The hidden monopoly behind your TI graphing calculator

The Verge News

Summary

The article explores the historical market dominance of Texas Instruments' graphing calculators, highlighting how the company has maintained a near-monopoly in educational technology.

<figure> <img alt="TI-84 Plus graphing calculator" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Amelia Krales" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/VRH_TI84_Site.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The same calculator has been on most kids' back to school shopping list since the early 2000's and the dominance of Texas Instruments' calculator division goes back even farther. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the next episode of <a href="https://pod.link/1840983742"><em>Version History,</em></a> David Pierce is joined by The Verge's Nilay Patel and Victoria Song to tell the story of TI graphing calculators and how one company managed to take over the market and never let it go.<br></p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP7905928799" width="100%"></iframe> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is the second episode of the fifth season of <em>Version History</em> where we're heading back to school. We've already talked about the perilous journeys of <em><a href="https://youtu.be/vtAbRViuHog?si=wCywFljuVbSPD-Dw" data-type="link" data-id="https://youtu.be/vtAbRViuHog?si=wCywFljuVbSPD-Dw">The Oregon Trail </a></em> that many students experienced in the computer lab and over the cou …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/997725/the-hidden-monopoly-behind-your-ti-graphing-calculator">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# The hidden monopoly behind your TI graphing calculator Source: [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/997725/the-hidden-monopoly-behind-your-ti-graphing-calculator](https://www.theverge.com/podcast/997725/the-hidden-monopoly-behind-your-ti-graphing-calculator) The same calculator has been on most kids’ back to school shopping list since the early 2000’s and the dominance of Texas Instruments’ calculator division goes back even farther\. In the next episode of[*Version History,*](https://pod.link/1840983742)David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Nilay Patel and Victoria Song to tell the story of TI graphing calculators and how one company managed to take over the market and never let it go\. This is the second episode of the fifth season of*Version History*where we’re heading back to school\. We’ve already talked about the perilous journeys of*[The Oregon Trail](https://youtu.be/vtAbRViuHog?si=wCywFljuVbSPD-Dw)*that many students experienced in the computer lab and over the course of the next few weeks we’ll talk about the One Laptop Per Child, Chromebook, LeapPad, and the overhead projector\. Here’s how to get every episode as soon as it drops: If you’re a*Verge*subscriber, you can also[get access to*Version History*](https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to)\(and all our other podcasts\) with no ads\. All you have to do is[visit your account settings](http://theverge.com/account/podcasts?_gl=1*16vcfij*_ga*OTAwMzUyLjE3NDU5MzQ4MTg.*_ga_9GXHZT6RVE*czE3NjgxMzkyMDMkbzI3NCRnMSR0MTc2ODEzOTMwMSRqNDkkbDAkaDAkZEVrd3AyZ2pzZHdDeEc2OE5RM0NFS3hmMVlwZU9QVi1XLXc.)\. If you want to know more about*TI Graphing Calculator*history, here are some links to get you started: **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Verge Staff

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