 August 6, 2009 - 6:26am | In module SFAD6 there is a new equipment item: the Hand computer 2kg 7000cr "A hand computer is a portable lightweight (2kg) level 1 computer fitted with a short wave radio and powered from a power beltpack. The hand computer has the following level 1 programs: analysis, communication, and information storage. The communication program allows it to be interfaced with a larger computer via its short wave radio. Information can be passed freely between two computers over the radio link, allowing hand computer to access far larger amounts of data than it would be able to do with its restricted function point size." Few comments on this: its a lap top. and swap out the belt pack for a 20 SEU clip or just say that it has an internal 30 SEU power supply that can be recharged via a power cord adaptor. as for power endurance I would say in light of the Q&A in one of the Polygon magazines that states a robot can travel 1 km/ SEU on its parabattery then an computer ought to operate for 1 day/ SEU in its power supply with power being conserved by shutting it off. I'd also state that it has a interface jack to allow it to interface with computer not equipped with the radio. Also might specify a data jack that lets it plug into any hand held scanner to download its stored info or to upload a new chemical or genetic profile the scanner needs to watch for. As for the short wave radio I would want to swap it out for a chronocom which would give it an effective 3 km range for accessing open and unsecured networks. Now applying this to the game despite its official cost of 7000 cr (which is a bit high IMO) I would say that its a far better tool kit for a computer expert character than the Robcom kit. and more likely of greater use especially if the adventure is taking place in and around a city or on a star liner or space station. on a classic "Volturnus" adventure it might be of little utility till the 2nd module but it could present a second front for storming of the 2 pirate outpost in that adventure: the computer expert could attempt to access the outpost computer and defeat its security. If he succeeds then he could manipulate the robot management program to shut down the robotic guards. Failure at defeating the computer security would lead to alerting the pirates and they could certainly reactivate the robots themselves and cut out computer control. The PC wouldn't be able to make the robots attack the pirates without a total reprogramming of the functions of the robots and that would require direct physical access but just shutting them down even temporarily would could be a big plus. The down side is that a GM will have to have either prepared computer files to hand out to the PC or make stuff up on the fly. Personally I'd print a bunch of jpeg files of artwork to keep in a 3x5 index card box for when players ask for something I didn't prepare specifically; I can whip out a photo and hand it over as this is what your computer search turned up. Could even make a bunch of photos of miniatures like the one used in my avatar so when the players inevitably ask for info on a certain NPC i can just throw out a pic and not have to have too much in the way of other info on him. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 6, 2009 - 6:36am | The + side of using this item over the wearable computers in Zebs guide is that 1 everyone gets what it is and how it can be used right off the bat. Hand a new player to the game one of the personal computers from zebs and they will have to read the descriptions to figure out how to use it. It has a nice simple description and does 90% of what both the GM and the Player need it to do in any given adventure. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 6, 2009 - 7:37am | I just checked and the cost of all the programs specified is 6000 as per the standard equipment list which in turns begs the question of why not have computer security installed to help with defeating security (or specify a Hacking Program which is in all respects identical to computer security but designed to hack computers) The rules say a lvl 1 computer has 10 or fewer function points and weighs 3kg but the jump to lvl 2 is 11-30 function points and 8kg So I'm wondering if the hand computer ought not to be limited to the 6 function points required for the specified programs since its 2kg whereas a standard computer at lvl one could go all the way up to its 10 function points and even beyond as more program modules are added. I only ask cause it would only be natural for players to want to have a hacking program which would push the total to 8 function points. I guess if the hand held computer is a hard and fast prepackaged 6 function points and the computer specialist is the weapon (if he's lvl 5-6) and the hand held is just the tool. I suppose the answer would be to just outfit a vehicle with a standard computer with all the needed programs and communications devices to access and hack computer networks- using a communication device to access a computer means you don't have to be close so why not just have a computer in the car? sort of a swat van to carry ammo and medical supplies like an extra freeze field as well. I can also see all star ships being outfitted in this manner so that crew wouldn't need to leave the ship to access the public info data bases. but then every computer so outfitted would also need a computer security program to guard against hacking. Then just having your computer hacked could be an adventure hook. Pirates might have their navigator try to hack a ships computer to shut down a drive program. criminals would try to hack the city computer to infect the law enforcement program and tie up police or even prevent police recieving an alarm call. