Texas Instruments is one of the most popular manufacturers with many powerful graphing calculators like TI-Nspire CX II CAS Vs TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS. These calculators are identical and have the same basic and advanced abilities. Today we will see what else the calculators can offer and why they are such a good choice.
In this comparison, we will talk about:
- What are Graphing Calculators
- What are TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How is the Design of TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How are the Screen in TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How is the CAS in TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How is the Graphing Function in TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How are the Apps in TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- How is the Interface of TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
- TI-Nspire CX II CAS Vs TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
Graphing Calculators
A calculator is a convenient tool to help humans do their daily calculations when dealing with various problem-solving. Students require a calculator for their school when learning advanced math and many professionals also still use scientific calculators for their daily tasks. A graphing calculator is one of the most popular calculators that students may need. It is easy to tell a graphing calculator because it has a wide display, but not every calculator with a wide display is a graphing calculator.
Graphing calculator lets you type in any equation and see it graphed on the X, Y, and Axis. Users may input several equations and use the graphs to determine coordinates, such as the points of intersection. You will also most likely be able to set the size of the graph and zoom in and out to expand it beyond what we can do in the paper. Modern graphing calculators have more advanced connectivity, and you can connect one with another to transfer data like programs and equations. The calculators have a memory to store this data. Read also: DM42 Vs HP Prime.
| TI-Nspire CX II CAS | TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 0.62 x 3.42 x 7.5 inches | 7.48 x 3.54 x 0.79 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 11.7 ounces | 14.1 ounces |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
Calculators are tools to help save time and perform complex tasks in a short time. Graphing calculator is not a must, but many students need to get familiar with the calculator and how to use it when taking tests that allow this tool. The tool is also convenient for homework, and you can learn things the teacher may not have thought about in class. Depending on the model, the graphing calculator price varies but usually starts around $100, which is not cheap, but one should last for many years.
We suggest getting a popular calculator or the one suggested by the teacher because it will be easier to find the resources to work on. Every calculator has manuals, but graphing calculators are more complicated than basic calculators, so you may need some time to get familiar with the system and its functionalities. Texas Instruments is one of the most well-known names in the calculator industry. The company continuously expands its collection and upgrades the calculators. TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI Nspire CX II-T CAS are two versions of the same calculator.
The Nspire CX II CAS was the most advanced calculator the company allowed for SAT, but TI also has another identical model, the Nspire CX II-T CAS. The new calculator is based on the previous model, but it is sold for another region because this model is for the European market, so it matches the usage in the said region. The non-CAS version of this calculator is approved for GCSE and AS/A levels, Higher and IB calculator papers.
Overall, the T model is the same CX II CAS calculator sold in the United States but has a different color scheme. These calculators can animate plots and create dynamic points defined by coordinates. They also support Python in preparing students who want to use the language in higher education or work. Both calculators are priced similarly, so you can choose either, depending on availability.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Design
Like most graphing calculators, the TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI Nspire CX II-T CAS are not very compact; the calculator is approximately 7.9-inch long or 20 cm. The design stays the same, and you can notice that there are a few similar designs with identical names. Texas Instruments usually have their Nspire calculator in CAS and non-CAS mode, depending on the test you want to do. For example, the white calculator is non-CAS and permitted for SAT, ACT, AP, and IB, while the black CAS calculator is allowed for SAT, AP, and IB only.
You can tell the two apart by the color because the T model uses red lining instead of blue or black. The Nspire family is very similar, but they usually have different color schemes to determine the model. The crucial function to differentiate between models is whether it has CAS or not because, depending on the test, some calculators are not permitted. TI makes selection easy by using two different panel colors. But, the build quality and material are identical to the previous iteration.
These calculators are not cheap, and while they are not the most expensive model you can have, the build quality can be better. We see some owners complain about the gap in the cover and how the buttons are a bit shaky, which is also common in the previous models. On the back, you can find the battery port and a reset button to clear the RAM. The port at the bottom is for connecting the calculator to another device like Vernier probes.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Display
Because TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS are the same models, we will discuss the same calculator. One of the first parts you notice from these calculators is the screen because graphing calculators need a wide display to show the plotted graphs. Both models have the same screen that has been around since the first TI Nspire CX calculators. The resolution is high at 320 x 240 across the 3.2-inch diagonal screen. The screen is pretty good but nothing extraordinary, especially for modern eyes.
