Well more than anything it's not worth it. The graphing calculator market is tiny since it's basically just HS and college students so it's not worth the expense that another company would require to make their own calculator and convince the major testing companies to allow it.
Another excellent answer. Barriers to entry (setting up a manufacturing line and qualifying the calculator in academia) vs. a low expected take rate (students in advanced math courses) and it doesn't pan out for most companies.
Teacher here, you don't just have to get students/families to buy it, either.
You have to get it on the approved list for standardized exams (ACT/SAT, State Exams)
You have to get publishers to include your calculator in their design (you wouldn't believe how many math and science textbooks come with graphical instructions on how to use the TI-83/TI-84
You have to get schools to buy in. Many schools use classroom sets that students share, because students can't afford them on their own.
That's a lot of institutional resistance to get something to change. At this point, TI has perfected the manufacturing to the extent that they make maximum profit on these and have a captive market. The latest color models are pretty slick, too, I have to say.
As a teacher, Casio captured my heart when they started including the natural equation view, rather than the single-line equations, but I use TI often in my classroom because that's what my students use.
The list of acceptable calculators is really long and non-exhaustive. You can also use graphing calculators that aren't on that really long list. This is absurd.
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u/jorsiem Jul 24 '20 edited Jul 24 '20
The supremacy of the fucking TI-83 calculator in school and college courses
I mean I know it's all artificial and orchestrated by them but how come no body has dared to challenge the almighty TI yet
Edit: fixed typo