Because throwing processing power at a problem doesn't translate into being better. Additionally, it makes less sense to offload computing power instead of building it into a device - server farms are still expensive, and nobody wants their ware to go offline when the parent company goes belly up.

And this is the core of why its dumb.

It shits all over how it used to work, and the reasons provided for it aren't good enough to justify such a massive backslide.

A retcon is a retcon.

The problem with that analogy is that even a rubbish commlink should be able to operate like google, allowing you to type "convert 120mph to furlongs per fortnight" and get an immediate answer without having to have a Matrix connection.

~Umi

Hold on a minute. Wireless bonuses (boni?) are just that, technically. (Yes, I understand that it's less a bonus and more 'basic functionality' per older editions) but even offline, WR and RE should still provide some sort of effect. Otherwise, if you're offline, you basically have the implanted version of an expensive paperweight, which sounds wrong. From what I've read from the devs, they should still provide some sort of effect. So, assuming the bonuses are actually bonuses (as in you still retain the basic functioning of the device)...

Reaction enhancers provide +1 Rea per rating. Wired provides +1 Rea per rating plus +init per rating. (In SR4, did they change that for 5?) If they weren't to stack (and you take the higher bonus, which for most people would probably still be Wired), then your reaction enhancers do zippy-di-doo-dah. Which sounds wrong, because then being online wouldn't be a bonus, it'd be the only way to use your goddamn 'ware.

So even offline, you should receive the +Reaction from both, and reaction figures into initiative, doesn't it? I really need to re-read those previews...

Because throwing processing power at a problem doesn't translate into being better. Additionally, it makes less sense to offload computing power instead of building it into a device - server farms are still expensive, and nobody wants their ware to go offline when the parent company goes belly up.
No, its functionally the equivalent of Sony/Ea Always-On DRM.
"It has to be online or our software won't work!" "why" "BECAUSE WE SAY SO!"

Even more so because you have to consider what a device DOES.
Imagine if your calculator 'had' to connect to the internet to function.
Fuck no.
You pick that shit up and punch numbers in and it works. No hassle, no fuss, no worrying about power outages, wi-fi droppage, sunspots interfering with telecomms, MSP's being out of service for upgrades/repairs/because you forgot your bill. Fuck that. It just works. Because its build to do everything it needs to.

In-Fluff-reasoning: Its even worse that the previous generation of everything just released worked offline just fine, and there's no reason to downgrade functionality. At all. You're supposed to make products BETTER, not worse with refinement.
Out-of-character reasoning: This is essentially forcing the matrix down every players throats to keep hackers relevant. Its also REALLY lazy on the writers part to not go through the list of cyberware and think "Does this need to be networked to function? No. Okay, but if it optionally is, what kind of EXTRA bonus could it give?" and then also not making a distinction between Networked and OnTheMatrix. Networking a cybereye, a smartlink, and a math spu makes SENSE for bullet math.

Networking it to an outside computer doesn't. Fucking PING times would ruin shots. Ever run into 'waiting for host' problems, or cross-ocean pings?
That shit is not going to fly when you need to take a shot NOW.

Further compounding the issue is, even under the hypothetical assumption that remote processing could make something better, then there should be a portable server that does it for you without needing to connect to the matrix.
Even worse, is that the new Cyberdecks are kitbashed hardware hacks, homegrown adapters and the like to navigate the new matrix - soon as that shit came out into the open, it should have been applied to cyberware too.

Also, samurais didn't need the nerf.

Plus as a runner I want anyone AND their dog to be able to follow after me and being able to tell exactly what I was doing by checking on which of my wireless devices were connecting to the Matrix and how.

Hold on a minute. Wireless bonuses (boni?) are just that, technically. (Yes, I understand that it's less a bonus and more 'basic functionality' per older editions) but even offline, WR and RE should still provide some sort of effect. Otherwise, if you're offline, you basically have the implanted version of an expensive paperweight, which sounds wrong. From what I've read from the devs, they should still provide some sort of effect. So, assuming the bonuses are actually bonuses (as in you still retain the basic functioning of the device)...

