221 replies to this topic

[axciom]

An idea similar to this has already been suggested in one of the comments of the Laptop idea.

But for this type of portable computer I plan on implementing my own ideas.
Its Operating System should be no different from a normal computer but can be stored and accessed from right-clicking it while holding it. It should have its own built in modem.
It can be placed into the disk drive to transport files to and from the PDA.

Now Imagine if you can program a PDA to send and receive messages, Well then, You've just programmed yourself a Cellphone inside minecraft and If you want to move your turtle without having to stay in one place or actually if you dont want to follow your turtle all the time.. you could just use program the turtle to receive commands from the pda and you now have a remote controlled turtle.

The Possibilities are endless, just use your imagination.
Tell me what you think. />

[OmegaVest]

Minor variation on something that has been requested/suggested before. Lots, actually. Take a look at the peripheral library when you get a chance, by the way.

So, for your features:
Built in modem: Suggested before, common rule. Peripheral made a special network for it.
OS as normal computer: Little overpowered. Maybe can run programs, but can't edit them directly. Or make is only a lua interface.
Disk Drive for PC Interface: Nice innovation. I like the idea.


Now, compared to other ideas before, this is definitely unique. Compare with: placeable laptops that can also open in hand, current PDA third-party peripheral that is a little more than a mobile GUI generator.

So, all in all: Good, maybe a pit over-requested item, but a new take, and if you think about some of what I have said here, then good.

[LipJ]

I like it, I think that the player should be able to walk while there is no need for input. This would meen you could follow your rc turtle around a mine.

[Teraminer]

Nice idea, it would be usefull that way you could make a in-game compani that give's the user access to there network!!! />

Spoiler

.:Troll:.

[Neowulf]

Recipe of gold ingots along the sides, redstone in the middle, wireless modem in top middle and a diamond bottom middle (for the screen) would make it quite expensive.
Built in wireless but no redstone signal outputs of it's own (obviously, though having the player emit a signal would be interesting).
Screen size of a turtle plus a built in peripheral that allows it to display to a virtual monitor in your HUD, so it can display information while you aren't actively using it.
Maybe 2 or 3 hotkeys that can be caught as events by the PDA?

[connor]

you should ttotaly make something like this DUDE!!!

[Leo Verto]

Use this to run around, find open rednet networks and sponge the traffic. />
I really like this, especially using the PDA as cellphone, maybe it could change color just like modems do when being activated?
If this became possible, I could set my server chat range to 10 blocks and you would need computers and PDAs for everything further than that, just as in real life.

[strideynet]

Leo that's a great idea.
Only once we code it

[BigSHinyToys]

This would be a very useful tool only problem is it would be massive overpowered. you are talking about creating a computer with the same computational power of the normal 1M,1M square in a very small area the best way to limit its power would be to enforce a limit on its clock speed. something like 50 Mhz or limiting its storage to 100 Kb this would make programing for it a harder task and discourage usage of it as anything more than a user input. I like the idea or making it like a drive the alternative would be a memory chip that can be programed in a disk drive and then installed in a PDA / net book / laptop (what ever you want to call it)

[Neowulf]

Why the obsession with slowing a pda's execution rate down?
What exactly would it change?

[BigSHinyToys]

Neowulf, on 29 April 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:

Why the obsession with slowing a pda's execution rate down?
What exactly would it change?

A) it would make programing for it more challenging (how doesn't like a challenge)
B) CC is loosely based around 80's tech computers PDA's were small slow devices capable or extremely basic tasks.
C) computers will always be faster than PDA's/mobiles (era to era)
D) why would you ever use a computer again if a PDA could do everything that a normal computer could do and was portable.
E) game balance.

[Leo Verto]

I totally agree with BigSHinyToys, PDAs should be limited.
Maybe they can hold only one file that is only available as autostart.

They also should have a smaller GUI then computers.

