Death to PDAs! (Kinda.)

Post by **Vekter** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 2:59 pm #550682

Holy shit you have no idea how much I hate PDAs. Not the concept, but the implementation. So much effort is being made to bring everything else in the game into a better user experience while PDAs still look like mid 90s hot garbage websites.

Let's replace them with Smartphones.

Basically: Smaller, less powerful tablets. They run NTOS but can't run any of the high end programs like station monitor, crew monitor, etc. They're mostly just there to function as a replacement for PDAs and a way to introduce more content in the future. Messaging would still exist, we'd just need to make an 'app' that replaces it using most of the same implementation we have now.

Mickyan · Post by **Mickyan** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:07 pm #550684

No to smartphones replacing PDAs, the retro aesthetic is cool and flavorful, yes to PDAs getting NTOS interface

ABearInTheWoods · Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:25 pm

Basically: Smaller, less powerful tablets. They run NTOS but can't run any of the high end programs like station monitor, crew monitor, etc. They're mostly just there to function as a replacement for PDAs and a way to introduce more content in the future. Messaging would still exist, we'd just need to make an 'app' that replaces it using most of the same implementation we have now.

Spoken like somebody who has no idea what pda's can do with the right carts.

trollbreeder · Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:27 pm

Port all PDA programs to modular programs. Replace PDAs with tablets. Greentext.

ABearInTheWoods · Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:33 pm

trollbreeder wrote:Port all PDA programs to modular programs. Replace PDAs with tablets. Greentext.

Modular programs doesn't work because the idea behind pda's is to gate access to these functions behind access to physical objects (carts)

Post by **Vekter** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 3:58 pm #550688

MrStonedOne wrote:
trollbreeder wrote:Port all PDA programs to modular programs. Replace PDAs with tablets. Greentext.
Modular programs doesn't work because the idea behind pda's is to gate access to these functions behind access to physical objects (carts)

Gate access to them using ID levels.

cacogen · Post by **cacogen** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 4:11 pm #550689

ABearInTheWoods · Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:22 pm

Vekter wrote:
MrStonedOne wrote:
trollbreeder wrote:Port all PDA programs to modular programs. Replace PDAs with tablets. Greentext.
Modular programs doesn't work because the idea behind pda's is to gate access to these functions behind access to physical objects (carts)
Gate access to them using ID levels.

Thats lame and a cop out.

Chips/sd cards/flashdrives/etc would be better

Post by **Armhulen** » Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:30 pm #550698

I like MSO's direction in this thread. We already have PDA carts, we should be able to import programs or hold them to a chip which you can swap out. If you've ever used a nintendo switch, it's like that. You have the game on the chip permanently, but can only use it when the chip is inserted.

Sat Mar 21, 2020 6:57 pm

Armhulen wrote:I like MSO's direction in this thread. We already have PDA carts, we should be able to import programs or hold them to a chip which you can swap out. If you've ever used a nintendo switch, it's like that. You have the game on the chip permanently, but can only use it when the chip is inserted.

my hacked switch can dump and install carts you pleb

jokes aside though PDAs are pretty tight, they're very straightforward compared to modular interfaces which is nice for the end user. modular computers are cool but kind of annoying to actually use tbh

cacogen · Post by **cacogen** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:57 am #550773

if it ain't broke overhaul it

Ayy Lemoh · Post by **Ayy Lemoh** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:17 am #550777

PKPenguin321 wrote:
Armhulen wrote:I like MSO's direction in this thread. We already have PDA carts, we should be able to import programs or hold them to a chip which you can swap out. If you've ever used a nintendo switch, it's like that. You have the game on the chip permanently, but can only use it when the chip is inserted.
my hacked switch can dump and install carts you pleb

jokes aside though PDAs are pretty tight, they're very straightforward compared to modular interfaces which is nice for the end user. modular computers are cool but kind of annoying to actually use tbh

I have almost never used tablets due to them being annoying. There's apparently a secret chat program for tablets however I doubt anyone ever fucking uses it since it would probably be more efficient to just do another thing that is never done - changing radio frequencies to something else.

BeeSting12 · Post by **BeeSting12** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:22 am #550778

the only time i ever used a tablet was when it first came out and it was fun to play with. now i junk the HoP's starting tablet whenever i roll HoP simply because it's a pain in the ass to use. PDAs on the other hand load quickly and are simple to use.

