> so why are we paying for even more than what that would cost? Because TI has tried in the past to introduce more powerful calculators, and that fell flat. T

> so why are we paying for even more than what that would cost? Because TI has tried in the past to introduce more powerful calculators, and that fell flat. The 84 exists because schools expect it. That is all. Until they accept your smartphone as a calculator, TI can markup the 84 as much as they want and everyone has to buy it because there is no free market in school calculators.