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Comment by jrlocke | Hacker News Reader

It is almost insane that we still use TI-84's when we have all the power of smart phones in our pockets. I would love to see an app that can function as the calculator but also notify the teacher if it is backgrounded (to prevent illicit notes/internet access).

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Nice WaPo article from 2014 explaining why this is: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2014/09/0...

HN comments on that article: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8260038

It's not that insane, it's a secure, locked down device to do what you need it to do and not message answers between students, etc.

Android and IOS would need a lock down mode to only allow a particular ti-8x app to run and the control would have to be handed to a teacher for non-school devices.

Not to say the TI-85 couldn't technically be modified to save information in a way that couldn't be found thanks to ASM. Luckily I didn't need this ability.

I just got a secondhand TI-84 on ebay for $20, the plan is to leave it in the woodshop for quick woodshoppy calcs. I never played with one before and was really impressed with what I got for $20.

For $20 it is impressive - the problem is when it's $120 and "required" for 13-14 year olds of all income levels.

Yeah, spending $90 for a TI-85 back in 1994 was pretty bad, but at least somewhat justifiable given the time. Paying the same today can only be the result of an abject market failure.

Related: http://xkcd.com/768/

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