Reaction enhancers provide +1 Rea per rating. Wired provides +1 Rea per rating plus +init per rating. (In SR4, did they change that for 5?) If they weren't to stack (and you take the higher bonus, which for most people would probably still be Wired), then your reaction enhancers do zippy-di-doo-dah. Which sounds wrong, because then being online wouldn't be a bonus, it'd be the only way to use your goddamn 'ware.

So even offline, you should receive the +Reaction from both, and reaction figures into initiative, doesn't it? I really need to re-read those previews...

Plus as a runner I want anyone AND their dog to be able to follow after me and being able to tell exactly what I was doing by checking on which of my wireless devices were connecting to the Matrix and how.

And this is the core of why its dumb.

It shits all over how it used to work, and the reasons provided for it aren't good enough to justify such a massive backslide.

A retcon is a retcon.

Read what I wrote on the page before this about the Matrix being a sort of technological astral space. The Matrix doesn't exist inside meatspace anymore, meatspace exists within Matrix space.

Unless you really go out into the boonies.

This doesn't make any sense as far as needing a matrix connection. I could, instead, just have commlinks daisy-chained together to provide that additional computing. I could have commlinks whose only purpose is to provide that additional information and processing power. How many do I need? 1? 10? 100? Could I use partitioning and emulation to substitute? Co-processors? Does it MAGICALLY prevent the same processing power from working, when I program the firmware for it myself? Where does the limit sit? Why wouldn't wires, direct connection, and DNI provide better connection and response? These are the main issues. Saying "because MAGIC" or "because RESONANCE" isn't answering the questions, it's disregarding the intelligence of the audience. For some, it's insulting. I'm willing to channel this into an in-character impetus (which may relegate my character to the position of too-profitable-to-run).

The superior, DNI and offline technology STILL exists, in a form that can be updated to the modern needs. If the Triple A's have abandoned that technology, there will be PLENTY of people ready to exploit it, forcing the Triple A corps to rollback their standards, or at least offer something more. That's how market forces work, even in such an economically dominated landscape as the SR 2070's. If all you can offer is argumentum ad magice as the explanation for everything, you're audience is not at all likely to feel engaged, let alone satisfied with that answer (unless your topic is something inherently interesting, such as "Why did that guy's head just explode!?").

You really think it's possible, in practical terms, to carry a sufficient number of devices? Because that's something I just don't buy.

This doesn't make any sense as far as needing a matrix connection. I could, instead, just have commlinks daisy-chained together to provide that additional computing. I could have commlinks whose only purpose is to provide that additional information and processing power. How many do I need? 1? 10? 100? Could I use partitioning and emulation to substitute? Co-processors? Does it MAGICALLY prevent the same processing power from working, when I program the firmware for it myself? Where does the limit sit? Why wouldn't wires, direct connection, and DNI provide better connection and response? These are the main issues. Saying "because MAGIC" or "because RESONANCE" isn't answering the questions, it's disregarding the intelligence of the audience. For some, it's insulting. I'm willing to channel this into an in-character impetus (which may relegate my character to the position of too-profitable-to-run).

The superior, DNI and offline technology STILL exists, in a form that can be updated to the modern needs. If the Triple A's have abandoned that technology, there will be PLENTY of people ready to exploit it, forcing the Triple A corps to rollback their standards, or at least offer something more. That's how market forces work, even in such an economically dominated landscape as the SR 2070's. If all you can offer is argumentum ad magice as the explanation for everything, you're audience is not at all likely to feel engaged, let alone satisfied with that answer (unless your topic is something inherently interesting, such as "Why did that guy's head just explode!?").

