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Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: Eeems on March 19, 2011, 11:45:11 pm

Title: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Eeems on March 19, 2011, 11:45:11 pm
As announced by TI-BANK (http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=news&ac=commentaires&id=1007), Datamath has posted pictures of the real TI-Nspire CX calculator models, although per TI's request, they were asked to not show the inside of the calculator yet.

http://www.datamath.org/Graphing/NSpire_CX_P1.htm
http://www.datamath.org/Graphing/NSpire_CX_CAS_P1.htm
http://www.datamath.org/Graphing/NSpire_CX_EZ.htm

According to people who tried the prototypes themselves, the screen is not as dark in person as it was from photos posted on TI-BANK (http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=news&ac=commentaires&id=1007) a few days ago, and even from weird angles (http://tibank.forumactif.com/t6660p360-trouvaille-planetaire-nouvelle-nspire-cx-ecran-couleur-3d), the calculator screen looks pretty readable:

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7TicHtK7Y-0/TYAT7IsAJ9I/AAAAAAAAA4E/fwJwsFiLZzY/s320/DSCN3931.JPG)
(image found on TI-BANK forums)

The dark screen was most likely due to the calculator pictures being made with a scanner or the back-light being disabled. This means the screen doesn't have the problems some of us feared. Unless it's a passive, blurry LCD like some MP3 players, the screen quality should be on-par with the Casio Prizm.

Also, according to TI-BANK, the OS 3.0 found in prototype models has a size similar to OS 2.1. With nothing installed on the CAS mode, there is about 101.7 MB free. The CAS OS seems to be 13.5 MB large and the regular model one 15.2 MB. We do not know if the TI-84 Plus emulator is included in the latter. If it is, then there is a possibility that both TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CX models use the same OS file.

Now that we have an idea of how the LCD brightness is and how big the OS is so far, we do hope that battery power usage will have been improved as well. Some people reports that good batteries lasts about two weeks on a TI-Nspire running Ndless programs on a regular basis, while a Casio Prizm running several SH3 assembly programs still use the battery set that came with it when bought 2.5 months ago.

Also it appears the calculator is already for sale for teachers and school at http://www.calculatrices.ch/Info.cfm?modell=TINCXCASTE&e=1
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 19, 2011, 11:50:55 pm
I'M a bit disappointed they have no pink model. They would most likely be cheaper to get on Ebay. >.>

I also hope the OS size won't re-increase in size from the prototypes to the final version. X.x
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Munchor on March 20, 2011, 10:45:43 am
I used to think it was gorgeous, but not any more, still better than the PRIZM.

But it's nice to see pictures, and to see it is being sold already.
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: yunhua98 on March 20, 2011, 02:08:00 pm
Do they have backwards compatibility with the regular nspires?
Also, I'm getting an Nspire (CX?) in May.  :D
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: calcdude84se on March 20, 2011, 04:00:32 pm
BASIC-wise, yes. Whenever we get Ndless working on 3.0, assembly probably won't. Different hardware and everything (the color screen)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: critor on March 20, 2011, 04:45:56 pm
The TI-Nspire CX will be using new 3.0 versions of the boot1 and boot2.
http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=news&ac=commentaires&id=1010

Currently (may not be final):
* Boot1 3.0.99
* Boot2 3.0.127
(information asked to DataMath.org)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: calc84maniac on March 20, 2011, 04:49:27 pm
The TI-Nspire CX will be using new 3.0 versions of the boot1 and boot2.
http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=news&ac=commentaires&id=1010

Currently (may not be final):
* Boot1 3.0.99
* Boot2 3.0.127
(information asked to DataMath.org)
I'd imagine so, because I'm sure they'd want the bootup to be in color.

BASIC-wise, yes. Whenever we get Ndless working on 3.0, assembly probably won't. Different hardware and everything (the color screen)
I'm pretty sure Ndless could fairly easily have a backwards-compatibility mode for old Ndless programs, by setting a 4-bit palette with equivalent levels of grayscale. That wouldn't work for programs that change the palette, but it should work for most cases. (All of this assumes that TI is using the same display driver, which is pretty likely)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Darl181 on March 20, 2011, 05:02:29 pm
I actually kind of like the contrast of some of the keys on the EZ spot model, like around the "touchpad"...if that were changed for white or a vivid blue it would be epic :D
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: coolrudski on March 20, 2011, 05:42:31 pm
when is it available in america for teachers? any word on that my calc teacher was wondering
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: apcalc on March 20, 2011, 06:17:08 pm
Hmm.. from that picture, it looks like there is some guard over the screen, preventing direct contact.  Hopefully, that would help to reduce the likelihood of screen damage.  Still, I do think they should at least give a free cover with the thing. :(

