system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 - The TI-89 Calculator has been around since 1998, still costs $200, and has yet to have been replaced as the standard... why?

The TI-89 Titanium retails for 200 US Dollars (can be found for about 130-140).  The TI-89 has been around since 1998.  Since then we've developed smart phones, tablets, kindles, etc.  Why is the TI-89 still the standard when we could seemingly replace it with something much more powerful for the same or a lesser price?
gpt
Blame CollegeBoard, the company that administers SAT and AP exams.

They only allow certain specified models of Casion, HP, Radio Shack, Sharp, TI, and a few others. They're also very strict about NOT using app-based smartphones as a substitute in their tests.

Further, many college math classes require them, and have stuck with particular models, especially TI, as they or their teaching assistants can help with those, but not some random app you downloaded last week.

With students forced to buy these, and college stores stocking them as a result, TI has little incentive to innovate or bring the price down.