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 August 6, 2009 - 3:59pm | Dude, excellent topic. In my house rules, I've made all Level 1 computers into laptops. Any programs that can fit under the 10 fp limit are game. I made them Power Clip friendly and they use 1 SEU per hour per function point. Thus a 10 fp computer will last 2 hours on a single clip. It seems in line with other small device power consumption. Data jack = USB. Everything's got one. Chronocoms, radiophones, robots, an explorer's sound system, a laser rifle (for electronic diagnostics), etc. ;) As far as wireless access in my house rules, any computer using it requires the level 1 Communications program and must explicitly list wireless networking as a function of that program. There are other purposes for the Communications program that won't require wireless networking after all. For secure communications, computers must have a seperate Computer Security program to protect just the Communications program. I'm intrigued by the prospect of using the Computer Security program as an intrusion tool. It's an interesting idea that hadn't occurred to me. I think I would lean towards making Computer Intrusion a new program, or limit it to higher level Computer Security programs that have more built in functionality. Can't wait to read other opinions on this. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
 August 6, 2009 - 4:25pm | If I can envision technology advances, I think level one computers ought to be more like smart-phones. Level 2 computers would be PDAs, and level 3 or 4 would be the normal laptop type (or normal desktop). Level 5 would be essentially building wide computer systems, perhaps a large corporation might keep. Level 6 would be effectively like high tech companies have with research and such (think Microsoft or Google etc). I also think there might be even bigger supercomputer types that defy normal ranking. Think research supercomputers built occassionally by college co-ops and such. These would be cost prohibitive in the scope of normal characters, being funded through governments. <insert witty comment here> |
August 6, 2009 - 6:28pm | Expanding on SmootRKs ideas: Level 1 = smart phone / PDA (they're basically the same thing) Level 2 = netbook / thin client terminal Level 3 = laptop / desktop Level 4 = rack mounted server Level 5 = small data center or server farm / mid range Level 6 = large data center / mainframe / super computer Very doable, I think. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
August 6, 2009 - 7:19pm | Other ideas to incorporate or consider in regards to 'future computers': Voice input/output Virtual Reality input or display Helmet/headgear/goggles with HUD info mesh networking with all other gadgetry in region, always connected to vast global/system internets (on most populated planets). Processing speed/capability vastly superior to what we currently see (almost geometric advancing of speed/processing power over time has been the standard so far). I am sure there are many more things to consider. <insert witty comment here> |
August 6, 2009 - 8:50pm | Incidently what does a lap top weigh? I ask cause I'm a bit of a dinosaur and dont have one in the house and I only use metric measurements for playing this game. Does 2 kg seem high, low or spot on for the hand held computer? I think adding a hacking program (same as computer security but focused on defeating computer security) is a good idea as a posed to just making the computer security program do double duty. Force the players to blow money on 2 programs! Incidently I created a thread in the Port Loren Public Library Project for posting new non standard computer programs as a way of compiling new stuff for everyone's benefit. Stop by and post any fan creations or any you come across in official material Ie Dragon/Polygon articles or modules. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 August 7, 2009 - 1:31am | 2 kilos(4.4 lbs) is heavy for a handheld, about right for a medium-sized laptop. A handheld comp would mass somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.23 kg(approx. 0.5 lb), with ultraportable laptops starting at 0.45 kg(approx. 1 lb) and go up from there. Levelling might be a connundrum, considering that an ultraportable now has the same computing ability as this desktop I'm typing this on. "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