[axciom]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I really appreciate it, but you people are right, The PDA should not have all what a computer has, I mean bringing around a computer that may be accessed right from your hotbar anywhere anytime, so possibly, it could only run default programs(like cp, rm) and what has been transferred to it from a computer. One thing a computer has that it wouldn't have is the possibility to input and output redstone charges or whatnot.

[Xfel]

BigSHinyToys, on 29 April 2012 - 11:47 PM, said:

Neowulf, on 29 April 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:

Why the obsession with slowing a pda's execution rate down?
What exactly would it change?

A) it would make programing for it more challenging (how doesn't like a challenge)
/> CC is loosely based around 80's tech computers PDA's were small slow devices capable or extremely basic tasks.
C) computers will always be faster than PDA's/mobiles (era to era)
D) why would you ever use a computer again if a PDA could do everything that a normal computer could do and was portable.
E) game balance.

for D): Computers can interface/control peripherals and redston. You won't ever get this with an item.
Also you should know that it is not possible to limit execution speed. and a limited filesystem would also not be that good. I would also like to use custom programs on them.
Just limit the gui size. And maybe set that it is only running as long as you keep the gui open.

[Neowulf]

BigSHinyToys, on 29 April 2012 - 11:47 PM, said:

Neowulf, on 29 April 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:

Why the obsession with slowing a pda's execution rate down?
What exactly would it change?

A) it would make programing for it more challenging (how doesn't like a challenge)
/> CC is loosely based around 80's tech computers PDA's were small slow devices capable or extremely basic tasks.
C) computers will always be faster than PDA's/mobiles (era to era)
D) why would you ever use a computer again if a PDA could do everything that a normal computer could do and was portable.
E) game balance.

Smaller display and much more expensive to craft should be enough.

Concerns over the speed/storage of a pda would be justified if not for a couple realities.
1: It cannot interface directly with redstone or peripherals, you'd still have to code a C&C setup to run over wireless to a normal computer that would actually perform the interfacing.
2: It's not like there would be a hollywood API for it. "LUA <enter> hollywood.redirectAllFunctionsToMyPDAInACompletelyIntuitiveMannerThatBypassesAllNormalProgrammingComplexities() <enter>"
3: I can't kill a creeper with raw computing power, and the only way to move a mountain is with a mining turtle. You will never run into this situation on an SMP server: "Oh no! He had a PDA! I'll never be able to deploy and startup my computer in time to fight back! Curses, if only PDA's didn't have the processing power to run ZapKillem2.0Extreme! He is a mobile god of death!"
4: Repeate. Processing power alone does nothing, only interfacing with the world in general gives you any benefit.


Beyond an immense speed reduction, to like 1 command per second execution rate (which would make PDAs worthless), restricting the processing power of a particular class of computer would merely add complexities to the mod itself. Why make the mod less efficient just to make it slightly more "realistic" compared to 80's tech?
Why not go all the way? PDAs can only store phone numbers and addresses, computers must load drivers to access peripherals/networking/redstone and only 1 can be used at any one time, wired networking only and you have to craft vampire taps to connect a computer to a ring of redwire, and you have to compile your programs for 7 hours before you can test and see if they work.</enter></enter>

[Cloudy]

I don't think PDA's are a bad idea personally - I have had a POC working at one point, but it required editing dans decompiled classes which is a no no - so I stopped working on it until I could find a better way to do it.

I think if PDA's were introduced by dan/a third party, they should just have rednet support and no redstone or peripheral interfacing capability - although they could perhaps connect to a base station block of some kind to be used like a regular computer.

[Leo Verto]

If PDAs had redstone support...

*PDA* You are now enterting TNT city, activating redstone output...
Player: What the...
*PDA* Have a nice day!
*BOOM*

[kazagistar]

My turtles triangulate distance from me, and hover in a giant protective perimiter. Seems legit.

[djblocksaway]

This isnt a bad idea but its already been suggested i think :S

[Neowulf]

Turtle 1 follows my signal vector.
Turtle 2 follows turtle 1's signal.
This continues for 14 more turtles.

Love train!