Best Graphing Calculator 2011

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator
Price: $90.30
I am on my third TI-83+ (my first two were stolen). My brother owns an 84, and I can tell you that it offers nothing that the 83 doesn't have. Many of the preloaded apps are useless (an address book? please!), and take up so much space that the memory increase is worthless. The 84 is a continuation of TI's tendency to offer huge amounts of style with little or no substance. I prefer the 83 for its streamlined design. The one improvement is that the slip cover on the 84 does not become loose with a great deal of use, which is a problem I have encountered with my three 83s. It looks as though the USB connectivity could be a plus (for the 83, you had to buy a separate connectivity kit to connect to a PC), however, most buyers will not need to connect their calculator to their PC.

Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator
Price: $82.27
If you are a high school student, then this calculator is for you. It has everything you need, for algebra, precalculus, and calculus. The good thing about the 83+ is that it is upgradable, so the need for a new calculator doesn't arise, every few years. Purchasing a graph-link can add on a TREMENDOUS amount of programs to use for Physics, Geometry, and even 3D-Graphs, (previously only on the ti-89 and up). If you are in High School, do NOT get the ti-92 or ti-89, because they will probably be banned from standardized tests, and high math classes, so ask your math teacher, because they are too hard to use and understand. Also, these 2 calculators are aimed for more college-level students, so if you are in college, try the ti-89. But in every case, a ti-83+ is ideal!

HP 50g Graphing Calculator (F2229AA#ABA)
Price: $105.55
At first I was somewhat disappointed with the HP50G, since it essentially has the same form factor and functionality as the HP49G+ (which I also own). Just changing the color doesn't justify a new model designation, IMHO. Wait a tick... the keyboard seems a bit better... played with it for awhile... switched back to the HP49G+... ack! I never noticed how horrendous the keyboard was on the HP49G+. The keyboard on the HP50G is velvet in comparison. If you have been frustrated by the clunky, clicky keyboard on the HP49G+, then the HP50G is the answer. Otherwise, stick with the HP49G+, since it is essentially the same calculator.

Texas Instruments TI83 Graphing Calculator
Price: $38.00
The beginner TI (81, 82, 83) calculators are great for high school math and business type college math classes. However, if you think you're going to head towards any engineering major in college (i.e. you're going to take calculus) you will want a more powerful calculator when you get there. I bought a TI-81 when I was in high school and it was great (then). When I got to college it was fine for first quarter calculus, but by second quarter I wanted something more powerful. I ended up buying the TI-85 which had a bit more of a learning curve, but was a much more powerful and useful tool. In retrospect I wish I would have bought the TI-85 in high school, but who knew! Bottom line... If I were a high school student looking at pursueing an Engineering study path I would go for the TI-92. If I were a high school student worried just about high school or thinking of a Business study path, I would buy the TI-83. Either way the TI is a great calculator, second only to HP!

Texas Instruments TI-84 Special Edition Graphing Calculator (Dark Pink)
Price: $159.99
This is a great calculator. The keys are the same as the TI 83 but the calculator has more to offer than the TI 83. This one does so much more. You can put real games on this one, you can store formulas on it and you can make your own study cards, you write a question then enter the answer and the calculator will help you study and it does much much more. I got it at my local store cheaper than they sell it here on Amazon. So you might want to check around before putting out this much. My calculator was the talk of the class in a good way, all the girls wanted to know where I got it.

Texas Instruments TI-89 Advanced Graphing Calculator
Price: $49.95
This Calculator absolutely does it all! It's ability to find derivatives and antiderivatives (which the TI-85 cannot do) as well as many other calculus functions is invaluable. In calculus, I was always far ahead of my class due to this calculator! In statistics, its tables and graphing is extremely easy to use and its statistical summaries are much easier to access and read than those of the 83 or 85. The pretty print feature makes finding mistakes and reading the answers much easier. The graphs (3D) are far superior to that of the TI-83 or 85. I would recommend this calculator over the 92 for high school students due to the fact that the TI-92 (with its QWERTY keyboard) is not allowed on the SAT I or II tests or AP tests. The TI-89, with very similar operation and features, is allowed on these tests. For more information...e-mail me.