DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus

Date of introduction:	Jan.7, 2004 Available: August 2004	Display technology:	LCD dot matrix
New price:	$109.99 (SRP 2008) $139.00 (SRP 2013)	Display size:	8 * 16 characters
Size:	7.5" x 3.3" x 0.85" 190 x 84 x 22 mm³
Weight:	7.4 ounces, 208 grams	Serial No:	2014021861
Batteries:	4*AAA + SR44 (35mA)	Date of manufacture:	mth 03 year 2004
AC-Adapter:		Origin of manufacture:	China (S)
Precision:	14	Integrated circuits:	ASIC: TI REF 83PLUSB/TA2 or TI REF 84PLUSB/TA3 Flash: 29LV800 Display: Toshiba T6K04
Memories:
Program steps:	24k Bytes, 480k Bytes Flash ROM	Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner

The TI-84 Plus doubles the capacity of the Flash ROM of the original TI-83 Plus to 480k Bytes. Other enhancements include a high contrast LCD, an integrated USB port for computer connectivity, an internal clock, and an available kickstand. The clock speed of the Z80 compatible microprocessor raised to 15 MHz compared to the 6 MHz of the earlier TI-83 products.

Dismantling the TI-84 Plus reveals a new printed circuit board (PCB) design with only 3 main Integrated Circuits:

• TI REF 83PLUSB/TA2: Z80 microprocessor, RAM, USB-Port
and supporting logic
• Fujitsu 29LV800: 1M Bytes Flash ROM
• Toshiba T6K04: Single-chip 64*120 pixel display driver

The picture on the right gives an enhanced view of the ASIC that clocks the internal Z80 microprocessor with 15 MHz and incorporates the RAM, USB-Port and logic. Learn more about the Hardware Architecture of TI’s Graphing Calculators.
Please notice that later TI-84 Plus make us of the TI REF 84PLUSB/TA3 ASIC (Picture provided by Daniel Los. Thank you!).

A component not easily detected on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the TI-84 Plus is the driver circuit of the LC-Display. It is just a bare chip mounted on a flexible piece of circuit board attached between the display and the main PCB.

The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition keeps the 1.5 M Byte Flash ROM and 15 MHz clock speed of the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition but added colorful interchangeable faceplates to the redesigned housing.

The Flash-ROM of the TI-84 Plus is loaded with software, Texas Instruments included quite interesting Apps:

• Cabri® Jr.
• CBL™/CBR™
• Conic Graphing
• Inequality Graphing
• Probability Simulations
• Science Tools
• StudyCards™ |
• TImeSpan™ |
• Topics in Algebra 1, Chapter 5
• Topics in Algebra 1, Chapters 1-4
• Transformation Graphing

The TI-84 Plus supports the ViewScreen panel and the TI-Presenter with an Presentation Link Adapter. A serial port of the calculators allows the connection to the Calculator-Based Laboratory system CBL, its successor CBL 2 and the Calculator-Based Ranger CBR. The added USB interface of the TI-84 Plus family calculators connects directly with the Calculator-Based Ranger CBR 2 introduced in 2004, too. With a new cradle even the optional full-sized QWERTY Keyboard introduced in 2002 matches with the TI-84 Plus series.

Texas Instruments introduced in the Asia Pacific region a different color scheme for the TI-84 Plus based on a baby blue calculator housing. Don't miss the amazing TI-84 Pocket.fr introduced in June 2011.

Don't miss the colorful slide cases developed for the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, they fit on the TI-84 Plus, too.

During the Back-to-School 2008 campaign we found in the shelves of the U.S. retailer Wal-Mart a TI-84 Plus in a translucent housing.

Don't miss the TI-89 Titanium and the BA II PLUS Professional, announced in January 2004, too.

To reduce theft of this popular school-owned graphing calculator, Texas Instruments introduced late in 2004 the EZ-Spot Teacher Packs with a bright, easy-to-spot, "school bus yellow" back cover and slide case. In addition, each unit's faceplate is inscribed with the words, "SCHOOL PROPERTY." It was available both for the TI-84 Plus EZ-Spot and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition EZ-Spot.

Texas Instruments announced in 2006 the TI-Nspire, this long-awaited calculator family arrived finally July 2007 in the store shelves. In 2009 the grandfather of all Flash-ROM based calculators, the unsuccessful TI-73, morphed into the skin of the TI-84 Plus. Don't miss the new TI-73 Explorer.

Texas Instruments announced on March 1^st, 2010 the TI-84 Plus Operating System version 2.53MP with MathPrint™ mode for free download. The OS 2.53MP enables users to input and view math symbols and formulas, including stacked fractions, in their handhelds exactly as the equations appear in textbooks.

On January 18, 2013 a colorful addition to the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator family was announced, the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition before switching in 2015 to the compact and stylish TI-84 Plus CE and adding in 2021 the TI-84 Plus CE Python.

Don't miss the Orion TI-84 Plus, the world's first fully accessible handheld graphing calculator.

ROM-Versions:

2.21 (March 2004)
2.22 (August 2004)
2.30 (December 2004)
2.40 (November 2005)
2.41 (May 7, 2006)
2.43 (December 4, 2007)
2.53MP (February 15, 2010 includes MathPrint)
2.55MP (January 11, 2011)

You can check the ROM version of your TI-84 Plus using the following key sequence and reading the number on your screen:

[2nd] [MEM] [1]

Information provided by ticalc.org and Xavier Andréani.