August 7, 2009 - 5:08am | Remember the trend is towards lighter, yet more durable. I think in any 'future' sort of setting, they would be effectively nigh unbreakable, and light weight to the point of something like a small spiral notebook (less than that might effectively become hard to manage for being too light - blow away in the wind). I doubt there would be things like keyboards (instead, a VR style keyboard available if necessary - think that movie Johnny Nemonic (spell?)). Likewise, display might be HUD style or VR instead of traditional screen. Most devices would operate wirelessly with each other with massive googleplex style bitrate speeds, and things like CD ROMs would be more like flash drives with massive capacities. Heck, I think even BlockBuster Video will be obsolete, instead using a download method. <insert witty comment here> |
 August 7, 2009 - 1:36pm | Mnemonic I don't think VR/HUD keyboards will take hold. First, keyboards are just comfortable, and a VR/HUD keyboard would increase errors, especially with faster typers. No matter how exacting or even forgiving you make a VR/HUD keyboard, the human mind still needs to find keys tactilely. When the mind can't take note of something with any of its senses, it continues to adjust itself as it seeks a sense source, so a VR keyboard would be essentially worthless. Ever tried walking in an open space in total darkness? (I have) You not only lose sense of direction, but your mind even begins to wonder about up and down. Even blind people lose their balance if they don't have a stick, a dog, or furniture and walls to feel, no matter how flat and level the surface beneath their feet is. That's the effect that is happening to your hands if your eyes aren't allowed to watch the keys (typing 101) and your hands aren't allowed to touch them. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 7, 2009 - 3:45pm | Let's also keep in mind that perhaps computers didn't progress along the same paths in the SF universe as they did in ours. It is a fun exercise to bring Star Frontiers up to date with the
technological changes since its publication in the early 80's (I'm
guessing here, since I don't have a copy of the original rule book
handy), but it doesn't need to be analogous. Perhaps in the Frontier, they discovered that having everything connected to a big wireless network was a Bad Thing™, so only a handful of devices are wireless capable. Perhaps instead of making things smaller, Frontier science went with just faster and with bigger cooling systems. Maybe SF computers aren't even binary, more of an artificial brain, and require some big nebulous glob of stuff to work as a processor / memory / storage. The possibilities are endless. ... Although, in my mind, I like to keep them similar to our own technology. Easier to understand and draw rules around them that way. ;) Regarding the user interface, I agree that some sort of keyboard will likely never go away. The smiple things have staying power. Every game of SF I have ever played had voice response computers, like in Star Trek, so that's a gimme as well. It is fair to assume that holographic projectors and HUD devices would also be common. My tendancy is to also use a robot with a computer link as a computer interface device as well. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
August 7, 2009 - 3:48pm | A VR keyboard would work fine with gloves that give tactile sensation as well... but I get your point. We are moving that direction already. A Wii game wirelessly gives control, and they even have vibration feedback options. Then there is that balance board, where just subtle movements give a degree of contol over games. I don't think keyboards are currently on their way out, but certainly thinking in terms of a couple of hundred years of computer innovation, just about anything might be possible... perhaps we just have to think to type (wirelessly/remotely reads brain waves well enough to know what needs to be typed or conveyed). Seems like the natural progression from voice recognition software to something that can read your thoughts directly. <insert witty comment here> |
