TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator

The calculator works great and was as exactly as described.I purchased this calculator to replace/repair a broken screen on a blue case version of the calculator. The yellow case delivered had markings ("School Property" and an ID number) which I did not want to send to school with my son. The placement of components on the circuit board from the yellow case was different for the placement on the circuit board from the blue case. As such, the new circuit board/screen did not fit into the blue case. I was able to make it work with an exacto knife - removing some foam and plastic from the blue case, but I could not fit the circuit board from the blue case into the yellow case.

I am an engineer and went to College in Late 70's early 80's. I have only used the TI-Nspire calculator about 10 times with my son. My son is 11 years old and starting 7th Grade next year and is taking Alegbra I, which is considered advanced for his age/grade. I talked with his next year math teacher to find out what they recommened, which was a TI-84.I compared the TI-84, Plus, and silver edition, then compared the TI-Nspire. My son loves math and will continue with advanced math. The TI-Nspire will allow both the TI-84 keypad and functions, then replace the keypad with the TI-Nspire keypad for a much more advanced calculator.This is a complicated calculator to use. I purposely bought the calculator so my son could get used to it during the summer before he has to use it.Main stand out differences.1) TI-84 Display mode has less resolution and I believe only allows 1 screen to display. The TI-Nspire has a higher resolution screen and allows up to 4 screen areas at the same time that you can see. You can show spreadsheet, graph, note page and another at the same time.2) TI-84 advertises an organizer, and I have not found the organizer feature in the TI-Nspire version yet3) Easy to connect to a computer to update calculator, get actual screen captures, etc.4) Seems usable on all/most college entrance type exams - see comparison link below.5) See comparison chart below for the function differences.Plan on spending a couple of hours learning how to use this calculator from a great link listed here. This calculator can be used after about an hours worth of lessons, but seems like using it for a year to really understand how much that can really be done with this powerful calculator.My son mastered many basic features and is flying thru all types of menus and screens within an hour after going thru the A. Basic Lessons 1-8 from the following Tutorial Link.[...]

I enjoyed this calculator. It was working for about 3 and a half years before I had to get a new one.

I really only have one major problem with the TI-Nspire. There are only three modes of print. Small, smaller, and minute. I don't really understand why it is such a hard thing to add a fourth mode where the print is readable. This problem is only on the Inspire proper. When one puts in the pad for the TI-84 the print is quite readable. I've read where others complain about this, but to no avail. No doubt because this calculator/computer is created for kids in school. And the teachers apparently all have "young" eyes as well. Looks like the HP Prime is going the same route. Thankfully, for us who are sight challenged, the Casio GC10 has great print. And if they think color makes all the difference, well, it may help a little. But not that much.Otherwise, I like this calculator. Unlike most, I like the clickpad. Logically laid out and futuristic looking. One would think that Spock (modern movies) would be using one of these. Nimoy's Spock used such things available to him in the 60's. I have no problem with the size of the buttons. My hands are a little larger than average size. But I could see where someone with big hands might have a little problem. Even so, on the clickpad, the buttons are rather large. And though the aphabet and some function buttons are smaller, they stick up a little above the rest. In my opinion, the clickpad is a great keypad.To my mind, features used most often should have a button, even if through shift, rather than a menu. That's one major thing I have against the two newer versions (touchpad and CX). Apparently, it's thought that such things as Trigonometric functions aren't used much any more. I'm retired. But it's hard for me to believe that things have changed that much in only four or five years. Nevertheless, the idea of menus is a good one for lesser features in my opinion.I like that it's becoming popular to be able to see on the screen the calculations in the way they are usually seen or written out. Whether in a textbook or in a real work situation. And this calculator is one that does that. But having to use a magnifying glass to see how beautiful that looks doesn't work well for me.I like the size of the screen. The largest with 3.5" diagonal with 240 X 320 pixels. The only other calculator with that size screen will be the HP Prime when it comes out. This large screen is why I'm a bit dumbfounded as to why they use such small print. It's not as if there isn't sufficient room for larger print. Larger print looks great when using the TI-84 keypad.I think this calculator has the potential to be a great calculator/computer. Which is why I'm emphasizing the small print issue. In their next OS revision, it would be nice if they would put in a fourth print option for us sight challenged individuals. That's all it would take for this calculator to go from three to five for me. That is if it will last more than a couple of years, like I've been reading about other calculators. It seems reasonably rugged to me, if one treats it with respect. Like any tool, if one takes care of it, it will take of you.Update 11-24-2015The Clickpad & Touchpad (I also have a Touchpad CAS) do have what is to me a strange problem. They use up batteries even when not used. It's best to remove the batteries after using and then reinsert them when one wishes to use it again. A very inconvenient problem. I understand that this problem was fixed in the CX. But I won't be buying one of those until they fix the problem with the small print. Which apparently isn't going to happen soon. The HP Prime has imitated the TI-Nspire small print. And it seems that the Casio CP400 has small print also. I really don't understand why a bigger screen should automatically imply the efficaciousness of smaller print. The only color graphing calculator that has decent sized print is the Casio Prizm (GC10). Which, even in the absence of CAS and 3D graphing, makes this the best color calculator to me. There are computer programs that take up the slack for the missing CAS and 3D graphing. Computers with larger screens and larger print. The 3000+ functions on the Casio Prizm are sufficient for most on the fly computations. Anything more complicated would be done on a computer anyway.

This is the second one we have purchased (2nd child in advanced math classes) The inerchangeable face makes it so they can use it with the teacher and her power points, or used the more advanced on for themselves. The calculator is approved for the SAT and ACT, and grows well with your kids. I have one just starting algebra 2 and one in Calc. works great for both. will get them through highschool math, and some or all of college math depending on how math intensive they are. I highly recommend this calculator. I only wish there was a nice carrying case to protect it. Amazon does not have the best price on this, but we were desperate and couldn't wait. watch your big box office supply companies in the fall for back to school, we got our first one for almost $30 less from them.