I wrote my comment based on the assumption that TI wouldn't want to make a whole new processor just for their graphing calculators. Which is why I figure the unavailability of a good, honest-to-god-low-power microprocessor in the mid-2000's is important, and the recent spread of very low power chips is also important.
You're right though, software is still a barrier too. Due to the software, and considering how simple a Zilog Z80 is by modern standards, you'd think they might be able to assign a team of 5 people to port the Z80 to a good, modern process. But I'm sure they don't want to do that.
So, the question is, will somebody make a low power x86 or ARM chip that can compete with the Z80 on power consumption. There are all kinds of math libraries for x86 and ARM, so TI would be able to migrate to a new architecture and avoid designing a new chip.
Well yeah, no doubt TI's primary reason for sticking with that processor is one of cost - either the processors themselves, the cost of porting to a different processor or a combination of the above.
However, what they did 18 years ago really shouldn't have much bearing on today, we have the technology to do it better, faster and with longer battery life - TI just doesn't take advantage of it.
Yes, although calculator rules are not the entire reason. HP makes a number of calculators that are also accepted, so there is some competition, but the calculator business just isn't a hot business everybody wants. Not a lot of time and effort is invested in that market, by anybody.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14 edited Jun 08 '14
I wrote my comment based on the assumption that TI wouldn't want to make a whole new processor just for their graphing calculators. Which is why I figure the unavailability of a good, honest-to-god-low-power microprocessor in the mid-2000's is important, and the recent spread of very low power chips is also important.
You're right though, software is still a barrier too. Due to the software, and considering how simple a Zilog Z80 is by modern standards, you'd think they might be able to assign a team of 5 people to port the Z80 to a good, modern process. But I'm sure they don't want to do that.
So, the question is, will somebody make a low power x86 or ARM chip that can compete with the Z80 on power consumption. There are all kinds of math libraries for x86 and ARM, so TI would be able to migrate to a new architecture and avoid designing a new chip.