Computer ? Options

[Loestal]

I am slightly confused. We play 3rd ed., and I'm trying to figure out the whole decker/matrix thing. I understand most of it, but what I don't get is this...

1. Are there standard "manual" computers anymore? Does the common person have a cyberdeck or have a desktop type computer.

2. IF there are standard desktops, can they access the matrix or are just cyberdecks able to use the matrix? If not, what is the point of using standard computers anymore?

3. Can cyberterminals be used "manually"? Is there a possibility to use say, a keyboard or something to use the cyberterminal in case there is a problem? Or like...a decker get's killed using a cyberterminal and his runner mate that has computer use...can he jump on and at least close out everything or whatever or is he going to have to have a datajack to be able to use the cyberterminal?

4. What all are datajacks used for? I know you need them for rigging, and decking....but what other machines can you use a datajack to interface with? And what can you do after you do interface? Does a datajack JUST let you access a machine that has a datajack port or can you actually use said machine?

5. You can purchase equipment to use cyberterminals and the matrix without getting the datajack implant right? There is headgear for that so you don't have to get it implanted, like goggles or a helmet or something correct?

[Telion]

1. Are there standard "manual" computers anymore? Does the common person have a cyberdeck or have a desktop type computer.

Manual computers are still used, typically they are known as turtles. They make good places to store data and such.

2. IF there are standard desktops, can they access the matrix or are just cyberdecks able to use the matrix? If not, what is the point of using standard computers anymore?

They have access to the matrix, though they can't do nearly as much as a decker could jacked into a cyberdeck. The point of a standard computer is basically what we do today, browsing, storing data, programming, and pretty much anything we do today. When doing the more serious stuff like scouring the matrix I would probably prefer to be jacked in.

3. Can cyber terminals be used "manually"? Is there a possibility to use say, a keyboard or something to use the cyber terminal in case there is a problem? Or like...a decker get's killed using a cyber terminal and his runner mate that has computer use...can he jump on and at least close out everything or whatever or is he going to have to have a datajack to be able to use the cyber terminal?

I believe there are rules for using turtles to break into places, someone would have to check for me as I don't have a copy of matrix. If I recall correctly, the turtle suffers severe disadvantages.

4. What all are datajacks used for? I know you need them for rigging, and decking....but what other machines can you use a datajack to interface with? And what can you do after you do interface? Does a datajack JUST let you access a machine that has a datajack port or can you actually use said machine?

Data jacks, are used for both rigging and decking, I think some people used them with their smartlinks if they didn't go the induction pad route.
Think of it as a means to connect your brain to another device, it just needs the proper software/hardware to be integrated together. I wouldn't try to expand on this concept though.
Up to the GM if the device is a deck then yes, you can only use it with a datajack, if its a car then you could obviously drive it without (unless of course the steering is removed).

5. You can purchase equipment to use cyber terminals and the matrix without getting the datajack implant right? There is headgear for that so you don't have to get it implanted, like goggles or a helmet or something correct?

Believe there is some kind of neural net or something like that, would need to look in matrix.

[Loestal]

Thanks, you cleared a few things up for me. The only thing I still am wondering is if you can use a chyberterminal without being jacked in? Do cyber terminals have like, a keyboard that can be used if the user so desired?

[Thane36425]

I'll add to that a little. You can figure that "manual" computers are more common than cyberdecks because of the difference in cost. Most Corp daily operations can be handled just like today, by a wageslave sitting at a terminals clicking away. You don't need hot cyber to handle the daily accounting grind, particularly since the computers probably do most of the heavy lifting anyway.

Outfitting each technical worker with even lower end cyberdecks would reall cost a corp and would be beyond most of the small and midsized ones. Certainly it would be well beyond break even on the cost-benefit curve.

Sure, some of the more important workers that the characters would interact with probably have all kinds of fancy datamanagement hardware, but they aren't the low end wage slave either. Still, that doesn't mean the CEO is going to have a novahot cyberdeck on his desk for daily business matter within the company. He'd probably have a high end "manual" computer with all the bells and whistles, but probably not a cyberdeck.

Yes, the desk tops do access the matrix and they almost certainly are behind well protected nodes because they are easy meat for a decker. Most users liekly would not recognize their computer was under attack, especially if the decker was smooth. That's why Corps have deckers patrolling the system: like shepards keeping wolves from the flock.

[eidolon]

[Backgammon]

The only differance between a "deck" and a "terminal" is the Spoof program. Otherwise, they are both exactly the same machines with the same capabilities. It's merely that cyberdeck tend to be much more beefed up machines due to decking needs. But technically everything a deck can do, you can do with a terminal.

[eidolon]

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