I was looking for references for a TI-83 Plus to make some sprites for a future game... when I came across this image from a Walmart store listing. It appears to be a new design for the TI-83 Plus with a black border instead of a white one.


Although the back of the packaging has an error with the button battery warning (mentions LR44 batteries,) it has a copyright date of 2024.

Still, what do you think of this new design? Do you think there will be any other significant differences between the two models? Or was there some kind of error made on Walmart's part?

Store page here
So I had noticed this back in late August but I believe this is (unfortunately!) just a render quirk because this package has since been seen in store but with a normal 83+.
This "all-black" would have looked nice next to the new "all-white" 84+.
The button font also differs from previous iterations. Combined with the hypothetical black borders, it is a little reminiscent of the old TI-89.

I have a TI-83 Plus manufactured in 2020. They did indeed switch over to two LR44 backup batteries. Not a fan of that change since they eventually leak, unlike the CR1620, which also seem to last over 20 years.

Other minor changes include most chips except for the flash being integrated into a single "blob" chip, a more robust upper LCD ribbon cable, and motherboard secured using plastic rivets instead of screws.
Pi Time wrote:
I have a TI-83 Plus manufactured in 2020. They did indeed switch over to two LR44 backup batteries. Not a fan of that change since they eventually leak, unlike the CR1620, which also seem to last over 20 years.


Why did they do this...? There was no reason for them to do that. In fact, this is worse because they not only run out quicker but you aren't even notified about when they die until it's too late.
HydrideGS wrote:
Pi Time wrote:
I have a TI-83 Plus manufactured in 2020. They did indeed switch over to two LR44 backup batteries. Not a fan of that change since they eventually leak, unlike the CR1620, which also seem to last over 20 years.


Why did they do this...? There was no reason for them to do that. In fact, this is worse because they not only run out quicker but you aren't even notified about when they die until it's too late.


I suspect the LR44 cells, as used on the TI-84, are marginally cheaper then the CR1620. If it were up to me, I would have ported TI-83 Plus functionality to something based off the TI-30X Pro Mathprint, which drives a display with twice the pixels while running off just CR2032 cells.
Pi Time wrote:
HydrideGS wrote:
Pi Time wrote:
I have a TI-83 Plus manufactured in 2020. They did indeed switch over to two LR44 backup batteries. Not a fan of that change since they eventually leak, unlike the CR1620, which also seem to last over 20 years.


Why did they do this...? There was no reason for them to do that. In fact, this is worse because they not only run out quicker but you aren't even notified about when they die until it's too late.


I suspect the LR44 cells, as used on the TI-84, are marginally cheaper then the CR1620. If it were up to me, I would have ported TI-83 Plus functionality to something based off the TI-30X Pro Mathprint, which drives a display with twice the pixels while running off just CR2032 cells.

You mean the TI-36X Pro? Still an amazing calculator, can't believe it's only $20.

Anyway, I still hate that they decided to replace the backup power supply to something less reliable. But they want to get as much profit out of the thing as possible... even if these batteries are prone to exploding.

Yes, really. Almost happened to me, actually.
Pi Time wrote:
I suspect the LR44 cells, as used on the TI-84, are marginally cheaper then the CR1620
I'd suspect that those cells are also easier for customers to find, as I think they're more commonly used.
HydrideGS wrote:

You mean the TI-36X Pro? Still an amazing calculator, can't believe it's only $20.

Anyway, I still hate that they decided to replace the backup power supply to something less reliable. But they want to get as much profit out of the thing as possible... even if these batteries are prone to exploding.

Yes, really. Almost happened to me, actually.


The TI-30X Pro Mathprint is essentially a modernized TI-36X Pro with 4x the pixel count. But it is only available in the European market for some reason. TI graphing calculators aren't too popular in Europe outside of France, so maybe they need it to look like the "flagship product" in that market only? There also is no German variant despite its prevalence in schools throughout German-speaking Europe.

Regardless, they are amazing calculators for the price and I have a TI-30X Pro in my everyday bag. Whenever I notice the large area above the screen, I can't help but wonder how many more pennies it would have taken to get rid of the solar panel, double the display size, and add basic graphing features. Even the anemic TI-80 could graph. Although TI would never make such a thing since that would absolutely cannibalize their TI-8x line.

I digress. I also once happened to save a friend's calculator when I habitually picked open the battery cover, only to notice the backup battery cover bulging. Popped it out and told him to get silver oxide SR44W cells, which don't evolve hydrogen and burst open as readily.
Pi Time wrote:
Whenever I notice the large area above the screen, I can't help but wonder how many more pennies it would have taken to get rid of the solar panel, double the display size, and add basic graphing features. Even the anemic TI-80 could graph. Although TI would never make such a thing since that would absolutely cannibalize their TI-8x line.

No, no. You see, the TI-30X pro uses ONE CR2032 battery. You need TWO CR2032 batteries to get the ability to graph. (I'm joking)

Pi Time wrote:
I digress. I also once happened to save a friend's calculator when I habitually picked open the battery cover, only to notice the backup battery cover bulging. Popped it out and told him to get silver oxide SR44W cells, which don't evolve hydrogen and burst open as readily.

YIKES. Mine wasn't THAT bad. Good thing you noticed it!

KermMartian wrote:
I'd suspect that those cells are also easier for customers to find, as I think they're more commonly used.

Exactly.
HydrideGS wrote:
Pi Time wrote:
Whenever I notice the large area above the screen, I can't help but wonder how many more pennies it would have taken to get rid of the solar panel, double the display size, and add basic graphing features. Even the anemic TI-80 could graph. Although TI would never make such a thing since that would absolutely cannibalize their TI-8x line.

No, no. You see, the TI-30X pro uses ONE CR2032 battery. You need TWO CR2032 batteries to get the ability to graph. (I'm joking)


And if you used 3 CR2032s, you'll be able to... well... yeah.

well I brought it up again
guywithathing wrote:
And if you used 3 CR2032s, you'll be able to... well... yeah.

well I brought it up again


Still salty about that. Like-- the calculator doesn't even meet the bare minimum system requirements even from ten years ago--

where did you get that image from? was it a website or did you make the table?
guywithathing wrote:
where did you get that image from? was it a website or did you make the table?

I made the table, but in the process made a stupid error saying that 156MB was available for the user instead of KB...
  
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