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Of all the graphing calculators available to buy new today, the TI-83 plus has been around about the longest. The original TI-83 was released in in 1996 and was replaced by the "plus" version in 1999. The upgrade gave the calculator flash memory, meaning it was now possible to upgrade the operating system and store apps on the calculator.
The TI-83 series has proved hugely popular, cementing Texas Instruments dominant position with calculators in the education community. It has been so popular that the series has continued to evolve with only minor changes as the following series of calculators were released, all almost 100% backwards compatible: TI-83+ (1999), TI-83+ Silver Edition (2001), TI-84+ (2004), TI-84+ silver edition (2004).
One of the most common questions buyers ask about these calculators is: "What's the difference between a TI-83+ and a TI-84+?" For years, the answer was, "Almost nothing." Until the spring of 2010, the only noticeable difference was the increased memory for apps on the TI-84+ and a USB port. These weren't deal-breakers for "light" users, so many opted for the cheaper TI-83+.
Then, OS 2.53 was released for the TI-84+. It offered the ability to use "mathprint" formatting. Finally, users could enter exponents that looked like exponents (no carrots), fractions that looked like fractions (no division symbol necessary), and they had access to numerous advanced templates (summations, integrals, non-base 10 logs), among other upgrades. With the upgrade, math problems appear the same on the calculator screen as they do in the textbook. Texas Instruments did not offer the same upgrade for the TI-83+. All of a sudden, the TI-83+ looked less like the TI-84+'s slimmer twin and more like the black sheep of the family.
For comparison, take a look at how different the same calculations look with and without mathprint:
TI-84+ with mathprint |
TI-83+ without mathprint |
Pros:
This calculator is affordable (see it on Ebay) and has near universal acceptance in the education community. Chances are that you have a teacher, older sibling, or friend that knows how to use it since it's menu system is the same at the TI-84+
Cons:
I'm obviously a big proponent of using technology enhance learning. But with the lack of mathprint formatting (now readily available on many graphing calculators), students spend more time learning the calculator syntax and less time learning math. If you decide you really don't care about mathprint, you can save a lot of money by picking up a Casio 9750GII on Ebay.com.
Bottom line TI-83 review:
The TI-83+ was a great graphing calculator when it first came out, but the fact that Texas Instruments hasn't upgraded it to mathprint format the way it did for the TI-84+ is a major bummer. With the TI-84+'s latest upgrade, it is far better than the TI-83+.
My advice is to steer clear of the TI-83+. I can't recommend it. If you want to buy a similar Texas Instruments product, pay a few extra dollars for the TI-84+ so you get mathprint. If you want to buy something in the same price range as a TI-83+, buy the vastly superior Casio 9860GII, which offers far more functionality at less cost (see my review of the Casio 9860GII).