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The TI-81 was the first graphing calculator released by Texas Instruments. It was designed in 1990 for use in algebra and precalculus courses. Since its original release, it has been superseded several times by newer calculators: the TI-85, TI-82, TI-83, TI-86, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, and most recently the TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS. Most of these share the original feature set and 96×64-pixel display that began with this calculator.
 A 1994 TI-81 showing graphs | |
| Type | Graphing calculator |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Texas Instruments |
| Introduced | 1990 |
| Discontinued | 1997[1] |
| Successor | TI-82 |
| Calculator | |
| Entry mode | D.A.L. |
| Precision | 13 digits |
| Display size | 96×64 pixels, 16×8 characters |
| CPU | |
| Processor | Zilog Z80 |
| Frequency | 2 MHz |
| Programming | |
| Programming language(s) | TI-BASIC, Assembly |
| User memory | 2400 bytes of RAM |
| Other | |
| Power supply | 4 AAA's, 1 CR1616 or CR1620 |
Features
The TI-81 is powered by a Zilog Z80 microprocessor, like those used in almost every other Texas Instruments graphing calculator (except the TI-80, TI-89, TI-89 Titanium, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200 and TI-Nspire series). However, the processor is clocked at 2 MHz whereas the other Z80-powered Texas Instruments calculators run at speeds of at least 6 MHz (the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition, TI-84 Plus, and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition can run at 15 MHz). It contains 2400 bytes of user RAM, with additional RAM used internally by the calculator firmware software system.
The TI-81's user interactions are provided by its so-called Equation Operation System. This is comparable to the interface provided by the more recent TI-82, TI-83, and so on. This system is capable of such tasks as two-dimensional parametric graphing (in addition to standard two-dimensional function graphing), trigonometric calculations in units of either degrees or radians, simple drawing capabilities, creation and manipulation of matrices up to 6x6 in size, and programming in a proprietary statement-based language.[2]
In late 2009 an exploit was found that can be used to execute machine code on the TI-81, using manual input of code.[3] The TI-81 has no data link interface; its only means of input and output are the keyboard and screen.
As with its successors, the TI-81 is powered by four AAA batteries and one CR1616 or CR1620 lithium backup battery (to ensure programs are persistent when the AAA batteries are being changed). Some early TI-81 units omit the backup battery;[4] if the AAA batteries of one of these units are changed one at a time and quickly, the memory contents are still retained.
Texas Instruments distributes software which emulates the TI-81 and its Equation Operating System on a desktop computer using MS-DOS[5] or DOSBox.
See also
References
- ^ Woerner, Joerg (2009-02-08). "DATAMATH: TI-81 (1995)". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Christiansen, Brad; et al. "TI-81 Guidebook" (PDF). Texas Instruments, Inc. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Evans, Travis (17 August 2009). "User Machine Code Execution on TI-81 Becomes a Reality". Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Woerner, Joerg (2009-01-27). "DATAMATH: TI-81 Engineering Sample". Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "PC-81 on ticalc.org". 1998-04-28. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
External links
- ticalc.org – The largest archive of TI programs available.