The hidden monopoly behind your TI graphing calculator

<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>