[Namikaze]

I would think that with DNI, you wouldn't need a keyboard, monitor, etc.  But that still doesn't address several other issues: security being chief among them, followed closely by processing power and data sharing capabilities.  My best guess: terminals exist in the same sense that impact printers still exist.  They're there, but they aren't nearly as ubiquitous as they used to be, and they tend to serve specialized functions (such as an employee with SimSense Vertigo).  Most likely, employees come in to work, plug in via a corp-provided terminal or commlink, and connect to a nexus.  The nexus handles the processing and data sharing, and the corp-provided piece provides the security piece.

[Reaver]

Would tabletop computers still exist? Sure, just like televisions/trideos would, and sim/movie houses, and personal physical dance clubs.  Just like hand-turned lathes and drills still exist in the Shadowrun world.  Maybe not in vast quantities, but ... I personally think they would.

the Lathe I use at the office (when I am there... which is never), when I have to machine a part is from the 1930s...... yep almost 90 years old!

Sure we could by a new electronic one.... but why? The old beast still works, does everything you want a lathe to do, and doesn't require a 500 page manual to start it! (I read the manual for our lathe.... it was 2 freaking pages!! You can not get instructions on how to do anything in less then large book format these days!)

[ImaginalDisc]

Would tabletop computers still exist? Sure, just like televisions/trideos would, and sim/movie houses, and personal physical dance clubs.  Just like hand-turned lathes and drills still exist in the Shadowrun world.  Maybe not in vast quantities, but ... I personally think they would.

the Lathe I use at the office (when I am there... which is never), when I have to machine a part is from the 1930s...... yep almost 90 years old!

Sure we could by a new electronic one.... but why? The old beast still works, does everything you want a lathe to do, and doesn't require a 500 page manual to start it! (I read the manual for our lathe.... it was 2 freaking pages!! You can not get instructions on how to do anything in less then large book format these days!)

If you could construct some sort of rudimentary lathe. . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUT8doDpBI0

[Senko]

As to why wage slaves comein to work I can see it having everything to do with securirty. Every access point remotely is a potential breach waiting to happen (ignoring for now the jobs like mai.tenance that require a physical presence). If you have say 400 staff with remote access to your computers that's 400 potential sites a runner can attack and if they log in on thompsons terminal how do you know he's not just checking on his latest project till is too late. On the other handuf yiu have a central CPU that can only be accessed via the company terminals and remotel by the CEO you only have two places to watch the main offices and the CEO a much easier and cheaper option.

[Reaver]

As to why wage slaves comein to work I can see it having everything to do with securirty. Every access point remotely is a potential breach waiting to happen (ignoring for now the jobs like mai.tenance that require a physical presence). If you have say 400 staff with remote access to your computers that's 400 potential sites a runner can attack and if they log in on thompsons terminal how do you know he's not just checking on his latest project till is too late. On the other handuf yiu have a central CPU that can only be accessed via the company terminals and remotel by the CEO you only have two places to watch the main offices and the CEO a much easier and cheaper option.

The other side of that coin is now you have to have a local office for those employees to go to. Which can get expensive fast. (For an idea. Currently in B.C, office space rents at $30/sqft.)

With remote log in, you can have employees working without a central office building in each city... maybe even just one office per continent!  Thus saving millions or more....

It all comes down to profit margins.... if after factoring in Shadowruns against your remote offices, you save millions.... you use remote workers.

[CanRay]

It all comes down to profit margins.... if after factoring in Shadowruns against your remote offices, you save millions.... you use remote workers.

*Cough*