So... I found myself wondering what it would cost to turn the best Comlink out there into half decent sleaze machine. Then comparing that to the cost of an equivalent Cyberdeck. The anwser by the way is about 1/5th the price.
Shiawase Cyber-5 DR: 5. AA: 8/7/6/5. Programs: 5. Availability: 15R. Cost: 549,375¥
Fairlight Caliban /w Hot-Sim
DR 7. Data Processing/Firewall: 7. Availability 18F. Cost 8,350¥
Non standard form factor. Availability: 20F Cost: 10,020¥
Rating 6 Stealth Dongle. Availability: 12R Cost: 108,000¥
Program Carrier Modification. Availability: 2. Cost, including parts, 1,400¥
Black Trenchcoat sleaze special
Device Rating 7. A/S/D/F 0/6/7/7. Programs: ? (1 cyberprogram hardwired). Availability: (Standard)18F (Non-Standard)20F. Cost: (Standard)117,750¥ (Non-Standard)119,420¥
The only real potential sticking point here is you''ll only have one hacking program hardwired, as unless things have changed Comlinks can't run hacking programs, and there's questions about how many programs it could run anyway.
Still, at under 120K you've got a Comlink, that potentially doesn't look like a Comlink for another 2K, that's almost as good as a practically 550K Cyberdeck as long as you're not trying to brick stuff.