August 7, 2009 - 5:58pm | Mnemonic I don't think VR/HUD keyboards will take hold. First, keyboards are just comfortable, and a VR/HUD keyboard would increase errors, especially with faster typers. No matter how exacting or even forgiving you make a VR/HUD keyboard, the human mind still needs to find keys tactilely. When the mind can't take note of something with any of its senses, it continues to adjust itself as it seeks a sense source, so a VR keyboard would be essentially worthless. Ever tried walking in an open space in total darkness? (I have) You not only lose sense of direction, but your mind even begins to wonder about up and down. Even blind people lose their balance if they don't have a stick, a dog, or furniture and walls to feel, no matter how flat and level the surface beneath their feet is. That's the effect that is happening to your hands if your eyes aren't allowed to watch the keys (typing 101) and your hands aren't allowed to touch them. I agree with you about the VR keyboards. Traditional keyboards being comfortable...you mean from an ergonomic standpoint(cos they ain't) or from a familiarity standpoint(in which case I can understand your point of view). Now, if the technology becomes sufficiently advanced(where sensations can be digitized and the holo has a "solid" feel to it), you may see holographic input(e.g. the Tae'lon gear from Earth:Final Conflict), either as a separate keyboard or integrated into the holographic display itself. Either way, the mouse will probably be wireless and operable from across a room, and supplemented with a movement tracking system which tracks your pointing finger relative to the display and places the cursor whereever your finger is pointing, with a simple tapping motion inputting commands. If the portable computer becomes the size of a Bluetooth headset(with a holographic display, of course)it will feature both holographic input and voice command(other computers will have this option as well), with this typer of portable computer(equipped with VoIP, cam, and a wireless modem as a matter of course) serving as a communications device as well as a computing device(even both at once). "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
August 7, 2009 - 6:06pm | A VR keyboard would work fine with gloves that give tactile sensation as well... but I get your point. We are moving that direction already. A Wii game wirelessly gives control, and they even have vibration feedback options. Then there is that balance board, where just subtle movements give a degree of contol over games. I don't think keyboards are currently on their way out, but certainly thinking in terms of a couple of hundred years of computer innovation, just about anything might be possible... perhaps we just have to think to type (wirelessly/remotely reads brain waves well enough to know what needs to be typed or conveyed). Seems like the natural progression from voice recognition software to something that can read your thoughts directly. Like Firefox. It would also have to be able to translate between languages(remember the difficulties Mitchell Gant had because he had think in Russian and remember what, I believe, afterburners were in that language?), and be able to zero in on the particular conscious thought command you want done, as there's going to be a lot of confusing and often contradictory thought patterns for the technology to sort out, especially if you're like me and are debating what to type even as you're typing it. On the other hand, the inertia of the familiar's is not to be discounted either. It could be in a couple of hundred years people are still banging away on keyboards. Probably type-by-light or something similar, but still the same QWERTY layout, the same old shift and function keys, the same caps lock which keeps getting stuck on mine.... "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
August 7, 2009 - 6:12pm | Let's also keep in mind that perhaps computers didn't progress along the same paths in the SF universe as they did in ours. It is a fun exercise to bring Star Frontiers up to date with the technological changes since its publication in the early 80's (I'm guessing here, since I don't have a copy of the original rule book handy), but it doesn't need to be analogous. Perhaps in the Frontier, they discovered that having everything connected to a big wireless network was a Bad Thing™, so only a handful of devices are wireless capable. Perhaps instead of making things smaller, Frontier science went with just faster and with bigger cooling systems. Maybe SF computers aren't even binary, more of an artificial brain, and require some big nebulous glob of stuff to work as a processor / memory / storage. The possibilities are endless. The new BSG found out the hard way that networking wasn't always a good thing.... As for your obsrvation on computers, the AD Basic rules(the Port Loren Raiders scenario) implied that storage devices(removable and possibly mass storage as well) were essentially solid-state components(clear cubes with several IC boards inside them). And now the trend in mass and removable storage are solid-state drives....an IC board(and memory)encased in a bit of plastic. "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
