The TI-83 Plus Silver Edition - Must-Have Back to School Survival Gear

Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the first day of school and Michael Jarmon, a sophomore at Jasper High School in Plano, is adjusting to his new classes. He has his class schedule and after school activities logged onto a translucent handheld. But it's not a PDA. It's the same powerful tool he uses to graph equations in math class, and to check the periodic table and analyze data in science class. Also stored on the educational handheld are electronic flashcards downloaded from the Internet to quiz himself on vocabulary for English and foreign language classes, and a spreadsheet application that he uses in social studies.

Meet the Swiss Army(TM) knife of classroom learning -- the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition.

Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN), the leader in handheld educational technology, designed the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition with educators to ensure it had the features that will enhance teaching and learning, but also included features and benefits that would appeal directly to power-using students. In only its second year of availability, the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition has quickly become a favorite among students because it better equips them for the school day with a handheld that can be used in different classes and throughout the day. It can even be used on standardized tests such as the SAT(R) and ACT.

The TI-83 Plus Silver Edition comes preloaded with ten Handheld Software Applications (Apps) such as StudyCards, electronic flashcards for portable, electronic self quizzing; the Organizer; a suite of tools including a calendar, address and task list; CellSheet, a portable spreadsheet; and PuzzlePack, challenging games for downtime. The glitter-packed educational handheld is durable enough to survive a school year and a teen's backpack, even when sandwiched between heavy textbooks. It has plenty of memory to hold up to 94 Apps and is versatile enough to be used in subjects beyond math and science including social studies, business, English and foreign languages. In addition to these features, the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition passes parents' pocketbook test, retailing for around $130 at office superstores, electronic superstores and mass merchandisers.

"Students are demanding more from the educational handheld technology they use on a daily basis. They're requiring that it be usable in school in a multitude of subjects, but also applicable to their everyday lifestyles, with a cool look and feel that allows them to express their individual styles and customized to their preferences," said Tom Ferrio, vice president of Educational and Productivity Solutions for Texas Instruments.

Additionally, earlier this year TI announced its TI Keyboard, a full-size keyboard that works with the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition for note taking and basic word processing, extending the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition's application into many more subject areas.

The TI-83 Plus Silver Edition is sold with a TI-GRAPH LINK(TM) cable so owners can connect with a computer to upgrade operating systems and customize with downloadable Apps from the TI Website. More information is available at http://www.education.ti.com/backtoschool .

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