As a spin off from What type of hardware is allowed?, I'd like to discuss an area that doesn't exactly fit into the answers provided there.

It is my understanding from the linked question that on topic questions need to be linked to a computer somehow, with more details still being worked out.

Thus my question - is hardware that can be linked to a computer, but isn't during operation on topic?

As an example, I asked a question about drones. The type I am looking for isn't sophisticated, but does have the ability to capture data (video). Higher end ones can capture additional information (GPS coordinates, altitude, acceleration, etc). Some can be pre-programmed with a flight path. All of this data can be streamed in real time or downloaded later.

I would not consider a drone an appliance.

As a spin off from What type of hardware is allowed?, I'd like to discuss an area that doesn't exactly fit into the answers provided there.

It is my understanding from the linked question that on topic questions need to be linked to a computer somehow, with more details still being worked out.

Thus my question - is hardware that can be linked to a computer, but isn't during operation on topic?

As an example, I asked a question about drones. The type I am looking for isn't sophisticated, but does have the ability to capture data (video). Higher end ones can capture additional information (GPS coordinates, altitude, acceleration, etc). Some can be pre-programmed with a flight path. All of this data can be streamed in real time or downloaded later.

I would not consider a drone an appliance.

As a spin off from http://meta.hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/50/what-type-of-hardware-is-allowed, I'd like to discuss an area that doesn't exactly fit into the answers provided there.

It is my understanding from the linked question that on topic questions need to be linked to a computer somehow, with more details still being worked out.

Thus my question - is hardware that can be linked to a computer, but isn't during operation on topic?

As an example, I asked a question about drones. The type I am looking for isn't sophisticated, but does have the ability to capture data (video). Higher end ones can capture additional information (GPS coordinates, altitude, acceleration, etc). Some can be pre-programmed with a flight path. All of this data can be streamed in real time or downloaded later.

I would not consider a drone an appliance.

As a spin off from What type of hardware is allowed?, I'd like to discuss an area that doesn't exactly fit into the answers provided there.

It is my understanding from the linked question that on topic questions need to be linked to a computer somehow, with more details still being worked out.

Thus my question - is hardware that can be linked to a computer, but isn't during operation on topic?

As an example, I asked a question about drones. The type I am looking for isn't sophisticated, but does have the ability to capture data (video). Higher end ones can capture additional information (GPS coordinates, altitude, acceleration, etc). Some can be pre-programmed with a flight path. All of this data can be streamed in real time or downloaded later.

I would not consider a drone an appliance.