August 7, 2009 - 6:38pm | Let's also keep in mind that perhaps computers didn't progress along the same paths in the SF universe as they did in ours. It is a fun exercise to bring Star Frontiers up to date with the technological changes since its publication in the early 80's .... Perhaps in the Frontier, they discovered that having everything connected to a big wireless network was a Bad Thing™, so only a handful of devices are wireless capable. Perhaps instead of making things smaller, Frontier science went with just faster and with bigger cooling systems. Maybe SF computers aren't even binary, more of an artificial brain, and require some big nebulous glob of stuff to work as a processor / memory / storage. The possibilities are endless. the hard part about projecting into the supposed SF future is that you have 4-6 sentient species involved and a balance between at least the core 4 would have to be found then the mega corp concerned with selling computers (Gallactibm) would unify the market by pushing that fussion of the core 4's preferences with some inclussions from the Saurrians and the Eorna. So the state of the art of computing devices in the SF verse could be quite litterally anything and probably not what we'd expect. I do think that they'd find a way to sell an input device that could be configurable to any racial preference- which does suggest VR and voice imput with basic polyvox functions included. I'm sometimes tempted to have and item found with ergonomics for a particular race which lets them use it normally but others at a -10 or -15 but then I think its just an unneccessary complication and added bit of record keeping. I think that most mega corps tackle this issue and most products of the frontier are designed for multi-racial optimization. Maybe that is one of the reasons I thought about running a first contact mini campaign and exploring the ways that say vursk and dralls are different from humans. EDIT: this discussion reminds me of and makes me want to track down the info on organic computers for SF, A Dragon article maybe? (I'm out of state typing this or I'd post a link to its exact location on the web!) but anyhow it was cells implanted inside your skull or within your brain that functioned like a computer. I remember being both fascinated and bugged out by it back in the day. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 7, 2009 - 8:38pm | Yeah, I could see VR working as long as there is some tactile response. Perhaps a wierd fuzzy static feeling occurs as your hands move away from the keyboard, and reduces as your hands get nearer and then when you "touch" it, you can feel it (though it wouldn't be solid, you would still feel it there in a steady position) and feel the center keys ("F" and "J" for us). Or perhaps the VR keyboard would be attached to one hand so as that hand never leaves the keyboard and only the other hand has to find it, but still with the tactiles sensation. This would also allow it to change its configuration to fit the race of the character. I could see a chronocom sending signals to the nerves in your wrist that produce this effect (though you would need a corresponding band or bracer on the other wrist as well). Dictation will likely be the most common. And yeah, the mental thing would be extremely hard to work out because of all the conflicting thoughts from the internal dialog. The tech would have to read our thoughts perfectly to be able to decipher it. And when does it stop? If you want to stop and consider what you want to put down for a moment, how does the computer distinguish that, especially when you might be imagining the computer actually typing but you don't actually want it to do so. Lots of trickiness involved in psychotelemic devices. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 8, 2009 - 6:25am | I think the mental thing is on its way even now. I seem to remember research where pure mental effort (EEG style readings) were being used to input to computers (but I think was still limited to mouse style movement). The idea was to incorporate this tech into artificial limbs (bionic man). As I remember, it required the subject to consciously think to get results... as much effort as conscious movement would take anyhow. So, I would think the computers which might have mental input, would require this sort of mental effort to produce stuff. Not too unlike the mental effort of consciously telling fingers to type specific words, at least in my opinion. You get used to it over time, and would get good at it, like any other skill that becomes second nature (like riding a bicycle, driving a car, etc). ... but my point is more that just about anything could be possible. There are real world examples that are precursors of some ways that tech might advance. For the game, it might be best to use what folks can comprehend directly, meaning close to what we have now -- just lighter/faster/better. But one could really imagine all the advances, especially when you consider interchanges between different alien races... and advances resultant from those interchanges as well. <insert witty comment here> |
