<p>I'm going into engineering and i was wondering what is a good calculator to have? I was thinking the TI-89, but I really have no idea what would be sufficient at USC. Also, are there any minimum specs for laptops anywhere?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>The TI-89 should be sufficient, anything more and you can download mathematica. Remember that you aren’t allowed to use a calculator in calculus classes.</p>
<p>Hehe, just like high school.</p>
<p>Lol, I was allowed to use a calc in my calculus class. It makes the class easier when you already know how to do it. Only just on some tests we had a non-calc portion. Yeah, I have an 89 and I love it to death - there’s just so much it can do. The 89 >>>>>> 84</p>
<p>I got my TI-89 yesterday! It’s much more complicated then 84. I have to figure this thing out.</p>
<p>I am also wondering about the computer specs though. I was on campus for orientation recently, and the Viterbi reps who I asked (not totally positive what their position was though) said that it doesn’t really matter. We are apparently expected to just use computer labs for engineering programs. She was very clear that there was no windows/mac preference. I don’t know. I guess, since I need to order the computer soon, I’ll just get something that is basically the standard right now. Or you could try looking on other college engineering sites. Some of them post minimum specs that I’m sure would also apply to USC. I think in another thread I posted the ones from Madison, so maybe you could search for it.</p>
<p>Your first year at least, you really don’t need to run any engineering programs on your own computer. I personally did, but it was only MATLAB, which has quite low requirements and ran fine on my 3+ year old laptop.</p>
<p>I personally used a TI-84 for my main calculator, and it works fine. I really don’t need all the features that the 89 has, and the ones I need I can do on Maple or Mathematica.</p>
<p>My S had a windows PC laptop for engineering & his friend had an apple. Both were fine with their respective laptops but the friend has switched to psych. S has had challenges with his laptop & ended up turning it in for a full refund because it has malfunctioned so badly that it has been deemed not worth repairing by the insurer (there have been over 3 attempts to repair it & the problems still remain as well as new problems). He took his TI 89 calculator that he used for HS calculus & it has worked fine for him.</p>
<p>At this point, he’s looking around & not sure what he wants–a good ultralight laptop/notebook, netbook, or some other model. He’ll be looking around this fall & is currently using a netbook while he figures it out.</p>