We can still see the paper-thin line without any issue, and the color improves everything as it helps aid the vision. The backlit display is still bright enough in the room or outside. However, we all know that Nspire has been around for quite some time, so it is probably time for Texas Instrument to start improving its hardware, especially the display where you will see and navigate the calculator.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS CAS
Both calculators are available in the CAS and non-CAS versions, depending on which model is allowed in your test. The models we choose today have CAS, arguably one of the best features in modern calculators. This feature enables the calculator to do symbolic math or math with variables and give you the exact simplified answers. Some graphing calculators can do the same calculation, but others will only give you the decimals and can only evaluate numeric expressions. The CAS in these calculators can offer more.
The TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS can perform factoring, solving polynomials, and almost any algebraic operation. This type of feature is only available on the more advanced graphing calculator such as these two and HP Prime that you can check in our previous DM42 Vs HP Prime. These calculators are very capable for college students with college-level math, so you can simplify trig identities and find indefinite integrals. Overall, the CAS lets you do almost any operation that is usually done by paper.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Graphing
Since we are talking about graphing calculators, it is necessary to look at the graphing ability. The graphing function on these calculators is straightforward, and the interface is accessible from the home page. After entering the graphing interface, you can bring up the function input list to type the equations. The calculator’s processor can graph almost instantly, which is a time-saver, especially if you still have a lot of things to do. You can also access the customization by pressing the Menu key.
The analysis function gives you more information, such as minimums, maximums, and intersections. You can also see visual representations or integrals and calculate the area between curves. These calculators have a feature to animate graphs so the screen can show the graphing of a line step by step with the arrow keys or in a fluid motion. Our favorite part is that you can pan around the graph to see the rest of the line if it is outside of the viewing window, like when using a smartphone.
The graphing function is easy to use and very capable, but if we have to nitpick, the screen is a limitation. These calculators have a touchpad instead of a bigger touch-screen, and navigating using the touchpad is not as convenient nor effective as when you can directly touch the screen to pan or zoom into the graph.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Apps
Like other modern graphing calculators, the TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS have apps to perform various tasks. However, some people may have to get used to how the interface works first because any time you need to use an app from the home screen, you must open a document on the calculator. This system is a hassle since you need to open and close different apps when doing different tasks. You also need to use two documents for two other apps that you have to delete or save later.
However, the system becomes useful when you realize it can save data permanently, which is not a common feature in a graphing calculator. Still, it would be better to have an option to save the document after you are done with the app. This way, the user can do the task on the app first and then close it without having to save or delete anything. What we love from the document UI is better multitasking as it lets you quickly switch through different graphs and calculation screens.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Programming
The next part we want to discuss is the programming part in TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS. While these calculators are very powerful, the earlier model was not the best for programming. The language is slightly different from the one most people are familiar with in TI-84, and the interface is more restricted. You can only run the program from the same document where the program is created, making it less convenient if you would like to use them regularly.
Recently Texas Instruments made Python available for their TI-Nspire CX II family. The interface is designed for ease of use, and the object-oriented implementation will help students get familiar with the programming. The calculator has menu-driven coding that stores the codes, so you don’t have to memorize and hand-type them. The in-line prompts are also helpful in assisting new and experienced users. The new Python implementation on these calculators includes access to common modules like math, random, math, and time.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS Interface
Operating the TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS for the first time can be challenging because the interface is unlike a typical calculator. You must make a new document which may sound like a hassle, but it will feel natural after you get used to it. Once you enter the calculate mode, all the functions are categorized by the type of math they are working with. For example, you should check the Calculus and choose Integral when working on an integral function.
The navigation is done by pressing or tracing the square pad below the screen. At first, we thought the pad was only a four-direction button, and a middle button acted as an enter button, but you can use it like a trackpad. We are not a fan of the trackpad because it is too narrow, and sometimes we find it hard to move the cursor using the tracing method.
TI-Nspire CX II CAS Vs TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS
The TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS are two versions of the same calculator and the same model. The T model is sold in Europe with the same functions and variants as the CX II CAS you can find in the US. Both calculators are available in CAS and non-CAS mode, depending on what model is allowed for your test. These calculators are powerful and convenient with Python programming language, all basic features of a graphing calculator, and data-saving ability.
Conclusion
NOTE : Product prices, availability, ratings and save money information are accurate as of the date/time indicated on post time (as seen right bellow the post) and are subject to change. Any price, availability and save money information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The decision is all yours, but TI-Nspire CX II CAS and TI-Nspire CX II-T CAS are the same calculators, so either model is an excellent choice. We suggest choosing CAS or non-CAS because not everyone has the same needs. Regardless, both calculators are convenient, reliable, and have nearly all the standard and advanced features of a graphing calculator.