> Documents (or being able to have/save separate "calculation sheets") are actually progress vs not having them.
Yes, documents are good. But the Nspire architecture that wants you to create a document before choosing what to do in it and the weird tab idea is not great. As you say, a TI-89 is quick and efficient in comparison, which is why I still use it despite having got a Nspire. If I need to mess around before I can get something useful, I might as well start Mathematica.
> The impression I get from newer calculators is that some corporate decision maker decided that "cellphones are popular and we must copy them".
That is definitely a problem. They are not getting any more ergonomic.
> If you need to use the calculator in a dark room, there's worse problems with your setup than lack of backlight in the calculator.
My eyesight is not perfect and anything that helps readability is an improvement. Sometimes I have to work in the evenings as well.
Documents (or being able to have/save separate "calculation sheets") are actually progress vs not having them.
The problem with the Nspire is that it just isn't slick like the m68k calcs were. Neither the documents implementation, nor anything else.
The impression I get from newer calculators is that some corporate decision maker decided that "cellphones are popular and we must copy them".
HP calculators also peaked on hp50g and went downhill after that.
>but a backlit screen is a really good thing.
If you need to use the calculator in a dark room, there's worse problems with your setup than lack of backlight in the calculator.