The Vergecast · Thursday, October 1, 2026
Listeners debated whether the TI-83 calculator, a device many used in high school, deserves a place in a 'Hall of Fame'. The hosts acknowledged the sentiment, explaining that the calculator was excluded because it wasn't considered 'remarkably good or remarkably bad.' They suggested a potential future episode to revisit Hall of Fame snubs and reconsider criteria for induction.
“I just wanted to comment on the calculator episode. I have fond memories of the TI-83 going to high school. I even had a friend who had a calculator that the port did not work on. So, I helped copy over the programs needed for class. by hand realized hey this is easy and now i am a software engineer for my living”
“The TI-83 was not considered either remarkably good or remarkably bad, which is why it did not get into the Hall of Fame, because it's just a mid-graphing calculator, and that is part of the story.”
“You could make the argument that it's remarkably good because of how iconic it is, but I do agree it's hard to say whether a graphing calculator is good or bad. I would say it's good because it's so iconic and because you could play games on it.”
“Perhaps we do a special episode of Virgin History where we re litigate robbed Hall of Fame and also things that shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. Mm hmm. That might be coming.”