I've had a TI-36X since I was in college back ...
344230
I've had a TI-36X since I was in college back in 1997. After almost 19 years it up and died it will not turn on under any light conditions. Outstanding product. I don't know of any other product that can last 18+ years as faithfully as this has. I haven't given up totally on this one yet. It might come back to life.
2687618
All of the calculations you need at a low, low cost. This thing got me through college. Graphing calculators weren't allowed in the testing center, so I brought this instead. The fact that this can help you perform basic calculus was a lifesaver for me!
4808810
Bought this 4th edition, and a 3rd edition for 1/3 the cost of the 4th edition, as this will allow me to keep the 4th Edition at home, and the 3rd edition at work to catch up on the text during my lunch hour & bathroom breaks.  Thanks to the reviewer who noted there are virtually no changes to the text (just mixed up questions/answers).  With the accompanying "solutions manual" this will run me about $500 with CA Tax... but, Linear Algebra is the stepping stone to a career in ("Safe") AI, and I want to get in on "The New Ground Floor"... I took an AI class back at SDSU in Fall of '82, but AI was in its infancy back then - there have finally been "break outs" based on "Deep Learning", which has basis in Linear Algebra.

... lucky my Calculus II class I took 35 years ago in Fall of 1979 at SDCC (and sent my transcript to Grossmont in '84) served as a pre-requisite for this class... thankfully, these schools NEVER purge their records.
4952206
Gotta love it when my kid's teacher DEMANDS I pay way too much for a calculator that basically hasn't been changed since I was in high school.  Calculator works great though, just like I remember it years and years ago.
2364871
Bought this after my TI-84 Plus Silver Edition was stolen. This calculator is just like the TI-84 but instead of having an old school screen, it has a backlit screen. Also it came with rechargeable batteries with charger.
The graphs are colored. Although I have not used those graphs for any classes yet, it may be helpful for students who need to graph in trig and calc.
The only true cons is that it has less memory (though its only 3KB less). Additionally, the calculator did not come with any pre-installed games.... No Block Dude ( 3 )
4960409
I bought this Calculator for my 14 Yr old Son.  He is very familiar with it, as they use the TI-83 & TI-84 in school.  His teacher said this calculator will be all he needs for the next four years.  The features on this calculator are very similar to the ones in school, and there are additional ones on this model (The TI-84 PLUS)
813280
It's trustworthy and my third one! There's not much of a learning curve if you've used a graphing calculator and still pretty easy to use considering my 14 year old sister uses it fine. The first one I got was on sale at Target and worked well for years during college since graphing calculators weren't allowed anymore before I managed to drop something heavy on it and messed up the screen. It still works I'm sure behind the half blacked screen. The second one I got to replace it for the rest of college and now my sister took it for high school. I ended up buying a third one now that I'm in graduate school and need a scientific college again.
1701691
I've had this calculator since 2003, and it's worked great since then. It replaced a graphing calculator (TI-85), and I haven't gone back. Used in high-school, throughout undergraduate college and now at work as an electrical engineer and in graduate school.

Engineers will appreciate the easy to reach ENG button to get results in easy-to-read engineering notation. I use this day-in and day-out, dropped it countless times and have never had to replace the batteries, thanks to the solar panel. Display contrast is great and easy to read. I often keep it in my back pocket and it's sturdy enough to have survived there for the last 5 years.

Two-line display with backtracking, long input allowable, does everything I do on a day-to-day basis as an engineer.

Sure, doesn't graph, doesn't do symbolic or linear algebra (matrices), but if I need to do that, I'll be in front of a computer anyway and fire up Excel, Matlab/Octave, Maxima, et cetera. Doing that stuff is a pain on a calculator anyhow.

