Texas Instruments has already put the advancement on the simple calculator as their TI-83 or TI-84 calculator is heavy on graphics.

TI has again improved their calculator making it closer to a computer operating system feel with their TI – Nspire. Reports from math teachers however say that the Nspire has so many functions that they might now need anymore. They feel this gadget is more complex than it has to be.

According to Texas Instrument’s education and technology unit lead, the Nspire is a bit of a different model and they are making every effort to make the market understand why calculator was made to be what it is now.

TI is hoping that Nspire is going to sell as well as their previous version of TI-83, and TI-84.

The Nspire is high tech compared to lots of calculators because it can run spreadsheets, take notes, can have multiple representations of a problem on the screen, can create, save and review various electronic documents.

This gadget from TI definitely aims to bring productivity for the user. While iPhone can do the same, users would be fighting over distractions as various gaming applications that can be installed on the iPhone can take the focus away from users.

If I were a math major, I would surely buy one of these things.

Image from TI.

Post from: EveryJoe

Calculator Becomes PC Like

One of the great tools you can get with the PowerToys I talked of earlier is the PowerToy Calculator. A feature you may not be expecting with the application is tools for converting a variety of measurements from English to Metric equivalents and more.

As you can see from the screen shot above, all the basics you probably wonder about frequently are available.

In addition to the conversions, you get all your basic calculator option, including graphing and trig functions too. You know all that cool stuff you used to use with your Texas Instruments T51 calculator in high school.

Post from: EveryJoe

Easy Conversions with PowerToy Calculator

This will sound really weird, but one of my favorite little things about Windows is the way the desktop grays out after certain events occur with the operating system.

I realize that the amount of intelligence and programming it took to make that happen is probably less than it takes to operate my Texas Instruments calculator back in high school.

I don’t really know why I like it so much, I just do. There’s no real functionality in it, I just like it.

What are some of the unsung features you love in Windows that nobody else on Earth probably even realizes exists? But for you, if it weren’t there, there would be a little binary hole somewhere in your life?

Post from: EveryJoe

The Simple Things – Fade to Gray Desktop