Exam acceptance:

The TI-84 Plus is permitted (as of September 27, 2007) for use on SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP exams.

Find here the original press release dated January 7, 2004:

Educators Speak - "Connectivity is Key" - TI Listens

Enhanced graphing handhelds deliver greater classroom interaction through more reliable, easier connectivity

DALLAS, January 7, 2004

Texas Instruments, the leader in handheld educational technology, today announced the launch of its newest line of graphing handhelds, the TI-84 Plus and the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition. With input from the educator community, TI improved the connectivity already present in its popular graphing handhelds, adding a built-in Universal Serial Bus (USB) port to allow for direct data transfer between computer and handheld, as well as between handheld graphing devices.

The addition of the USB port means quicker and more reliable sharing of content, handheld software applications (Apps) and programs from the Internet. With this USB connectivity, teachers can increase classroom interaction and sharing of work by attaching students' handhelds to TI's ViewScreen™ and TI Presenter™ using an available adaptor.

Both products have been updated with a sleek look and feel, incorporating rounded edges and keys while maintaining the same key strokes as its predecessor, the TI-83 Plus family. The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition has new color schemes incorporating a metallic look. The TI-84 family of products also has a sharper and higher contrast LCD screen for easier viewing, and a built-in clock with date and time display.

"Educators have always been the primary inspiration for our product development, and this philosophy and collaboration continues to be successful today," said Susan Herman, Product Line Strategy Manager for Texas Instruments Educational & Productivity Solutions business. "This line of products speaks directly to what teachers have asked for. With greater connectivity, imagine what will be possible in terms of classroom activities and their impact on students' understanding of concepts."

The new products are required or permitted for use on some national and standardized tests such as the AP*, SAT* I/II, ACT* and PSAT*, as well as on select state standardized tests.

Special For Educators

Exclusive to educators in attendance at the Teachers Teaching with Technology™ (T3 ™) International Conference (March 12 - 14 in New Orleans) and the NCTM Annual Meeting (April 21 - 24 in Philadelphia), educators can participate in a technology trade-up program. If they bring one TI-83 family of products ViewScreen graphing handheld to the TI booth, they can exchange it and receive one TI-84 Plus Silver Edition ViewScreen model in return. This trade-up program will only be available to educators in attendance at these conferences and educators will be able to trade-up only once.

In addition, TI is offering a Volume Purchase Program (VPP) for the TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition. If educators collect 20 proofs of purchase for either the TI-84 Plus or TI-84 Plus Silver Edition from their students, they will receive a TI-84 Plus ViewScreen at no cost. By simply sending in the proofs of purchase, they receive free product to support their teaching efforts in the classroom. More details of the program are available at education.ti.com.

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

Designed for power-user math and science teachers, as well as students interested in maximum download capacity for educational software, the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition has 94 available App slots and has 1.5 MB available Flash memory and 24K available RAM. The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition has an estimated street price of $129.99.

TI-84 Plus

Ideal for use in Algebra 1 and 2, trigonometry, business/finance, biology and physics, the TI-84 Plus has three times the storage capacity of the TI-83 Plus with 30 available App slots. It has 24K available RAM and 480K available Flash memory and comes preloaded with 11 Apps to support learning and understanding of math and science concepts and curriculum. The TI-84 Plus has an estimated street price of $109.99.

Product Availability

Prepackaged with these new products will be a unit-to-unit link cable, as well as a USB connectivity cable to facilitate the enhanced connectivity. The new line of graphing handhelds are scheduled for retail availability in May and will be sold at retail and office superstores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot, Staples and Best Buy. For additional resellers see education.ti.com.

* AP, SAT and, PSAT are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of and does not endorse this product.

*ACTTM is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc., which was not involved in the production of and does not endorse this product.

Find here the original press release dated March 1, 2010:

Texas Instruments updates TI-84 Plus graphing calculator operating system

Free OS update with MathPrint™ mode adds fraction math capabilities

DALLAS, March 1, 2010

Texas Instruments (TI) has released a new operating system update for its TI-84 Plus family of graphing calculators that helps educators and students make a stronger visual connection between the math in textbooks and on their handhelds.

The TI-84 Plus OS version 2.53MP with MathPrint™ mode enables users to input and view math symbols and formulas, including stacked fractions, in their handhelds exactly as the equations appear in textbooks. The latest OS version can be downloaded for free at www.education.ti.com/84. Educators also can use The TI-84 Plus OS version 2.53MP to update their TI-Smartview™ emulator software.

In addition to the MathPrint mode, the update provides the following enhancements:

• Fraction math with easy-to-use templates

• Scrolling history to track past calculations and quickly recall an input or output

• Number output format which allows users to choose how they

• prefer to view calculations on screen, as decimals or fractions.

"These enhancements came about directly as a result of feedback from educators who preferred the MathPrint format and the expanded fraction capabilities, both of which help provide a more consistent learning experience between the graphing calculators and textbooks," said Gayle Mujica Director, Product Definition and Design said. "The free OS update gives educators the same capabilities on their calculators and TI-SmartView™ emulator software as students entering their class with a recently purchased TI-84 Plus family graphing calculator."

The new OS version 2.53 works with all TI-84 Plus graphing calculators, including TI-84 Plus Silver Edition and TI-84 Plus handhelds. More information is available at www.education.ti.com/84.

If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.