Details:

In 1981, Texas Instruments introduced its first solar-powered calculator, the TI-1766. Within just a few years, several successors followed — one of them being the TI-1706-II.

Back in the early 1970s, electronic calculators consumed around 20 to 50 watts of power. Thanks to rapid advancements in the semiconductor industry, power consumption was dramatically reduced, making it possible to create a solar-powered calculator like this

TI-1706-II just 15 years later. And all of this at a price that would have been unimaginable in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

This compact calculator operates directly on available light, including artificial light, and does not contain a rechargeable battery. There is, however, one small drawback: when the cover is closed and the power is cut, the contents of the memory are lost.

(*) Note on power consuption:

- Mechanical calculators:   50 …. 70 W

- Canon 130s (1968)      :  48W

- Olympia CD400 (1970):  18W

- Canon LE10 (1971)      :  1.4W

- This TI-1706                 :   0.3 mW ?    (probably similar to e.g. Commodoor EC-821a and General Teknika 8105)

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Calculator Serial number:

Built in:

Functions:

Market-introduction:

Production until:

Price:

C-0585

Approx. 1986

Addition, Subtraction,  Multiplication,  Division, Square Root, %  and Memory

1985 ?  

Approx. 1986 ?

Fl. 29,50  in 1987