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Texas Instruments TI-30Xa SE

Date of introduction:  April 6, 1995 Display technology:  LCD
New price:  $19.95 Display size:  10 + 2
Size:  5.6" x 2.8" x 0.45"    
Weight:  2.4 ounces Serial No:  
Batteries:  n.a. Date of manufacture:  mth 06 year 1996
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  China (N)
Precision:  12 Integrated circuits:  Toshiba T6M79
Memories:  3    
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Joerg Woerner

Texas Instruments introduced with the TI-30Xa SE a more robust version of the original TI-30Xa Solar for school purposes. Compared to the standard calculator this "School Edition" uses tamper proofed molded keys instead of the rubber keys and an extra window above the display and solar cells.

Everything else is identical to the standard calculator. 

TI-30Xa_SE_N0696_IC.jpg (111142 Byte)TI-30Xa_SE_N0696_PCB.jpg (83628 Byte)Dismantling this TI-30Xa SE manufactured in 1996 by Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. reveals an unusual construction with a mix of two different printed circuit board (PCB) technologies. A relatively cheap, phenol type PCB was selected for the keyboard while the single-chip calculator circuit was bonded in chip-on-board technology direct on a epoxy style PCB. Even 10 years later Nam Tai still preferred this technology, don't miss a later TI-30X IIS. 

Read more about the Logarithm Bug and its side effect on the related yx function present in this calculator.

This calculator got later a new styling like the TI-32 Explorer Plus. View it here.

In 2005 Texas Instruments failed with the TI-30Xa Solar School Edition for Virginia and recalled about 160,000 calculators.

The extension "School Edition" wasn't limited to calculators, in 1987 an electronic toy found its way into the classrooms. Don't miss the wonderful Touch & Discover School Edition.

Stokes Publishing Company, Inc. based in Sunnyvale, California sold a companion for the teacher, view the wonderful Scientific Plus.

Tools for the classroom in the year 1995

Texas Instruments was always listening for the demands of the classroom. The first calculator designed together with the teachers was the TI-30 Galaxy, later the mathematics community defined some other products. Read some guidelines how to select the right calculator to ensure long-term satisfaction:

• Solar Power: Eliminates the need for batteries. The TI ANYLITE™ technology
   allows operation even in low light.
• Durability: Plastic keys are tougher and more tamper-proof than rubber keys.
   An extra window protects the LCD display and the solar cells.
• Keyboard: Color coding helps children quickly identify functional key groupings.
   Large, well spaced keys are easier to find and press.
• Packaging: With a convenient storage caddy 10 or even 30 calculators are
   grouped together.
• Functions: Choose a model with only the specific functions you need.
   Unnecessary functions clutter the keyboard and may impede a student's
   understanding of the concepts.

In the year 1995 Texas Instruments provided a total of 6 different calculators (not counting the Graphing Calculators TI-80, TI-81, TI-82 and TI-85) to meet the above demands:

  TI-108 Math Mate Math Explorer Explorer Plus TI-30Xa SE TI-34

Introduction  

 1990  

1993  

1987 

1995  

 1995  

 1987

Display Digits  

 8  

 8  

 8  

 10, 6+2  

 10+2  

 10+2

Power  

 Anylite Solar

 Anylite Solar

 Anylite Solar

 Anylite Solar

 Anylite Solar

 Anylite Solar

General Functions

  

    

    

    

    

    

   CE/CA  

 *  

 *  

 *  

 *  

 *  

 *

   Backspace  

    

    

*

*

*

*

   Fixed Place 
   Decimal  

    

    

*

*

*

*

Basic Math Functions  

 

  

    

    

    

  

   +,-,*,/  

*

*

*

*

*

*

   Integer Division  

    

    

*

*

    

  

   Integer  

    

    

    

*

    

  

   Operating
   System  

    

 AOS

 AOS

 AOS

 AOS

 AOS

   Parentheses  

    

 1 Level

 8 Levels

 15 Levels

*

*

   Square Root  

*

    

*

*

*

*

   Square  

    

    

*

*

*

*

   Percent  

*

    

*

*

*

*

   Constant  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   Automatic (=)  

*

*

*

    

    

*

   Operation Key  

    

    

1

2

1

  

Fraction
Functions  

    

    

    

    

   

   Basic,Frac->Dec  

    

    

*

*

*

*

   Dec->Frac  

    

    

*

*

*

  

   Simplify  

    

    

*

*

    

 

Math Functions  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   10n  

    

    

*

*

    

 

   Exponents, yx  

    

    

*

*

*

*

   Pi  

    

    

*

*

*

*

   x!  

    

    

    

*

*

 *

   Log,Ln,10x,ex  

    

    

    

*

*

 *

   P->R, R->P  

    

    

    

    

*

 *

   nPr, nCr  

    

    

    

*

*

 

   DMS->DD,
   DD->DMS  

    

    

    

    

*

*

Trigonometry Functions  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   Sin,Cos,Tan and
   Inverses  

    

    

    

*

*

 *

   Hyperbolics and
   Inverses  

    

    

    

    

*

*

   DRG, DRG->  

    

    

    

*

*

 *

1-Variable Statistics  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   Mean, Sum,
   Sum of Squares

    

    

    

*

*

 *

Number Bases  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   Hex, Oct,
   Binary  

    

    

    

    

    

*

Boolean Logic  

    

    

    

    

    

*

Memory  

    

    

    

    

    

 

   Store  

    

    

    

1

3

3

   Recall  

*

*

*

*

*

 *

   M+  

*

*

*

*

*

 *

   M-

*

*

*

*

*

  

   Exch.  X<->M

    

    

*

*

*

 *

 

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If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.

© Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.