(Also, the color screen looks great! :D)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Hot_Dog on March 21, 2011, 12:42:58 am
We'll find out in April if this is worth the price
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 21, 2011, 01:46:45 am
Hmm.. from that picture, it looks like there is some guard over the screen, preventing direct contact.  Hopefully, that would help to reduce the likelihood of screen damage.  Still, I do think they should at least give a free cover with the thing. :(

(Also, the color screen looks great! :D)
Yeah it seems like the Prizm. The Prizm has some sort of guard too. Actually, old TI calcs were like that too (TI-81, 82, some of the regular 83s, 85 and I think the TI-92 had an extra protection or something)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Yeong on March 21, 2011, 07:06:22 am
My best bet for price is about $160
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: aeTIos on March 21, 2011, 07:52:03 am
oooh nice pictures!
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: calc84maniac on March 21, 2011, 11:15:57 am
Hmm.. from that picture, it looks like there is some guard over the screen, preventing direct contact.  Hopefully, that would help to reduce the likelihood of screen damage.  Still, I do think they should at least give a free cover with the thing. :(

(Also, the color screen looks great! :D)
Yeah it seems like the Prizm. The Prizm has some sort of guard too. Actually, old TI calcs were like that too (TI-81, 82, some of the regular 83s, 85 and I think the TI-92 had an extra protection or something)
That's a good idea, I think. I've seen a few TI-Nspires with messed-up screens.
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: fb39ca4 on March 21, 2011, 02:33:47 pm
Hmm.. from that picture, it looks like there is some guard over the screen, preventing direct contact.  Hopefully, that would help to reduce the likelihood of screen damage.  Still, I do think they should at least give a free cover with the thing. :(

(Also, the color screen looks great! :D)
Yeah it seems like the Prizm. The Prizm has some sort of guard too. Actually, old TI calcs were like that too (TI-81, 82, some of the regular 83s, 85 and I think the TI-92 had an extra protection or something)
That's a good idea, I think. I've seen a few TI-Nspires with messed-up screens.
I remember those. Too bad the original nspires didn't have them, mine has an annoying scratch right in the center of the screen.
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: willrandship on March 22, 2011, 12:34:16 am
I never had a problem with it, myself, but I've seen some pretty bad pressure damage, where the screen is dark from someone pushing on it.
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: ExtendeD on March 23, 2011, 03:17:32 am
BASIC-wise, yes. Whenever we get Ndless working on 3.0, assembly probably won't. Different hardware and everything (the color screen)
I'm pretty sure Ndless could fairly easily have a backwards-compatibility mode for old Ndless programs, by setting a 4-bit palette with equivalent levels of grayscale. That wouldn't work for programs that change the palette, but it should work for most cases. (All of this assumes that TI is using the same display driver, which is pretty likely)

Anyway it is always a good idea to attach the source code to any TI-Nspire program released in case it isn't maintained anymore by its original author when major OS/HW upgrades happen.
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Deep Toaster on March 23, 2011, 10:34:53 am
The CX actually looks really nice :o
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: Munchor on March 23, 2011, 10:41:50 am
The CX actually looks really nice :o

It does, I want one :)
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 23, 2011, 02:51:25 pm
BASIC-wise, yes. Whenever we get Ndless working on 3.0, assembly probably won't. Different hardware and everything (the color screen)
I'm pretty sure Ndless could fairly easily have a backwards-compatibility mode for old Ndless programs, by setting a 4-bit palette with equivalent levels of grayscale. That wouldn't work for programs that change the palette, but it should work for most cases. (All of this assumes that TI is using the same display driver, which is pretty likely)

Anyway it is always a good idea to attach the source code to any TI-Nspire program released in case it isn't maintained anymore by its original author when major OS/HW upgrades happen.
Well said, same if someone quits a project. In the early 2000s I saw many calc projects die due to the author leaving without releasing what he had. :/
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: yunhua98 on March 23, 2011, 06:19:07 pm
I think I'm getting a CX, but anyway, it's supposed to cost 149.99 I think...
Title: Re: More info on the TI-Nspire CX series
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on March 24, 2011, 09:39:08 pm
Yeah I think that's the same price as a regular one. You get a better hardware, but the tradeoff is the lack of a slidecase.

Is a link cable included? O.O