Looking for instructions/guidebooks for programming OLD clickpad (not trackpad) nspire CAS?

[John K]

Hello,

I just got an old clickpad version of the nspire CAS, and cannot figure out how to enter programming mode.

I tried the Knowledge Base article from the ti site, but it was for the trackpad unit, and did not work on this older unit.

I'd love to find PDF files of the old clickpad guidebooks.

Thanks if you can help.

John

[Jim Bauwens]

Hi,

It might be that you just need to update your device. Normally the TI-Npire Clickpad and Touchpad function exactly the same.

You can upgrade your device using the Link software that you can download on TI’s site. It might be that you have to do several updates before you can install the latest version. Beside that I recommend that you don’t update to the latest version but rather to TI-Nspire OS 3.1 or 3.6 considering that they support Ndless, a TI-Nspire jailbreaking tool that allows you to run native programs.

Greetings,

Jim

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[John K]

I did finally get into programming mode.

 

I did an upgrade early this morning. How do I tell what version number is now in the calculator? I tried MENU while in a document, but didn't see an option to see it.

John

John

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[John K]

I just found it. I'm on 3.9.0.463, so I guess I won't be using Ndless, darn it.

John

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Jo...@Mazes.com   P O Box 584   Manning SC 29102-0584

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[Jim Bauwens]

Ah, too bad..

Anyway if you are looking into programming as in programming real programs (not mathematics stuff and such), you should take a look at Lua (Lua is a programming language).

Normally you program Lua scripts on your computer and then send them to the handheld, but some tools exist to do so on the handheld (if you prefer that).

Greetings,

Jim

[John K]

I saw Lua as one of the manual choices. I'll check it out.

As far as programming real programs, what do you think the best calculators are for that fun? CX because it has more memory?

What about other brands of calculators?

I do enjoy playing around with the languages, in addition to reviewing what I learned then mostly lost, by taking free courses at OCW.MIT.EDU, then this summer I might try enrolling at U of So Carolina in their Masters of Mathematics program, just for the learning. At 63, I'm not going to try to get a job.

John

John

Proofreading   Programming   Perplexing Puzzler

BytemanEnterprises   707-PROOF-49   707-776-6349

Jo...@Mazes.com   P O Box 584   Manning SC 29102-0584

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[John K]

I do appreciate all your help, Jim.

I saw HP Prime mentioned on one website. Is it the best of the various choices. I haven't found a site (yet) that compares the best from each company.

John

John

Proofreading   Programming   Perplexing Puzzler

BytemanEnterprises   707-PROOF-49   707-776-6349

Jo...@Mazes.com   P O Box 584   Manning SC 29102-0584

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[Ryan Boyd]

This may be of interest to you:

http://www.cemetech.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10570

As a note, for most schools and universities, the TI-83/84+ is going to be the calculator series that you will most often encounter.

-RB

[Jim Bauwens]

John,

The TI-Nspire CX CAS does indeed outperform the other TI devices. But only the full power of the device can be used by using the jailbreaking tool Ndless. And TI doesn’t like Ndless, they try to block it with every software update.

The HP Prime is as far as I know the most powerful handheld calculator on the market. The Basic language included is speedy and recently developments have been made with running native programs on the device (so that they might utilise the full speed of the device). HP also doesn’t attempt to block these developments (in fact, the community has received help on certain areas). But the device is less know than the TI-Nspire, so you will probably be able to find less resources with than with the TI-Nspire.

I think it is great that you want to experiment, as this can lead to some very nice things. I myself am 21 years old and although I’m currently studying for a Bachelor Applied Informatics, the main reason for me studying is because it interests me not because I could get a good job. When you like to do something or learn something and you have the ability to do so you should always do it. 

I wish you the best of luck with the program if you should choose to enter it!

Greetings,

Jim

[John K]

> The TI-Nspire CX CAS does indeed outperform the other TI devices. 

\What would be, if you know, the performance comparison between the old gray Nspire CAS and the newest CX CAS? Memory? Execution speed?

> But only the full power of the device can be used by using the jailbreaking tool Ndless. And TI doesn’t like Ndless, they try to block it with every software update.

Oh, how I wish I hadn't upgraded so early this morning. Any way of downgrading to 3.6?

What would Ndless let me do that I couldn't do otherwise? Does it give boosts to speed? etc.

> HP Prime ... most powerful handheld calculator ... Basic language speedy 

You've sold me.

> But device is less know than the TI-Nspire, so you will probably be able to find less resources with than with the TI-Nspire.

No problem there. I love trial and error.

> I myself am 21 years old

we're a couple of opposites. I didn't get my first personal computer until I was 26, and it only had 16K of RAM.

> the main reason for me studying is because it interests me not because I could get a good job. 

There we certainly agree

> When you like to do something or learn something and you have the ability to do so you should always do it. 

Definitely.

> I wish you the best of luck with the program if you should choose to enter it!

I'm just lucky that SC offers free tuition at my age. I just have to wait until I've been a resident for a year.

John

[Jim Bauwens]

You can see a comparison of the TI-Nspire Clickpad/Touchpad CAS, TI-Nspire CX CAS and the HP Prime here: 

http://tiplanet.org/forum/compare.php?nspirecxcas,nspirecas,prime

It is in french but the specs should be pretty clear.

Ndless allows you to run native programs on TI-Nspire devices whereas normally you only are able to run TI-Basic or Lua programs. These languages are interpreted so they will never be able to utilise the full power of the device. Native programs on the other hand (written in assembler, C, C++, ..) can do this making them much more powerful. Another thing is using Ndless you can use tools to over clock your device thus improving speed overal.

Greetings,

Jim

[John K]

Thanks, Jim,

I did go ahead and order an HP Prime. It should be here in a week.

If you ever hear of a way of my downgrading CAS from 3.9 back to 3.6, or using Ndless with 3.9, do let me know. But I'm not too worried. Since I'll have the Prime Speed, I don't need to be jealous of the speed that you get through Ndless.

It will be interesting to compare the speed of HP Prime Basic to QBX 7.2 running on my ten-year-old XP laptop.

John

John

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Jo...@Mazes.com   P O Box 584   Manning SC 29102-0584

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[Jim Bauwens]

Oh I’m sorry I forgot to reply on that part.

There are downgrade protections but if I recall correctly if you have a RS-232 TTL level converter serial adaptor you can hook your device using the serial console to your computer and downgrade the boot2 image. And then you can use Nleach to remove the downgrade limit. But that’s pretty tricky. 

Also, Ndless developers are constantly busy and Ndless could be updated to 3.9 if they find a proper flaw in the system.

And yes, that would indeed be a very interesting test!

Greetings,

Jim

[John K]

Sounds risky to me, especially given my age and attention deficit disorder. Too tricky. I'll wait and see what happens. Maybe they'll eventually find a way to implement it, or TI will let version 3.10 allow Ndless again.

I do look forward to playing with it.

Where is the best PDF of a Prime Guidebook?

John

Proofreading   Programming   Perplexing Puzzler

BytemanEnterprises   707-PROOF-49   707-776-6349

Jo...@Mazes.com   P O Box 584   Manning SC 29102-0584

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[Jim Bauwens]

Hi,

I’m not really familiar with the Prime, so I wouldn’t really know where to find the best PDF.

The Ndless team has always found a solution, so I’m sure they will find one again. The day that TI will allow Ndless is the day that pigs will learn how to fly.

Greetings,

Jim