Cost: 747.2 credits/1,868 platinum

Availability: ILLEGAL

An illegal terminal, designed to disguise the user from Alliance snoops. Unfortunately, since so many features of the Cortex are closely monitored, pretty much everything interesting is locked up tighter than the First Allied Bank. About all you can do with this clunky unit is send anonymous waves and read the news.

CORTEX TERMINAL, PERSONAL ACCESS

Cost: 100 credits/250 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

What most Core citizens use. Essentially a 2'x2' touchscreen monitor, 5" thick, with a moderately sized base to allow for the rest of the equipment, Cortex terminals are a phone, a computer, and a TV all rolled into one. Since a terminal is just that - sometimes you can lose the Cortex access if a satellite or transmission station goes down, and then you lose whatever you were working on, and have to hope your connection gets going might quick, because you have no storage capacity.

CORTEX TERMINAL, PUBLIC ACCESS

Cost: 52 credits/130 platinum

Availability: Everywhere

These terminal panels can be found in all sorts of places. Generally they serve a specific purpose, and can access only a limited number of functions. Police, Telofonix (a local-area communication service), and emergency calls (direct to a direct hospital or ambulance) are three standard options. Docking berths on the surface usually have public terminals for ship specs and for logging travel plans, which can be useful if you want to advertise for cargo or passengers.

DATA-LIBRARY, STANDARD

Cost: 22.8 credits/57 platinum

Availability: Everywhere

Knowledge is power, and power costs money. If you want access to a vast library of literature, history texts, recipes, and so forth, then paying for a data-library subscriptions is the way to go. These can provide a lot of information.

DATA-LIBRARY PROFESSIONAL

Cost: 92 credits/230 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

The latest in medical science, gravitic engineering, ship construction, and pretty much anything else can be had by those who feel the urge to pay for it. Sometimes a fellow needs to be licensed to get access to such, but at least you can be guaranteed to get pretty much all the information the Alliance doesn't feel is too dangerous for you to know.

DATABOOK

Cost: 30 credits/75 platinum

Availability: Everywhere

The exact appearance can vary, but these data readers range in size from a paperback novel to a hardback textbook. They can store up to 5 terabytes of data (enough for a few useful progs or 3-D schematics or such), read data disks, and link to the Cortex through a terminal or sourcebox. They can even be linked to other electronic devices to be used for programming or control purposes, though that's less of a sure thing. Not many on the Rim bother with such a posh bit of gear, but it has its uses.

DATA DISC

Cost: 0.2 credits/ 1 platinum

Availability: Everywhere

These crystalline hexagonal disks can be clicked into a data reader for access at most any terminal or computer station. The standard disk holds enough information to store even short holographic records and can be reused.

DEDICATED SOURCEBOX

Cost: 154 credits/385 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

Expensive sourceboxes that not only act as terminals, but can also store up to 200 terabytes of data and maintain a terminal link for up to a mile around.

ENCYCLOPEDIA

Cost: 60 credits/150 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

Another expensive little toy, these devices are slick Core databooks with their own extensive data-libraries. While the common features are Languages, Human History, and Universal Encyclopedia, different models come with up to three other libraries. For example, a doctor might get one with Medical Science, Anatomical Engineering, and a Bio-Physical Atlas in addition to the standard three. Otherwise, it functions as a normal DataBook.

HOLO-IMAGE DEVELOPMENT SUITE

Cost: 64 credits/160 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

Holographic tech is expensive, but not uncommon in the 'Verse. This device allows you to produce holographs. A bunch of progs and a 3-D manipulator (little box you stick your hand in, so you can move it about and shape the images) lets you make darn near anything you put your mind to (if you have the right skills).

SUBKELVIN

Cost: 80 credits/200 platinum

Availability: ILLEGAL

Where there's a will, there's someone working against it. SubK is a well-known (and thus almost useless) security removal utility. It works well against Core softies who don't know their operating matrix buffer from their main feedback path, but that's about it. There's better stuff out there, if you know where to look.

XERO SECURITY

Cost: 7.2 credits/18 platinum

Availability: Core Worlds

One of the most popular Cortex Profile Protection Utilities, XerO self-updates, auto-runs, and jumps through hoops on command.