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Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator (various colors) Expired

$100
$149.99
+ Free Shipping
+77 Deal Score
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Target has Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator (various colors) on sale for $99.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member BeigeStew7045 for sharing this deal.

Available Colors:
Product Info:
  • The TI-84 Plus CE makes comprehension of math and science topics quicker and easier. Ideal for middle school through college. The same menu structure and navigation as the TI-84 Plus family make it easy to pick up and learn. The built-in MathPrint™ feature allows you to input and view math symbols, formulas and stacked fractions exactly as they appear in textbooks.
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Original Post

Written by
Edited July 19, 2021 at 11:49 AM by
TI-84 Plus CE (Color Edition) is on sale this week for $99.99 at Target. This calculator is available from Target in 4 colors:

Blue: https://www.target.com/p/texas-in...nk=sametab

Red: https://www.target.com/p/texas-in...nk=sametab

White: https://www.target.com/p/texas-in...nk=sametab

Black: https://www.target.com/p/texas-instruments-84-ce-graphing-calculator-black/-/A-82545755#lnk=sametab​ [target.com]

Please note that TI has stopped making the graphing calculator in pink. You can still find a few of those on amazon or ebay but for a premium price.

These calculators are required in every high school in America, even though we all know they are overpriced and not more useful than a $10 calculator in everyday life.

https://www.target.com/s?searchTe...categories

https://www.target.com/s?searchTe...categories
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Featured Comments

A cheaper Casio alternative (not color screen) for $38: https://www.amazon.com/Casio-fx-9...B00154GSQA

Is the era of the $100+ graphing calculator coming to an end? [thehustle.co]
·
It's so absurd that these things are still as expensive now as they were nearly 20 years ago when I bought my first one.
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The thing is the libraries and algorithms aren't *still* being optimized and developed over the past 20+ years. They are basically copy and paste the same things over and over and over. There's zero new expense needed other than manufacturing costs, which is probably so dirty cheap now as everything is so underpowered and the screen quality is absolute crap by today's standard.

Porting isn't really that big of a problem, and the math operations that thing does are so simple I'm not even sure if there's need to optimize anything unless they use totally outdated processors from like the 80s.

Sounds to me more about everything else (monopoly, behind the scene stuff, etc) than technological reasons to me.
·

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Joined Jun 2019
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> bubble2 4,200 Posts
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The_Love_Spud
07-18-2021 at 12:59 PM.
07-18-2021 at 12:59 PM.
Quote from ListedGuru :
Unfortunately I need to buy one of these this year. Is this a good price or should I holdout for a better deal? Anyone have any insight into the situation?

Thanks,

-Guru
The one thing I'd challenge you to check is the calculator requirements/recommendations for your particular class. If you're more comfortable buying new/retail and your course is explicitly limiting you to a TI-84 (and it is starting up soon) then you can rest easy making this purchase.

Otherwise, if you have some flexibility as to the model you can purchase and/or you have any interest in exploring alternative purchase channels there is SO MUCH out there which can deliver a little more for less (in case you have future courses to consider) or the same for much less (in case you just need to get through the "right now" course).

Good luck!
Jon
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Joined Jun 2019
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> bubble2 4,200 Posts
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The_Love_Spud
07-18-2021 at 01:04 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:04 PM.
Quote from ListedGuru :
Is the Python version overkill for an incoming freshman (high school)?

Thanks,

-Guru
The biggest problem you'll have is that these things are like cars: the residual value drops like a brick after you pay retail. On top of that, like cars, you can really suffer if you buy what you want vs. what you really need.

There are multiple TI models that can handle Python and I'd heartily recommend one to any kid already into Python programming. Is the TI going to be the device that finally gets someone interested in programming? Not sure about that so unless its a feature you think would get used should you really pay a premium for it? Of course, if you buy that functionality via a model on the secondary market you might get that feature for a song.

Good luck!
Jon
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> bubble2 2,525 Posts
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WilliamMunny63
07-18-2021 at 01:06 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:06 PM.
Quote from MikeyMike01 :
The only downside to the CE is that you have to remember to charge it before exams. No option of spare batteries in your pencil case.
This was my main worry about the CE. But it sounds like their is a battery meter and it will last for a few weeks. Plus I think you can replace it for $15 or so.

For the most part people say the better is great but there are still a few who say it won't take a charge after a year.
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gigadein
07-18-2021 at 01:10 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:10 PM.
Can someone tell me what make a graphing calculator superior?
I spent one summer in Asia where they taught me actual Math and how to solve the graphing point using a simple calculator. The calculator gave only number and never a graph. It has been 12 years and 2 degrees later and I still use the same calculator I got from the trip.
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> bubble2 4,200 Posts
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The_Love_Spud
07-18-2021 at 01:11 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:11 PM.
Quote from fstrife :
Good deal, although I was hoping the Python version would be released in the US before the next school year.
I hadn't realized they were bringing Python "down" to an 84 model until I read this thread. However, are you aware that you should already be able to use Python on the "high end" models like the TI-Nspire CX II?

Good luck!
Jon
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> bubble2 4,200 Posts
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The_Love_Spud
07-18-2021 at 01:13 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:13 PM.
Quote from rolfeskj :
This was my main worry about the CE. But it sounds like their is a battery meter and it will last for a few weeks. Plus I think you can replace it for $15 or so.

For the most part people say the better is great but there are still a few who say it won't take a charge after a year.
The they here are right on both counts. The battery is great, and it will wear out pretty quickly. How much that second item matters depends upon the buyer (new/retail or second-hand?) and their needs (buying for one class or buying as a four-year "investment").