Okay, so Wired and Enhancers don't stack with Matrix turned off. So what does that mean? Which 'ware takes precedence? Do you get to choose? Or is it the highest init bonus? Or, assuming, RE's only boost reaction as in SR3...you don't get the core functionality of the gear? Or what? I have trouble imagining how they wouldn't stack.

Items that aren't compatible with one another grant only the benefit of the better of the two. They can be implanted in a character, but you only get the benefit of whichever is better.

So, using the WR example, when you turn your wireless off, you're basically also turning off either your Reaction Enhancers or your Wired Reflexes, whichever gives you less of a bonus (which will, of course, vary from character to character depending on what ranks they got of each.

It's worth pointing out that it's a particularly potent wireless bonus (which makes it kind of funny that people keep mentioning it as the default), because not only does it let two pieces of init-enhancing 'ware stack (which is normally a no-no), but it also specifically lets you bypass the "augmented attribute maximum is natural stat +4" bonus...and is, in fact, the only combo in the book that lets you do so, right off the top of my head. All just FYI.

Troll with 2 bandoleers and a belt full of commlinks daisy-chained front and back, implants... possibly a vehicle with it's own nexus. Personally-equipped sensor packs, co-processors built into each of those commlinks and each major bit of cyberware to handle additional processing power. I daresay this could easily get you up to 20-40 devices (depending on the size of the commlinks and the size of the troll). Each boot can have a built-in commlink, as could each individual article of clothing (less socks). This isn't even counting exclusive mesh access to teammates' gear, a van-installed nexus, etc.

Beyond that, you ignored the fact that fully-functional DNI and wired technology already exists. Trying to enforce a new, inferior standard will fall flat when security firms and corporate armies realize they can buy, through unofficial channels, comparable offline cyber that isn't as vulnerable or update-/DRM-dependent. The technology and specifications already exist to fabricate such things, without the hazard of Always-OnLine connections. It may even be possible to "downgrade" the new tech to the old standards so that it works better, more securely. This isn't magic, this isn't unheard of, it isn't even contradictory to the Shadowrun setting, ethos, or cyberpunk as a whole. In fact, it's about as cyberpunk as you can go for Shadowrun, sticking it to the greedy corporate types by undermining their authority and their business.

Survival Knife: AR-display GPS functions, can be used to make comm-calls.

Didn't see it posted here yet, so thanks to KI here it is: Wireless boni in all their greatness

Hard to pick a favorite in this clusterfuck, but I think the Internal Air Tank takes the pize: You have an air tank implanted, it is connected via DNI, but that DNI cannot monitor filling levels and it needs the distributed computing power of the matrix to transmit the immensely complex "open valve" command. DAFUQ DID YOU GUYS SMOKE?

Yeah a lot of the things sound like: We had no idea what to do with it.

But if you go with the idea Epicedion brought up it makes sense.

If you go online (no matter to do what and if it is even to exchange data with your granade) you are online and in the matrix.

I like it, because it streamlines the matrix a bit with the astral world.

looks like

as long as you can get your head round the way they "think" a distributed network, works, apparently

every device is 'Dumb' and the network is a web of 'Smart' Access point controllers, that use the distributed computing power for majority of things (that require it)

but it seems all your gear needs the wifi connection to even activate

Cyberspurs - I mean really ? needs a web connection to find the intelligence necessary to extract from sheath? even if you take the following to be true and they fugged up.
"Needs a connection to the Matrix"
to mean
"Needs a connection to your PAN"

I'll have whatever they been smokin'

looks like

as long as you can get your head round the way they "think" a distributed network, works, apparently

every device is 'Dumb' and the network is a web of 'Smart' Access point controllers, that use the distributed computing power for majority of things (that require it)

but it seems all your gear needs the wifi connection to even activate

Cyberspurs - I mean really ? needs a web connection to find the intelligence necessary to extract from sheath? even if you take the following to be true and they fugged up.
"Needs a connection to the Matrix"
to mean
"Needs a connection to your PAN"

I'll have whatever they been smokin'