The term refers to the Texas Instruments TI-84 series of graphing calculators as retailed by the membership-only warehouse club, Costco. This indicates a specific purchasing channel for a widely-used educational tool, targeting consumers who are Costco members.
Buying electronics through membership retailers can offer advantages such as competitive pricing, bundled warranty options, and a perceived value stemming from the retailer’s selective inventory. The TI-84 series has a long history in secondary and post-secondary education, serving as a standard tool for mathematical computation and graphical analysis.