From:	David Woods david@*******.freeserve.co.uk
Subject:	Memory cost?
Date:	Fri, 12 Mar 1999 19:51:49 +0000

Mongoose wrote:
>

>
> :Unfortunitely, SR3 doesn't seem to address this issue directly, although
> :a 'standard 1000MP data cartridge' is mentioned in passing. I suggest a
> :cost for blank data cartridges of perhaps 50NY. The writer could cost
> :500NY or be standard issue with any tabletop.
>
> Thats exactly the problem- the writter / reader may come free with
> other equipment, but you need a Tabletop comp that has 3600mp of memory,
> to browse through the sucker, making cross refrences, opening multiple
> windows, etc.

This is assuming it's one huge mother of a file that has to be entirely
loaded onto a computer to read at all.

Ymmv but I find this a little unplausible. I imagine the library as a
database of separate book/chapter files. I don't think it's unreasonable
for individual chapters of those books to be selectively loaded into
Active memory.

A computer screen can only show so much text/diagrams at once. You
wouldn't (imo) need anything like 3600MP of active memory. Perhaps
enough memory for one book would be reasonable (100MP?).

As I mentioned previously, perhaps the I/O rate of this media is
relatively slow. This would make it useless for active decking, but
viewing text/diagrams wouldn't be a problem. So we have to wait a whole
second to load up a chapter...

> With hard copy, you can just find all the books you need, and spread
> them out in front of you...

Well I find it difficult to accept data storage media cannot be viewed
piecemeal in 2060.

> At least, thats how I see it.
>
> I don't think many starting mages will have rating 6 libraries in Sr3.

Well this is the problem with your position imo. Hermetics need a
library for summoning and learning spells; their crippled without them.
As it takes rating days to learn a spell how much would matrix library
access cost? At 1200NY per hour, how many hours would be required per
day?

A starting Mage with resources C (90K), wouldn't be able to afford more
than rating 4 Sorcery and Conjuring Libraries plus a 1600Mp computer.

You might argue that this is a good thing, as it restricts high force
spells and elementals. However, shaman are not similarly restricted. A
shaman only needs 3000NY for lodge materials to learn a F6 spell. A
hermetic needs 108,000 NY for library and computer. And as for summoning
an Fx1000 NY elementals are expensive enough imo.

Imo, this would really screw mages with respect to shamans. I also don't
see why 2060 technology would work like this.

Regards

- David Woods