zlacker

>>lewisf+(OP)
Why have no edtechs created a low cost version of the TI-83/84? One that mirrors the functionality of the TI calcs so that they can still be used with textbooks that are dependent on those. The article estimates the TI's cost $15-20 to make, but even that seems very high for what they are.

I imagine the harder part is getting approval from the organizations that administer standardized tests like College Board and the states themselves.

>>gfrang+Y5
There are a lot of buttons. Those probably push the BOM up. If you switched to using a shitty membrane keypad you could probably save a lot of money.

>>aidenn+E6
If I remember the innards of my TI-83 correctly (I used it during school 15 years ago, added LED lighting to the display and tore it apart for that purpose) Texas Instruments already uses a shitty membrane keypad. At least I don't remember seeing lots of microswitches.

>>Slarti+97
It's possible. I'm old enough that I had an 82.