I'm forgetting how old I am. :)
1973 was when I first saw a TI calculator like in the picture. I couldn't actually own one because $150.00 was hard to come by for a 16 year old. By 1980 they had become commonplace - quite a fast transition.
In fact, I remember the novelty of the digital watch running its course then. From the impractical red led ones that cost $60.00 to the calculator watches that ran around $150.00, and you had to carry a pen around to use them. Anyone who had an extra hundred fifty dollars was determined to impress everyone with his ability to calculate the tip at dinner. :-)