TI.

phongn wrote:HP-49 is a marvellous calculator.

Don't bother with anything other than the HP-49 or TI-89 if you have the cash for either of them and require a graphic calculator.

I agree with Phong. Another thing about the HP-49 is that you can make it more difficult for other people to use, by turning on the RPN mode. Once you get used to it, RPN mode is both faster and easier to use. Trust me... I've been using an HP-48 for the past 6 years...

I've been using a TI-89 almost exclusively the past five years, mostly because that's the calculator the other students at my university seem to use. It's easier to get programs for it as a result, and I've grown used to it. The HP-49 is useful as well, though I never quite got used to RPN and ended up setting it to algebraic mode when I borrowed one from a friend to try out. I guess which of those two you get depends on the specific situation you're using it for.

TheDarkOne wrote:What do you think would be better between a TI-89 and a HP49G?

If you like an insanely powerful calculator that is insanely hard to use and uses weird-ass reverse-polish notation (where x + y => b ---> b <= x, y, +) then the HP is for you.

If you want a calculator with ordinary notation that is really, really powerful, then the TI-89 is for you. (The learning curve is practically flat compared to the one for the HP.)

I like the TI-89, but my roomie in College used the HP. It depends on what you want, I guess.

Beowulf wrote:

phongn wrote:HP-49 is a marvellous calculator.

Don't bother with anything other than the HP-49 or TI-89 if you have the cash for either of them and require a graphic calculator.

I agree with Phong. Another thing about the HP-49 is that you can make it more difficult for other people to use, by turning on the RPN mode. Once you get used to it, RPN mode is both faster and easier to use. Trust me... I've been using an HP-48 for the past 6 years...

Another friend of mine has an HP48, she loved it. She hated algebraic mode and had severe troubles when she had to use a TI-86.

There is an RPN stack written in assembly for the TI-89 and it's quite good - I often use it.

In the olden daze (say, mid 1990s), TIs used to have the lion's share of the education market while HP calculators had virtually the entire professional market. TIs were used by students but people who did numbers as part of their job used HPs. These days the pros have moved on to computers (for reasons that shouldn't be surprising), the professional calculator market has virtually evaporated, HP has shut down calculator development (note: production continues) and has effectively ceased to promote their calculators and TI controls the vast majority of what's left of the handheld calculator market.

As for what to buy now, HPs are probably a superior product (which is why they failed in the marketplace--superior technology products always fail.) but TIs have a larger installed base and therefore much more peer support is available.