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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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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.

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 MathPrint™ 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

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+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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Jul 18, 2021 11:58 PM
5,378 Posts
Joined Jun 2019
The_Love_SpudJul 18, 2021 11:58 PM
5,378 Posts
Quote from illidari :
This might be off topic but is there a mother of all calculators for people that finished college ? I do not need to prove my knowledge anymore. What is the grand daddy of all calculators that gives me the best aids on the market.
More like the mother of all calculator hoards. I have most every calculator referenced in this thread... but they each do certain jobs so well I can't yet part with 'em! I think you're hoping for one calculator that will make your life easier, but like pro tools at the hardware store that isn't what's usually under consideration.

Heck, I even have a Casio fx-CG500 [amazon.com] but that's mostly to keep my oldest entertained with things like the integral period table of elements on short road trips. Despite my affection for it, someone on this thread more familiar with actually using it as a calculator will have to convince me that this beast is somehow going to beat my TI-Nspire at linear algebra with any speed(?).

Good luck!
Jon
1
Jul 18, 2021 11:59 PM
16 Posts
Joined Nov 2018
PaulK7955Jul 18, 2021 11:59 PM
16 Posts
I still have my 84 which I'm saving to give my own kids. So they can play drug wars as intended.
Jul 19, 2021 12:00 AM
5,378 Posts
Joined Jun 2019
The_Love_SpudJul 19, 2021 12:00 AM
5,378 Posts
Quote from ellemdee :
Every (electrical) engineering class I took allowed graphing calculators, so YMMV. IIRC, I used a TI-85.
You're lucky. Plenty of my undergrad EE classes excluded them in deference to the fact that the Professional Engineering license exam also excludes them (but allows the models I referenced).

Good luck!
Jon
1
Jul 19, 2021 12:08 AM
5,470 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
HY-SDJul 19, 2021 12:08 AM
5,470 Posts
Quote from gallymimus :
You clearly have no idea what it takes to optimize math libraries. Especially ones that are assembly optimized for the architecture. If you think this math is "simple" to accomplish correctly, on a well optimized embedded system (not on a 4GHz multicore PC) on a couple of AA batteries... Well... You honestly have a lot of Dunning Krueger going on.
No you clearly have no idea how computer hardware/software development and life-cycle work.

It's still the same *extremely well-known* z80 "architecture". The bulk of development/optimization cost are already paid years ago with extensive amount of know-how's, and jumping to the later processors in the family doesn't mean you're scrapping everything and re-develop and re-optimize stuff. That's exactly why they simply chose a faster z80 to *minimize* the work to reinvent stuff. It's not some quantum jump as you think. Outside of that it's still some pitiful cheap amount of RAM so these things are dirt cheap to manufacture (and thus REAL reason to optimize it, because the hardware is just pathetic).

And if you think the math this thing does is "complex" by today's standard...you're on some really serious drugs.

Quote from gallymimus :

You also don't understand how fast processor architectures change.

You also don't recognize that TI has been releasing new calcs every 5 years for the past 20 years.

News flash, you full color TI calc of today is not based upon the 68000 processor that was used 20 years ago.
Correct, it's not 68k, it's worse! It's a cheap z80!

No, I'm talking the TI-8x, not those new Nspire ones. TI milked enough money on those Ti-8x over the years already.

Quote from gallymimus :
So they want to make money on their intellectual property? You can do better for $10? Go for it. They also have no competition except HP and Casio, and traditionally TI's user experience has been MUCH better. That's why it's so widely adopted.
People are accustomed to it and never bothered to look. When the teachers only know how to use TI calculators and TI funded the textbook makers to include instructions on how to use their calculators right in the textbooks you basically created a House of TI that is monopoly to lots of people.

Do you know more people worldwide use Casio's? Sorry to burst your bubble, TI calculators aren't the greatest thing as you think.

Quote from gallymimus :

So stop complaining about what the market is willing to bear and that they have had a successful business model for 20 years. You are just silly.

In any case, you refuted my argument with zero additional information other than saying "no I don't think so from my armchair expert location"

But, yes, go with the monopoly evil corporation theory OR, go get a raspberry pi, add an LCD, put python on it, make it work on batteries and compete at 1/4 the cost....
Sure. Justify it in your own little world. Pay $90 for a z80 processor 256KB ram hardware. Smart consumers know better.

To give you some ideas, a 640x480 LCD for Pi Zero can be have for about $25, and Pi Zero (which the CPU is obviously on a different level than z80) itself is $5 retail.
Last edited by HY-SD July 18, 2021 at 06:19 PM.
1
Jul 19, 2021 12:13 AM
6,162 Posts
Joined Nov 2008
p2RLitJul 19, 2021 12:13 AM
6,162 Posts
The whole eduction system itself is rigged against students. You have TI price gouging relic tech, books with minor or no changes being required, unnecessary administrative personnel, etc… all at the expense of higher tuition and less classes.
Jul 19, 2021 12:17 AM
23 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
dthames07021Jul 19, 2021 12:17 AM
23 Posts
I ordered the blue colored one for in store pickup. Just got back and noticed mine says ti-84 plus CE python. Is it supposed to have python?
Jul 19, 2021 12:20 AM
5,470 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
HY-SDJul 19, 2021 12:20 AM
5,470 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 as a reason for the prices because that's cooler and doesn't require facts to defend.
Lo freaking l. Incompatible doesn't mean rewrite everything from scratch.

