TI-73 series

The TI 73 series is a series of graphing calculators made by Texas Instruments, all of which have identical hardware.

TI-73
Ti-73
TypeGraphing calculator
ManufacturerTexas Instruments
Introduced1998
Latest firmware1.60
PredecessorTI-80
SuccessorTI-73 Explorer
Calculator
Entry modeD.A.L.
CPU
ProcessorZilog Z80
Frequency6 MHz
Programming
Programming language(s)TI-BASIC
User memory25 KB RAM
64 KB flash ROM
Firmware memory512 KB
Other
Power supply4 AAA's,
1 CR1616 or CR1620
Weight182 grams (6.4 oz)
Dimensions183 mm × 81 mm × 20 mm (7.2 in × 3.2 in × 0.80 in)
TI-73 Explorer
TypeGraphing calculator
ManufacturerTexas Instruments
Introduced2003
Latest firmware1.91
PredecessorTI-73
Calculator
Entry modeD.A.L.
Precision14
CPU
ProcessorZilog Z80
Frequency6 MHz
Programming
Programming language(s)TI-BASIC
User memory25 KB RAM
128 KB flash ROM
Firmware memory512 KB
Other
Power supply4 AAA's,
1 CR1620
Weight182 grams (6.4 oz)
Dimensions183 mm × 81 mm × 20 mm (7.2 in × 3.2 in × 0.80 in)

The original TI-73 graphing calculator was originally designed in 1998 as a replacement for the TI-80 for use at a middle school level (grades 6-8). Its primary advantage over the TI-80 is its 512 KB of flash memory, which holds the calculator's operating system and thereby allows the calculator to be upgraded. Other advantages over the TI-80 are the TI-73's standard sized screen (as opposed to the TI-80's smaller screen), the addition of a link port, 25 KB of RAM (as compared to the TI-80's 7 KB of RAM), and a faster 6 MHz Zilog Z80 processor (as compared with the TI-80's 980 kHz proprietary processor). The TI-73 also uses the standard 4 AAA batteries with a lithium backup battery (instead of the TI-80's 2 CR2032 lithium batteries).

In 2003, the TI-73 was redesigned with a new body shape and redesignated the TI-73 Explorer to indicate its currently intended use as a bridge between the TI-15 Explorer and similar calculators and the TI-83 Plus, TI-84 Plus, and similar calculators. Later, the TI-73 Explorer was remodeled to resemble the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator more closely.

Due to lack of demand in middle schools, the TI-73 and TI-73 Explorer have not been huge sellers for TI and are not carried by most retail stores. Most American upper-level middle school algebra courses generally tend to use the TI-83 or TI-84 families instead of the TI-73 or TI-73 Explorer, while most basic middle school math courses generally do not use graphing calculators, instead opting for scientific calculators such as the TI-30 or TI-34 families.

Originally the TI-73 could only run programs written in TI-BASIC, although that has changed in recent years. In 2005, an assembly shell called Mallard was released for the TI-73. Mallard allows the user to run programs written in assembly language.[1] As with the TI-82 and the TI-85 before, a hacked backup file is downloaded containing the assembly shell.

Released in late 2008, the Windows utility Chameleon allows a user to load the TI-73 Explorer with a slightly modified TI-83+ firmware, giving it nearly equivalent functionality.

In 2009, Texas Instruments updated the skin of the TI-73 Explorer to match the shape of the larger TI-84 Plus's case. This resulted in a slight increase in mass from 182 grams to 208 grams. The hardware and software remained unchanged and is identical to an older unit wearing the TI-83 plus style casing.

[2]

Technical specifications

Sources
  1. Magnus (Mar 16, 2005). "Assembly Arrives to the TI-73 - ticalc.org". Retrieved Nov 30, 2020.
  2. Wilson, Brandon (Feb 24, 2009). "Chameleon - ticalc.org". Retrieved May 12, 2009.

See also
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