XivilaiAnaxes · Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:37 am

I use the tablet all the time when I play CE - having the supermatter monitor running in your pocket instead of having to constantly trundle over to the console is honestly very helpful.

I'm not sure if any other jobs can actually get use out of it however.

deedubya · Post by **deedubya** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 12:01 pm #550792

BeeSting12 wrote:the only time i ever used a tablet was when it first came out and it was fun to play with. now i junk the HoP's starting tablet whenever i roll HoP simply because it's a pain in the ass to use. PDAs on the other hand load quickly and are simple to use.

if you junk the tablet as a HoP then what the hell are you doing all shift? sitting behind your desk all day waiting for a revolution to cave in your door?

CPTANT · Post by **CPTANT** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 2:36 pm #550803

Merge PDA's and tablets and rework them into something usable.

Also who thought that fake download times on the tablet were a good idea?

Ayy Lemoh · Post by **Ayy Lemoh** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:22 pm #550809

Ayy Lemoh wrote:would probably be more efficient to just do another thing that is never done - changing radio frequencies to something else.

I'm going to have to eat my own words here because I saw some dudes use different channel frequencies in the syndicate space ruin so that they can communicate with the AI in a secret channel

Post by **Vekter** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 5:13 pm #550814

CPTANT wrote:Merge PDA's and tablets and rework them into something usable.

Also who thought that fake download times on the tablet were a good idea?

Immersion.

CPTANT · Post by **CPTANT** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 8:01 pm #550827

Vekter wrote:
CPTANT wrote:Merge PDA's and tablets and rework them into something usable.

Also who thought that fake download times on the tablet were a good idea?
Immersion.

The immersion of looking at a fake download bar.

Post by **zxaber** » Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:23 pm #550830

I like to use tablets as engineering because I can monitor the engine from anywhere on the station as long as comms is still alive (so I can effectively monitor both). I wish robotics had a tablet program for monitoring borg health (even if it didn't show synced AI).

I don't really get why we need to have two. PDAs and Tablets would handle the same fundamental purpose (portable computing tasks), and the tablet interface looks nicer. Their only downside is that they don't fit in ID slots.

Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:56 pm

That is not their only downside, they're generally just really clunky to use compared to a PDA.

On a PDA:
>pop in the bot control cartridge
>push the bot control button
>push "Control Bot"

On a tablet:
>check "Dickifier 1038 v1.8," "Cockballinator 838 v92.6," etc
>determine that none of them are the program you're looking for
>realize that you minimized them instead of closing by accident, go back and close them all
>open software downloader
>wait a real life 2 minutes while it "downloads"
>go to open program: "This software is not compatible with this device."
>scrap your tablet and build a mounted terminal, download the software again
>open "Controllilizer Botinificationator 88173672881 v20.7"
>go to click on "Controllilize bot," tgui window crashes
>reopen it
>go to click on it again
>battery dies

Mickyan · Post by **Mickyan** » Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:07 am #550846

If they were to be the equivalent of PDAs at roundstart they should come pre-installed with job specific programs so you don't have to fumble with extra installations unless you want to

Post by **oranges** » Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:30 am #551102

those tablets are literally meant to replace the PDA's and I thinkt hey even have a drive slot for their equilvaent of carts, it's just nobody ever got around to fucking finishing it.

Post by **EOBGames** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:57 am #551471

If tablets or an equivalent modular computer item are gonna replaced PDAs they're gonna need to be made a lot more user friendly. As it is they're just really unpleasant to use, and that's compared to the PDA which is stuck with an ancient UI and a default colour of shit brown.

Ayy Lemoh · Post by **Ayy Lemoh** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:18 am #551472

EOBGames wrote:If tablets or an equivalent modular computer item are gonna replaced PDAs they're gonna need to be made a lot more user friendly. As it is they're just really unpleasant to use, and that's compared to the PDA which is stuck with an ancient UI and a default colour of shit brown.

cacogen · Post by **cacogen** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:15 pm #551496

i like tablets and pdas

Unibel · Post by **Unibel** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:25 pm #551549

just remove it

EagleWiz · Post by **EagleWiz** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:08 am #551784

The problem isn't PDAs (although the UI could use some improvement), the problem is tablets. Does anyone actually use them?

Post by **Armhulen** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:24 am #551787

EagleWiz wrote:The problem isn't PDAs (although the UI could use some improvement), the problem is tablets. Does anyone actually use them?