Good luck!
Jon
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> bubble2 59 Posts
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luke178
07-18-2021 at 01:14 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:14 PM.
I used Google Pay to sweeten the deal. They had a promo $10 off $50 Target Same day services.

https://slickdeals.net/f/15040240-google-pay-app-w-target-offer-activate-and-make-a-transaction-of-50-10-off-must-use-same-day-target-services?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1
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> bubble2 4,510 Posts
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Azrael_the_Cat
07-18-2021 at 01:17 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:17 PM.
Quote from UnoriginalGuy :
What the heck are you blathering on about? The TI-84 Plus CE this post is about uses the same Zilog Z80 architecture that was in their first graphing calculator, the TI-81 released in 1990. You'd still be wrong if this deal was about their newer ARM9/Nspire graphing calculators, but at least your argument would be coherently-wrong, whereas this is just drooling on your keyboard levels of idiocy.

I just like how someone woke up this morning and decided they needed to simp for a giant calculator monopoly using baseless technical bullshit to do so.
Insert foot in mouth:

It uses the eZ80 processor from Zilog, making all Z80 assembly programs from the previous TI 84 Plus series calculators incompatible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-84_Plus_series.

Like I said. Let's go with calculator monopoly as a reason for the prices because that's cooler and doesn't require facts to defend.
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Last edited by gallymimus July 18, 2021 at 01:32 PM.
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> bubble2 236 Posts
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Mike D
07-18-2021 at 01:21 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:21 PM.
Quote from gallymimus :
Insert foot in mouth:

It uses the eZ80 processor from Zilog, making all Z80 assembly programs from the previous TI 84 Plus series calculators incompatible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-84_Plus_series.

Like I said. Let's go with calculator monopoly because that's cooler and doesn't require facts to defend.
Your argument that TI's pricing structure has remained unchanged for thirty years is that they had to refactor their software once in 2015?
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weikewl
07-18-2021 at 01:22 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:22 PM.
Quote from Shaunaniganz :
5318008
This is a graphing calculator so you need:
(X-6)^2+Y^2=3
(X+6)^2+Y^2=3
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cgarn007
07-18-2021 at 01:25 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:25 PM.
There isnt an app that does what it does?
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ListedGuru
07-18-2021 at 01:27 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:27 PM.
Quote from luke178 :
I used Google Pay to sweeten the deal. They had a promo $10 off $50 Target Same day services.

https://slickdeals.net/f/15040240-google-pay-app-w-target-offer-activate-and-make-a-transaction-of-50-10-off-must-use-same-day-target-services?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1
So that deal for google pay is still ongoing? Do you know if we can use the Target Red Card to pay on top of the $10 off $50?

Thanks,

-Guru
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Azrael_the_Cat
07-18-2021 at 01:29 PM.
07-18-2021 at 01:29 PM.
Quote from Mike D :
Some absurd arguments being made here. I can buy TI having invested some time in refactoring and optimizing for the TI-84 Plus CE's recent revisions. But that does not explain their now several-decades long stagnant pricing. Simple economics--and an obvious monopoly, driven in no small part by curriculums and textbooks--does.

Here's a now seven year old article delving into the TI calculator monopoly: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ne...lassrooms/ [washingtonpost.com]

Not much has changed since this was written, other than TI adding color screens, rechargeable batteries and newer flash memory.
OK smart guys let's use real data for this discussion:

since 2000 inflation has been 57% (https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/...%20index.)

I can't argue the Monopoly as they have most of the market share, but I would debate that the pricing isn't reasonable for them.

This isn't a consumer electronics product it's a niche product with a long road and investment in getting into schools and accepted for testing. Monopoly or not. That's good business and an EXPENSIVE ONGOING SALES EFFORT. Though of course it's easier today.

Electronics hardware has to be refreshed every 5 years or so. I won't get into what product development costs. I know you all think it's free to redesign when things become obsolete every few years.

Also note, calculator sales volumes are TINY. In your article it said 1.6m in 2013 I think. Compared to laptops which sell at $44m per year, 1.35b cell phones sold per year, or 214m TVs sold per year. Any R&D, sales, redesign all have to be amortized over that very small volume.

Anyway, I REALLY liked the article you sent. Great data in there.

Personally I still use TI-89 and TI-92 calcs, or their corresponding emulators on my phone.

Thanks for the debate!
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Last edited by gallymimus July 18, 2021 at 01:32 PM.
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> bubble2 17,044 Posts
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PocketsThick
07-18-2021 at 02:27 PM.
07-18-2021 at 02:27 PM.
There's nothing guaranteed in life but death, taxes, and having to buy overpriced TI calculators.

Quote from gallymimus :
Also note, calculator sales volumes are TINY. In your article it said 1.6m in 2013 I think. Compared to laptops which sell at $44m per year, 1.35b cell phones sold per year, or 214m TVs sold per year. Any R&D, sales, redesign all have to be amortized over that very small volume
This can't be correct. Ti calculators have been required by public schools for state testing. Teachers are taught how to teach kids how to use graphing calculators made by Ti. Manufacturing goes down over time. I'm sure at this point it costs Ti like $4 to manufacture these calculators. Really old technology throughout. They make massive profits on each sale.
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Last edited by PocketsThick July 18, 2021 at 02:32 PM.

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Joined Dec 2011
Two Minds Became One
> bubble2 11,777 Posts
Peerless_Warrior
07-18-2021 at 02:33 PM.
07-18-2021 at 02:33 PM.
Why does the price remain so high, despite being out for decades?
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