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expiredBeigeStew7045 posted Jul 18, 2021 12:34 PM
expiredBeigeStew7045 posted Jul 18, 2021 12:34 PM

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

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$100

$150

33% off
Target
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Deal Details
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 MathPrintâ„¢ feature allows you to input and view math symbols, formulas and stacked fractions exactly as they appear in textbooks.

Editor's Notes

Written by SlickDealio
  • About this deal:
    • The Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator is $50 lower (33% savings) then the list price of $149.99.
  • About this store:
    • Target return policy may be found here.

Original Post

Written by BeigeStew7045
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
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 MathPrintâ„¢ feature allows you to input and view math symbols, formulas and stacked fractions exactly as they appear in textbooks.

Editor's Notes

Written by SlickDealio
  • About this deal:
    • The Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator is $50 lower (33% savings) then the list price of $149.99.
  • About this store:
    • Target return policy may be found here.

Original Post

Written by BeigeStew7045

Community Voting

Deal Score
+77
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Top Comments

MadPup
12815 Posts
2083 Reputation
pcgamer4life
2136 Posts
536 Reputation
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.
HY-SD
5470 Posts
722 Reputation
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.

251 Comments

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Pro
Jul 18, 2021 08:06 PM
3,421 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
WilliamMunny63
Pro
Jul 18, 2021 08:06 PM
3,421 Posts
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.
Jul 18, 2021 08:10 PM
123 Posts
Joined Apr 2017
gigadeinJul 18, 2021 08:10 PM
123 Posts
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.
1
2
Jul 18, 2021 08:11 PM
5,378 Posts
Joined Jun 2019
The_Love_SpudJul 18, 2021 08:11 PM
5,378 Posts
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
1
Jul 18, 2021 08:13 PM
5,378 Posts
Joined Jun 2019
The_Love_SpudJul 18, 2021 08:13 PM
5,378 Posts
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
1
Jul 18, 2021 08:14 PM
69 Posts
Joined Apr 2016
luke178Jul 18, 2021 08:14 PM
69 Posts
Jul 18, 2021 08:17 PM
5,095 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Azrael_the_CatJul 18, 2021 08:17 PM
5,095 Posts
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.
Last edited by gallymimus July 18, 2021 at 01:32 PM.
6
Jul 18, 2021 08:21 PM
246 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
Mike DJul 18, 2021 08:21 PM
246 Posts
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?
2
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Jul 18, 2021 08:22 PM
2,431 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
weikewlJul 18, 2021 08:22 PM
2,431 Posts
Quote from Shaunaniganz :
5318008
This is a graphing calculator so you need:
(X-6)^2+Y^2=3
(X+6)^2+Y^2=3
Jul 18, 2021 08:25 PM
194 Posts
Joined Oct 2014
cgarn007Jul 18, 2021 08:25 PM
194 Posts
There isnt an app that does what it does?
Jul 18, 2021 08:27 PM
3,129 Posts
Joined May 2008
ListedGuruJul 18, 2021 08:27 PM
3,129 Posts
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
Jul 18, 2021 08:29 PM
5,095 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Azrael_the_CatJul 18, 2021 08:29 PM
5,095 Posts
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!
Last edited by gallymimus July 18, 2021 at 01:32 PM.
4
Jul 18, 2021 09:27 PM
17,672 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
PocketsThickJul 18, 2021 09:27 PM
17,672 Posts
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.
Last edited by PocketsThick July 18, 2021 at 02:32 PM.
Jul 18, 2021 09:33 PM
14,154 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Peerless_WarriorJul 18, 2021 09:33 PM
14,154 Posts
Why does the price remain so high, despite being out for decades?
Jul 18, 2021 09:46 PM
347 Posts
Joined Jan 2016
SmokeyBearVIIJul 18, 2021 09:46 PM
347 Posts
Quote from TylerT8216 :
IMO, Go to a pawn shop and get one for $30
Call this a sh*tty life pro tip, but one time I lost my calculator in college.... I Went to lost and found, they pulled out a box of these. Like, literally dozens of them in a box. I just grabbed the same model as mine and left. Anyone could walk in and claim the same. I'm assuming any large university would be similar. (I'm not endorsing bad behavior, just telling my personal experience after losing mine in physics lab)

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Jul 18, 2021 10:13 PM
199 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
MaroonPanther3033Jul 18, 2021 10:13 PM
199 Posts
Why would anyone be dumb enough to buy this when any $20 cell phone is already more capable?
2

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