---
# System prepended metadata

title: PDA to Tablet conversion
tags: [TGstation]

---

# PDA to Tablet conversion

## Abstract
Tablets are generally way better over PDAs, and since there's no point in having both, it would be best to replace PDAs (removing their terrible code) with tablets.

## Goals
1. Remove all PDA's terrible code
2. Allow tablets to function just about the same, if not better, than PDAs, bringing over important key features.
3. Allow people's tablets to feel more personal to the user.
4. Teach more people about the capabilities modular tablets/computers have, as they also interact with borgs, it could bring up more interactions with them as well.

## Non goals
1. Make tablets unecessarily complicated, ruining what they had going for them.
2. Force players to leave the game just to get apps needed for their job. Limiting what their tablets could do at once is fine, within reason (Chief Engineers shouldn't have to delete their departmental cargo app or get a bigger hard drive just to see how the Supermatter is doing).

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Each user will spawn with a tablet, appropriate to their job (color coded just as PDA's were before). This would allow the HoP to still retain their functionality of painting PDAs to a certain job, but instead it is for tablets. This is purely cosmetic.

Tablets should also be named after what they are colorcoded after, this is mostly cosmetic, but also can be used in-game as Security will be able to identify that your ID doesn't match your tablet's job more easily, just as PDAs do currently.

## Applications

All job-related applications should be purchasable from the application shop, provided you have the access.
Tablets should be pre-built with the applications store, applications manager, and PDA messaging.
- PDA messaging should act the same as how PDAs were before, keeping your name even if your ID isn't in the tablet.

Job applications should be expensive, but not expensive enough that you are limited in how many you can have. A Security officer should be able to see the crew manifest and security records, with maybe some space leftover for an arcade game. Anything beyond that should require additional hard drive space, or a data disk. This prevents people from performing multiple jobs at once, forcing them to stay in their lane.

### Default Applications

Default applications should cost next-to or nothing to have, and be unremovable. They're things every tablet should have, regardless of job. The default applications are the following:
1. Application store, needed to purchase other apps
2. Application manager, needed to manage/run external apps.
3. Messenger, to meet parity with old PDA messaging.
4. Skill tracker, to meet parity with old PDA's skill tracker. This could possibly be removed as an app and instead be a button on the tablet's home screen instead, to not clutter the app list.

## Data disks

Data disks is a good way to download an app without having access to it, or if it isn't listed on the applications shop for any reason.
- This is already something that exists, and is used to download programs to Cyborg's built-in tablets.

Disks could come with pre-built applications in limited vendors, or head of staff offices. These applications should be able to be run from the disk itself, and you shouldn't be obligated to download it to your modular tablet/computer directly to run it.

Examples:
- The Head of Security would have a disk with the crew monitor app pre-downloaded, as Security tablets have the application built-in, but lack access to download it at a later time.
- The Chief Medical Officer would have a disk with the crew pinpointer app pre-downloaded. Medical could download the applicaton very easily, but it requires space which might be a little problematic for some, and allows antagonists to steal it and use it to their advantage if they lack access to purchase it themselves.

### Undownloadable data disks (Viruses)

Undownloadable data disks are disks with programs on them that can't be transfered to a modular computer/tablet, solely run off the disk itself. This is known as Virus disks. This allows us to easily limit their use, as they won't be able to download them to multiple places to run them all at once. It is the closest available way to match parity with PDA virus cartridges (Mime/Clown/Detomatix).

## Potential changes

In the future, it might be worth looking into simplifying how tablets are constructed. Like MODsuits, it would be nice to know exactly what is wrong with your tablet, rather than just being told 'it doesnt work' when you try to open a non functional one. There are too many parts, some are only used for computers, others for tablets, you can't fit too many but also require some for certain applications. It's an annoying and tedious job just for very little gain. The best course of action would be to make parts for both computers and tablets static, with the exception of hard drives for storage space, batteries, and processors to increase app downloading speeds.

Tablet building as part of a job sounds like a cool idea, for something Scientists can do to just as how MODsuits are for Roboticists, granting a new way for Science to interact with the crew that isn't just stupid or powergamed equipment from Xenobiology. It also grants the crew a cheaper alternative to getting a tablet upgraded, that isn't purchasing expensive tablet parts at the vendor to do it themselves.

## The Future Of Cartridges

PDA cartridges are being removed, so their features should be transferred onto Tablet applications. With this, it gives an oppertunity to remove unneeded clutter from the list. Gas scanner, health scanner, and notekeeping features will be removed outright.

For the case of Health and Gas scanners, they remove the need to carry a physical item that could otherwise get lost/stolen and require replacement, and in the case of notekeeping, it just isn't a feature worth keeping around.

###### tags: `TGstation`