No, because we have PDAs. We're simply waiting for someone to update UI on pdas and remove tablets OR fix up tablets and remove PDAs

Post by **zxaber** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 4:28 am #551788

The problem with tablets is lack of worthwhile programs. Engineering's SM monitor is decent, but what other use would a job have for a tablet? I mentioned a barebones borg monitor for roboticists. Maybe Cargo could have one that allows for better control of the mules? Add the research console's function for heads of staff? Arrest records program for security? Move the crew monitoring item into a tablet program for medical?

I guess we could add a "NTnet Knowledge base" program and have that take the place of all the various job-related books scattered around; It would still be basically the wiki stuffed into the game, but in tablet form.

ragevirus · Post by **ragevirus** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:11 am #551792

Atmos monitoring app on the tablet is super useful. I load it up first thing every time I roll atmos.

I also usually start a tablet chat room for lols. Nobody has ever joined one

SpaceManiac · Post by **SpaceManiac** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:01 am #551794

Observations:
- Both tablets and PDAs have some exclusive functionality - some of it useful, some of it negligible
- Both tablets and PDAs are meant to contain your ID and go in your ID slot
- Many jobs get only a PDA and not a tablet by default
- All jobs that get tablets don't have exactly 0 or 1 uses for them

Opinions:
- This game relies on physical heists and stealing poorly-secured cartridges from various areas is more fun than murdering HoP for their AA
- "Modular computers" have been in the exact same unfinished state for years and are worse gameplay and harder to design around than circuit boards and cartridges
- Engineering SM monitoring and HoP portable ID console should be ported into PDAs
- Chat room could be integrated into PDA messaging
- Everything else is not really worth preserving
- PDAs could be made prettier or code refactored but the basic game design is good
- If you implement "PDAs but better", replace PDAs and keep the same name rather than introducing another new thing

tl;dr put supermatter monitor on PDA and delete tablets

Post by **RaveRadbury** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 8:07 am #551796

The chat feature on tablets is useful for mimes as mime PDA's are emoji only. I've successfully made use of it in a handful of rounds.

Post by **Vekter** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:17 pm #551843

The main reason for me wanting to do this is to give us more shit we can do with the PDA. Put the fuckin' supermatter monitor on it. Give QM a cargo app. Put R&D research on the heads' PDAs. That kind of shit.

BeeSting12 · Post by **BeeSting12** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:28 pm #551880

RaveRadbury wrote:The chat feature on tablets is useful for mimes as mime PDA's are emoji only. I've successfully made use of it in a handful of rounds.

You are the scummiest variety of mime. Please just break your vow of silence so you can be validded next time.

Not-Dorsidarf · Fri Apr 03, 2020 4:07 pm

Modular tablets need to be default turn off programs instead of minimising them, I hate that aspect

CPTANT · Post by **CPTANT** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:02 am #553118

Tablets should scrap the entire program management thing. Just either have a program on there or not, nobody thinks managing virtual disk space is fun and it just makes using the things a hassle.

cacogen · Post by **cacogen** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 am #553120

I like to download simple program at speed of dial up using gigaquads

Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:12 am

BeeSting12 wrote:
RaveRadbury wrote:The chat feature on tablets is useful for mimes as mime PDA's are emoji only. I've successfully made use of it in a handful of rounds.
You are the scummiest variety of mime. Please just break your vow of silence so you can be validded next time.

CDranzer · Post by **CDranzer** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 2:00 pm #553155

I'd be in favor of basically obliterating modular computers entirely and remaking PDAs in their image.

Akrilla · Post by **Akrilla** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:31 am #553323

I'd love to move PDAs over to tgui and make it more like modular computers/combine them, but it's fuck tons of effort

Post by **Shaps-cloud** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 3:32 am #553333

Honestly as nice as tgui is and as nice as it looks on all the new UIs, PDAs just feel so responsive and easy to use while everything related to modular computers is so bloated and clunky and useless that I groan internally whenever someone wants to "update PDAs". If we ever actually axe PDAs or whatever, please make sure that computers aren't so fucking bloated

Post by **zxaber** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 5:02 am #553344

I feel the exact opposite. After all the time using the clunky PDA interface, tablets are an absolute joy.

BONERMASTER · Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:13 am

Axe tablets, integrate pAI into PDA, give PDA all the tablet stuff like SM monitoring and similar actual useful programs, then gate them behind cartridges.