August 8, 2009 - 1:02pm | They don't actually rely upon brainwaves for those. They rely on surface impulses, as the EEG-style reading indicates. They have nothing to do with the brain or our thoughts, but with surface bioelectrical impulses. (They have not been able to detect anything but static bata waves on scalps. Beta waves with no set course or signal, nor localized effect. It's like trying to distinquish a specific radio source from deep within another supercluster from the universe's background radiation. The signal is too random and degraded to decipher. And the sum of those beta waves exist in only the most miniscule fractions.) That is why they have to produce thought on the level of movement, so that an actual impulse is sent throught the nerves. They are in effect sending a movement signal to that part of their head as if there is a limb of some sort there. There is no conscious thought to "type the letter 'M'". If they were to produce a keyboard using that effect, they would have to wear a physical head band to pick up the impulses as they use their scalp as a movement-cortex-controlled physiological keyboard (typing on their head using movement impulses affecting different parts of their head). The same technology is used to detect the same type of signals anywhere on your body. It's what they're using to help paralytics and amputees to be able to walk without the need for actually physical movement. In such cases, a band around the head is not what is needed (Except in the case of severed spinal cords), but bioelectrical impluse monitors in the area set to pick up the impulse. The machine-controlled limb then responds to the impulse, not to the actual thought. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
August 8, 2009 - 1:24pm | Splitting hairs, conscious thoughts vs the resultant impulses, effectively the same bioelectrical process in play (only looking at what aspect you are trying to detect). One must think to walk, you might not directly detect the true "thought" but one can detect the impulses traveling the nervous system. Not unlike the indirect detection methods used to detect planets outside our solar system; you detect slight variations in light from distant stars... not the planet itself. It is only a techological breakthrough away to think "M" in a certain way stimulates x nerves or ganglia in such a way to produce the input. <insert witty comment here> |
August 8, 2009 - 1:57pm | I disagree on the interrelatedness of thought to impulse, but I think we've hijacked the discussion enough, so I won't go into it. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 August 29, 2009 - 9:20pm | I prefer the "datacube" style computer. About the size of a human fist, it can have a variety of functions programmed into it and have some standard capabilities as well. Power is off of a charge (about 20 hrs max - unless extra battery purchased), with a port that can plug into the various power sources in the game. It is made of gooey plastics that you can squeeze down, kind of like a stressball. It also folds out, much like a wallet. It fits easily in a coverall pocket. In a recent campaign I had this Level 1 computer contain personal information for certain suspects, complete with nifty 3D hologram projection, which the PCs could easily switch out and/or add with other data if they could plug in or log on wirelessly. Input was through voice, although you could use other input if it could be plugged into another device. Information is projected through 3D holo, or on one of the side panels. Most "desktop" computers in my campaigns have such a "cube port" for these devices. This allows for full connectivity. The main challenge for a ref is to decide what is the standard functionality of the computers at each level. Much of the canon rules, (especially in regards to mass!) really have to be adjusted here. And, to be honest, its inspiration comes from the Basic Rules story at the front of the book! lol Just what was that thing anyway? Well, here it is! Another model is the handheld that Lemar Burton carried around in the Great Space Coaster. Remember that - with the chalk guy cartoons? That thing was cool! I don't know about level 6 capability, but a top flight (and very expensive) data cube could have level 3 capability. Some version of the datacube gives you a little more "in field" capability for both your PCs and their sophisticated NPC foes. |
 March 28, 2018 - 4:48pm | This is a nice old discussion. Too bad it never made it into an article for one of the magazines. Anyway, found this while I was searching for any info on Light Shift Screens. Joe Cabadas |
 April 2, 2018 - 4:20pm | Isn't the "hand computer" basically the same thing as the Star Law "file computer"? |
April 3, 2018 - 7:08am | That might be it. I was thinking that maybe this was covered in the magazines at one point. I just think the whole SF computer section needs a major revision, especially for size and weights, types of programs, etc., but then, that's just me... Joe Cabadas |
April 3, 2018 - 7:38am | One of the Dragon articles, IIRC... |
April 4, 2018 - 5:28am | Isn't the "hand computer" basically the same thing as the Star Law "file computer"? I beleive its describes as a lap top basically while the Zebs description of the file computer is that of a tablet, although with much less capability than today's tablets. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
