I believe that the TI-89 and 92 run a 68k processor. The low-end 85 and 86 use the Z80. That was 10 years ago.. not sure what they’re using in newer models.

Is there an open source equivalent to TI’s Computer Algebra System?

Roberto,

Not that similar, but in the ballpark, at least:

http://maxima.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html
http://yacas.sourceforge.net/homepage.html (sadly, its in Java)
And this mysteriously HTML-only page hints at disturbances just under the surface (it’s a fork of Axiom)::http://fricas.sourceforge.net/

Should also add that it’s just a beagleboard + lcd and probably battery boards, with R thrown on. Hardly an open source calc. Possibly if he had added a case with embedded keyboard.

Also, from weeks of life on TI calcs (maybe not nspire) to 4 hours or less, never mind the hostile software.

That’s fantastic. As someone who has a lot of use for R, I’d love to see where this project goes.

As AdamJ pointed out, it isn’t quite a full product yet, I can’t help but feel that I’d be better off with a Netbook, but once form factor has been figured out… I might just buy on.

Rob.

this looks awesome, but i don’t understand… why not just use like… sage ? i feel like i’m missing something in the practicality department, and i really want to appreciate this for what it is/isn’t :P

You can still get a TI83 built around a Z80, and it’s done for the reason zigzagjoe suggests — 40+ hours battery life from a set of AA cells. I wish more hardware manufacturers would figure out that there is a niche for low power ultra long battery life products.

Also, while an open graphing calculator would be cool, you have to realize that one of the main reasons you’re allowed to use TI calculators on a test is that they are closed. TI has gone to a great deal of effort to convince educators that you can’t use them to cheat, which has created a bit of a love-hate relationship between TI itself and the TI hacker community.

A decent SDL calc written for/ported to Zipit Z2 would be awesome. This project is ok but isn’t it just apt-get install ^r-.* so far, no?

Oh and the Pandora already exists… and already has R (runs angstrom same as the beagleboard) and a keyboard. http://openpandora.org/

This might be a good application for the cheap Ben Nanonote

Mmm… cool project, but this “calculator”, along with all other graphing calculators, don’t fit with my idea of what a calculator should be. These are pocket (barely) computers.

I just changed the battery (1 button cell) in my Casio fx-3600P (I know, it is vintage) that I used back in college. Most “real” calculators are solar now.

Some colleges don’t allow anything above a TI-84+ SE. If it has an algebra solver, it is out of the list. I think any college worth its salt won’t allow the use of the top of the line calculators. What do you learn, otherwise?

I think all current graphing calculators are 1) overpriced 2)too big 3) displays suck (why is that?) 4) use too much power 5) too slow. At the prices they charge I’d like to see color screens, low power cpus and high resolution.

nice