Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Graphic Calculator

This device has a rather steep learning curve.
I recommend that you purchase the device for school about a week in advance to read the manual and get acquainted with the features of this excellent calculator.

I used this device for a college-level Statistics and Probability class. The performance was flawless, including the link between the calculator and the PC. Again, debug this USB connection before class starts so that you can "hit the ground running" once class starts. The software installer is fairly straightforward, but downloading software updates from the TI website can be a bit confusing. Be sure to RTFM (Read The Freakin' Manual).

The website installer automatically places a copy of the periodic table in your calculator for use in Chem class.

I highly recommend this device over the older and slower TI-83 models.

This is the new greater and better version of the Ti-83 plus. There is also a TI-84 Plus, but it has less programs than this silver edition. Not only is this calculator great for checking your math and graphing, but it also has helpful programs to help with other classes. The study card program can be customized for any class. Another nice feature is the removable faceplates that allows you to customize the look of your calculator. This calculator is the only one you will ever need unless you plan to go into Calculus or beyond. This is great for use from junior high checking math and high school graphing to college algebra and daily life calculations.

I've had this calculator for over a year now and it has never failed me. Texas Instruments does a great job with all of their calculators. The TI-84 is personalizable as well with optional faceplates. My son is using it for his high school classes right now. It has much more memory space than the previous calculators and can become an organizer as well. It is also great for that interminable study hall with its many games it can hold. I think it is a necessity for at-home or at-school use, especially at home. Unless you want your child to struggle quite a bit while solving linear equations when the calculator can do it for him or her quicker or just to check their answers, I recommend buying this for you or your child. You never know what it can be used for and can be upgraded. It will definitely come in handy.