Thursday, January 22, 2004
TI gets organized...
Check out the apps that come on the new TI-89 graphing calculator. Sure, there is the various math apps, but check out the planner, task manager, contact list, finance program, a spreadsheet, studycards, etc.
It is interesting, because when I first started to look at PDAs, I couldn't help but think about how it reminded me of my old graphing calculator. I'd downloaded a bunch of aps for it, mostly games. I'm sure there are various freeware planners and stuff now, even for the older models. Never thought to look for that stuff at the time.
It makes me wonder how much PDA sales are cutting into the calcuator market. The calculator is obviously made for calculating, but there is all kinds of stuff you can download for a PDA. If you're mostly going for organizing and games and want some calculating that is about as powerful but just a bit slower, why pay to have both unless a class really requires it? But obviously it also works the opposite way. If a class does need the calc, then now they can hook them in to do more with it and make it a bit more indispensible. The sizing isn't so convenient as a real PDA, and the screen isn't so good, but anything to extend the usability and life of the product is smart...
Interesting to see how the landscape of technology in schools has changed so much in a relatively short time...
It is interesting, because when I first started to look at PDAs, I couldn't help but think about how it reminded me of my old graphing calculator. I'd downloaded a bunch of aps for it, mostly games. I'm sure there are various freeware planners and stuff now, even for the older models. Never thought to look for that stuff at the time.
It makes me wonder how much PDA sales are cutting into the calcuator market. The calculator is obviously made for calculating, but there is all kinds of stuff you can download for a PDA. If you're mostly going for organizing and games and want some calculating that is about as powerful but just a bit slower, why pay to have both unless a class really requires it? But obviously it also works the opposite way. If a class does need the calc, then now they can hook them in to do more with it and make it a bit more indispensible. The sizing isn't so convenient as a real PDA, and the screen isn't so good, but anything to extend the usability and life of the product is smart...
Interesting to see how the landscape of technology in schools has changed so much in a relatively short time...
