01-29-2016, 05:43 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
I've been blogging about my GURPS Cyberpunk setting, Altered States over the past week.
One of the things I changed for Altered States was the price of the Tiny Computer to $10, to match the progression of the rest of the computer table, and I also added a $1 Microcomputer entry. I don't think the microcomputer for that price is possible yet — maybe at late TL9, early TL10 — but the $10 Tiny has me pondering. There is an increasing preponderance of extraordinarily cheap and powerful single-board computers on the market. The Raspberry Pi hit at $25 and the market positively exploded. In alpha testing yesteryear and production models beginning to ship in the next couple of months is the C.H.I.P. at $9, fully as powerful as desktops from the beginning of the millennium. Coming soon after it is the PINE A64 at $15, even more powerful and feature-rich than C.H.I.P. Sneaking out the gate before either of those came the Raspberry Pi Zero, of similar power to the C.H.I.P. and only $5. Is the table wrong? Should the Tiny Computer be $10? Maybe only at TL9, as it can be strongly argued that we're seeing the advent of TL9 computers now, with so large a gap between 1980 (the start of TL8) and what we have now. |
01-29-2016, 06:09 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
There's a great article on computers on starting on page 16 of Pyramid #3-37: Tech & Toys II that covers computers from microscopic to "Matroshka brain." It has an alternate model for computers, though, if you're going to use it.
It has a "tiny"(wristwatch size) at $100.
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My Blog: Mailanka's Musing. Currently Playing: Psi-Wars, a step-by-step exploration of building your own Space Opera setting, inspired by Star Wars. |
01-29-2016, 08:06 AM | #3 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
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Regardless of that, on the subject at hand it actually implements my thoughts in the original post: ignore its Tiny size at $100 and look at the Pebble size for $10. Complexity 3 at TL8.75 (which we have inarguably reached in terms of computers). Most importantly, though: Quote:
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02-03-2016, 11:15 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
Keep in mind that a TL is a snapshot in time. This could easily be an innovation that will happen in TL8 but hasn't happened yet.
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02-03-2016, 11:48 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
I think you have that entirely backwards, I'm saying that this is an innovation that has already happened IRL, and the book doesn't reflect that. I suggested putting it at TL9 as our modern-day computers could be considered to be TL9 or approaching it and it makes little sense to have a price breakpoint in the middle of TL8.
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02-03-2016, 11:55 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Behind You
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
10$ tiny computer? I don't think so. Maybe the processor in it =)
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02-03-2016, 11:59 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
Basic computers certainly don't include terminals in GURPS; those you have to buy separately. I listed not one but several real-world $10-range complete single-board computers, which is effectively what a GURPS computer without any peripherals is.
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02-03-2016, 02:18 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Behind You
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
Where does it say they don't?
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02-03-2016, 02:27 PM | #9 | |||
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
In all three of Campaigns, Ultra-Tech, and High-Tech.
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02-03-2016, 08:16 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Behind You
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Re: Should Tiny Computers be $10 instead of $50?
I meant in Basic. I know Ultratech and Hi-tech said it. But terminals are whatever. The fact the computer includes everything else, data storage, etc, means it's a complete system, and 10$ isn't going to cut it IMO. What I mean is, if a computer costs the same as a sub sandwich, something is wrong with the economy.
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