It's well known fact they are incredibly similar and people have little problems porting from z80 to ez80.
1

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Jul 19, 2021 12:24 AM
467 Posts
Joined Dec 2016
nosmirkJul 19, 2021 12:24 AM
467 Posts
Quote from RussellBell :
I came here to say the same thing. I can't believe these still cost the same as when I graduated high school in the late 90s!
Very true, I haven't compared the two, but I paid nearly $150 for my TI-85, so this is a fairly good deal.. even 20 yrs later.
Jul 19, 2021 12:26 AM
466 Posts
Joined Nov 2019
WH2436Jul 19, 2021 12:26 AM
466 Posts
Quote from h0va4life :
LOL, calculator prices have not inflated much such that $100 for a device using decades old technology would be considered a deal.
I didn't say it was, but $100 for it 30 years ago was a lot more "expensive" relative to incomes and inflation. $100 today for a device that involves complex mathematics isn't that "much" relatively speaking.
Jul 19, 2021 12:29 AM
8,377 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
ellemdeeJul 19, 2021 12:29 AM
8,377 Posts
Quote from The_Love_Spud :
You're lucky. Plenty of my undergrad EE classes excluded them in deference to the fact that the Professional Engineering license exam also excludes them (but allows the models I referenced).

Good luck!
Jon
The theory was that, in the real world (at a job), you would have these tools available, so it was more important to know how to use them and how to choose/use the proper equations. That said, I didn't know how to use many of the features on my calculator and the internet was in its infancy at the time (no YouTube to look up tutorials), so it wasn't as useful to me as it otherwise could have been.
Jul 19, 2021 12:39 AM
8,377 Posts
Joined Aug 2007
ellemdeeJul 19, 2021 12:39 AM
8,377 Posts
Quote from The_Love_Spud :
You're lucky. Plenty of my undergrad EE classes excluded them in deference to the fact that the Professional Engineering license exam also excludes them (but allows the models I referenced).

Good luck!
Jon
The auto industry, which generally doesn't require PE licenses, is the predominant employer in my area and the industry to which area universities tend to tailor their engineering programs. While the PE exam was mentioned to students occasionally and we had a couple of PEs at the architecture and engineering construction consulting firm at which I formerly worked (since they needed to sign off on final designs), perhaps that's why prepping students for the PE exam wasn't such a focus in my curriculum.
Jul 19, 2021 12:44 AM
6 Posts
Joined Jun 2020
LavenderCrow1542Jul 19, 2021 12:44 AM
6 Posts
Quote from UnoriginalGuy :
What does that have to do with the architecture of the CPU? I replied to a condescending post claiming it changed (and therefore the inflated prices are justified), I pointed out that it did not in fact change. You're now, what? Trying to use pedantry to "gotcha" even though it is completely irrelevant to the discussion? Neat. In particular as the TI-81 also uses the same Zilog Z80 CPU architecture, as the Zilog eZ80 found in this TI-84 CE.
It wasn't a "gotcha" just pointing out that you're being an ass while not really knowing what you're talking about.

Lol, then you edit your post to try and sound like you knew what you were talking about in the first place.
Last edited by LavenderCrow1542 July 18, 2021 at 05:49 PM.
2
Jul 19, 2021 12:44 AM
21,665 Posts
Joined Jun 2005
shhaggyJul 19, 2021 12:44 AM
21,665 Posts
Quote from Bleau1017 :
I didn't say it was, but $100 for it 30 years ago was a lot more "expensive" relative to incomes and inflation. $100 today for a device that involves complex mathematics isn't that "much" relatively speaking.
I was just going to say this. I got a TI-86 in 2000 for about $80 (our high school either bought in bulk or partially subsidized it, I can't remember). They retailed for about $100. $100 back then is like $160 today, so it selling for $100 inow s a pretty decent discount relative to 20+ years ago.

Some people are always going to be salty at paying for changes they can't see. But if things hold their value who cares? Buy it for $100 and sell it for $90 after the semester, like most of us did. You benefit just as much from it holding it's value over time. In 2000, $10 to rent a machine that helps you pass AP exams AND play tetris seemed like a pretty solid deal to me.
1
Jul 19, 2021 12:46 AM
814 Posts
Joined Sep 2014
dovs13Jul 19, 2021 12:46 AM
814 Posts
Quote from pcgamer4life :
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.
The current ones bear almost no resemblance to the ones you bought 20 years ago. In fact the current ones bear no resemblance to ones I used in engineering school 7 years ago.
1

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Jul 19, 2021 12:48 AM
2,557 Posts
Joined Jun 2003
hunterr83Jul 19, 2021 12:48 AM
2,557 Posts
Quote from gallymimus :
You clearly have no idea what it takes to optimize math libraries. Especially ones that are assembly optimized for the architecture. If you think this math is "simple" to accomplish correctly, on a well optimized embedded system (not on a 4GHz multicore PC) on a couple of AA batteries... Well... You honestly have a lot of Dunning Krueger going on.

You also don't understand how fast processor architectures change.

You also don't recognize that TI has been releasing new calcs every 5 years for the past 20 years.

News flash, you full color TI calc of today is not based upon the 68000 processor that was used 20 years ago.

So they want to make money on their intellectual property? You can do better for $10? Go for it. They also have no competition except HP and Casio, and traditionally TI's user experience has been MUCH better. That's why it's so widely adopted.

So stop complaining about what the market is willing to bear and that they have had a successful business model for 20 years. You are just silly.

In any case, you refuted my argument with zero additional information other than saying "no I don't think so from my armchair expert location"

But, yes, go with the monopoly evil corporation theory OR, go get a raspberry pi, add an LCD, put python on it, make it work on batteries and compete at 1/4 the cost....
I can't wrap my head around the vigor some people have for defending corporations, free of charge. Boggles the mind. These shouldn't cost $100 and they only do because courses are based off using these. Do you spend your free time defending ISPs? If not, I know a few who could use your free labor.
2

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