Having two blatant d-pads would imply that you're using them for more than navigation. Disguise them as something else, like the 4 arithmetic buttons, possibly.

So, you're looking at 450 mhz? That should be plenty for compiling. I was worrying you might be going for some 100mhz, 16mb RAM board that can barely run a kernel, let alone gcc.

The only kind of wireless communication allowed is line of sight infrared, and only because it can be blocked with electrical tape. But then, your biggest concern from what I see is making it a good calculator, not making it exam-worthy.

I don't think having a removable qwerty keypad is a good idea, since people will rely on it for calculations and stumble in the exams. QWERTY isn't necessarily an ideal layout anyways, given that you're only using thumbs, and that we're not using typewriters anymore. (QWERTY was designed so that you would avoid typing on the same side as often, to prevent jamming keys. Hence, common sets like he, or, le, etc. would be on opposite sides of the keyboard.)

Plus, why is the keyboard on the bottom? That's terrible, ergonomically. While I appreciate the idea of having a separate qwerty keypad, even Alpha modifiers are better than that.

By using a different layout, you are also freed from that design shape. A tall, thin shape would ideally have a tall, thin keypad.


Now, no more criticism for this post.


I like how you're trying to use an existing CAS library. That will save a lot of work down the line. I'd recommend focusing on writing the majority of the software portion before working on any hardware development, since that doesn't require any funding. If you can pull it off, it would be a very nice calculator. I would probably buy one.

Oh, and if this thing will be powerful enough to run Debian Linux, then its C++ coding will blow the TI-84+'s Asm out of the water. However, it would have to be quite powerful to compile that C++ on the calculator within any reasonable time frame.

On the idea of porting the nspire emu to the nspire, it would run unbearably slow, and I don't think all the libraries necessary to run it are ported. Also, running it would require an equal amount of RAM and Flash to what the calculator has, plus whatever runs underneath it.

Sorry. Not gonna happen. It would be far easier to make a mod that added keyboard support.

Final Fantasy came first. It earned it. 1987 vs Netscape's 1994, and the firefox name didn't even come around until 2004.

Isn't this kernel running on top of TI's OS already? That could explain some of the issues performance-wise.

sounds like it, judging from the lower clock speed.

Very cool news!

The nspire has had one advantage over the 92 for me so far: Speed. Other than that it has been a worse experience in general, especially with the newer models. I went from the original clickpad to the CAS touchpad, and I have to say the original's layout was far better. Then, I transitioned to the 92. I can actually key stuff out with both hands now I just wish I could have the plus module.