TI 89 Titanium - An Engineering Student's Point of View

I've been a user of the TI-89 calculator for many years, and a few months ago, my calculator was stolen. After returning to school for spring semester, I desperately needed a calculator. Reading the reviews of the new TI-89 Titanium, I didn't seem that impressed: the new calculator has more memory, is a little faster, and has a usb port. Let me tell you a little more about the differences in these calculators, and explain why each of these differences really does make the TI-89 Titanium leaps and bounds better than the original.

The Titanium is faster. A decent amount faster. 3D graphing is quicker. As is solving functions using the solve tool. Navigating the directories stored on the calculator is instantaneous, unlike the slight delay in the original 89.

More flash memory = More applications, games, etc. The Titanium comes preloaded with about a dozen flash applications that help you study for the AP Calculus/SAT exams, store contacts, perform statistics calculations, finance problems, etc. Added flash memory allows more storage space for other applications along with these... No more deleting useful apps to make room for other useful apps. And games? Yeah, you can store those on your calculator too.

The USB Port: The usb port is infinitely better than the old i/o port on the original TI-89. The new USB port is fast, and the calculator comes with the USB cable to connect the calculator to your computer. The graph-link package is not needed at all. This means you can type your notes in Texas Instruments' "Notefolio" program on a full size keyboard, transfer them to your calculator via the USB cable and included TI-Connect software, and go to class prepared. Connecting the Titanium to your computer also allows you to sync up the calculator's new built in clock and calendar, two impressive new features. Don't worry, either, the old i/o port is still on the Titanium for file transfer between older model TI calculators.

The Redesigned Body/Case: This is where the only negative issue I have with the calculator comes into play. If you're used to using a TI-89 original, it'll take a few days to get used to holding and operating the new Titanium. The buttons are now arranged in the same order but are no longer perfectly in line. They now follow a more arc'ed shape across the front. It feels a bit strange at first to use the Titanium's new button layout, but after a few days it feels like the buttons should've been this way all along. The body is slightly longer, a little heavier, and the case slides on from the bottom instead of the top. This is another difference that takes a little bit of getting used to.


After thorough shopping around, the TI-89 Titanium, purchased new, proved to cost the same as the original TI-89. If you already own an original TI-89, the added features don't necessitate the purchase of a new calculator. However, if you're getting your first graphing calculator or replacing an outdated/lost/broken one, the TI-89 Titanium is an excellent choice. You won't be disappointed.