Overall: excellent, reliable, inexpensive, sturdy calculator.
2230767
you really should get a ti-82 they are better and the graphing functions are easier to use i got one at a garage sale for 4.00 and i think that it was reasonable but not for the price that amazon chares, unreal
2472023
Great calculator.  But my battery door broke after 13 years!  Totally ruined my day.  :|  (that and the fact that I was working on my taxes when I noticed it).  Guess I will have to try tape to keep it together.  Originally bought the 19bii while in an MBA program.  It has been invaluable.  Math, finance, and stats layout are excellent.  Love the regression plotting.  Alpha and PDA functions are too clunky.  Never used them because they were not useful.  From a math, finance, and stats perspective I LOVE this calculator and wish the physical design of the battery door was better.
4620259
I bought this after I lost my TI-30XS Multiview Calculator, it works ok but I found the TI-30XS Multiview Calculator much easier to use like a mini TI 85 plus as a bonus it is a solar calculator, I love it.  Next time instead of saving a few bucks I will get the calculator I really want.
3888762
I have 4 or 5 of TI-30X calculators scattered around the house for ease of use. The calculators have changed in appearance since the 1st one purchased years ago (and county of origin), but have the same durability, long battery life, and ease of use. I like this particular calculator over the more sophisticated ones I also have because the most frequently used functions are addressable without having to use 2nd or 3rd function keys.
1052775
I have the ti-83 then someone gave me a ti-82... they look like the very same calculator. If I had it to do over again I'd have saved my money.
4387685
CONS
Although this calculator is not the most "user friendly," once you get to know how to use it, it is very useful.
I have owned mine for about a year now, and I got used to the TI-85 in 3 weeks, before that I used my school issued TI-84 PLUS SILVER EDITION. If you prefer a "USER FRIENDLY" calculator, DO NOT GET THE TI-85, GET THE TI-84. it is a more user friendly calculator.

Enouph with the cons, on to the pros.

PROS
The TI-85 is a very powerful tool for use with graphing. I personally would not prefer any other than it. If you are up to the challenge of GREAT calculations, get the TI-85
3442044
The TI86 has treated me well thus far, much better than the time I would have had with the class recommended TI83. The menu system makes using the various functions such as nCr, Sum, dif1, etc. a breeze, plotting points is tolerable, and the problem solving system is adequately fast. One simply pulls up the correct menu, and as opposed to the TI83 which requires entering the full combination of menu commands to enter the function each time, the menu is opened and stays open for repeated use.

This calculator is generally used in the engineering field, and the learning curve is slightly steeper than the recommended TI83, but I personally prefer this tool in my studies.
4222423
The main reason I bought this calculator was because I thought the back-lit TI nSpire CX that I have would be a bit awkward to use during tests.  Coming from TI, this one has a bit of a learning curve, but it's not hard to pick up if you're not bad and figuring things out on your own.  Of course, it does have a built-in manual for most of the commands, which is great!

Considering RPN mode, I have not used RPN, or even heard of it before I ordered this calculator.  When I looked up what it was, I was very interested in trying it.  Now that I have used it and started to get used to it, it is great! I have not taken the calculator out of RPN mode.

As for loading additional software: it's possible, but it is no TI.  It is somewhat complicated to get software onto the calculator, and even more complicated to run it.  Fortunately, there are fan-sites that help in this area, but I would not get it expecting the same level of application availability.

Ultimately, it is a calculator, and a great one at that!

My only complaint is the CAS.  It does not solve multiple variables the same way that the nSpire does.  I would like to compare to the TI-89, but I do not have one.  However, I am a little disappointed that it can only perform CAS operations on one variable, even though it supports 3D plotting.  If anyone has found a way, please correct me, but I'm a little disappointing in this area.

Regardless, I still gave it 5 stars because I simply love this calculator and believe it is the best in its class, though I do not consider the nSpire to be in the same class (color, back-lit displays change things a bit).
1240904
I have had this notebook for almost 3 years now, or more accurately, 8 full-time college semesters and it is still running strong. I've always really hated shelling out what seems like a lot of money every semester for a new wire bound notebook that may or may not make it through the whole semester. It's the worst when those little wires start unraveling, or the pages start ripping out. I decided to take a chance on this notebook hoping that I could just change out the paper when needed but would be easier to tote around because of the flexible covers (instead of the rigid binders that aren't even a possibility to bring to all my classes).

 ****This notebook has been a game changer!****

I use it for all my classes just like the old wire bound but can change out papers as needed, especially for my math classes that suck up a lot of paper. The only critique I have is that it doesn't fold smoothly all the way back, but that has more to do with the amount of paper I have in there than the notebook I think. It's been 3 years of abuse and it's only now beginning to fray a teeny tiny bit on the bottom of the fabric that both the front and back connect to. In terms of money, this has saved me at least $80 in wire bound, but the amount of frustration it has freed me from is incomparable. Now I can spend a couple bucks extra on reinforced paper and it's smooth sailing for note taking the whole semester.