OMG SONY ..Really

[Metal_Sonic]

I see no point in slamming Linux on the PS3. Sure it was a pretty useless feature but I thought updates were there to add features and fix errors, not to take away shit.

[OldSchool]

It baffles me that some Gaming consumers want the current Consoles to act like a computer in so many ways, but don't want a computer.

Then they complain when the Console acts like a piss poor imitation of a computer.

They want options, they want power, and they want freedom... but oh no... they don't want anything to do with a computer.


They want the ease of use of a Nintendo coupled with the flexibility and virility of a Modern PC... and for next to nothing. I'd love to visit this dream world they live in. Must be lovely year round.

[kool kitty89]

Well, one could always get a cheaper/older PC, either building your own (possibly getting help from a tech-minded friend) while looking for the most cost effective components, or looking around for some good deals on older machines in decent shape. (local classifieds etc)
Or, of course, you might know a family member or freind with an older machine they wouldn;t mind haven taken off their hands for cheap, or possibly free.

You don't need a super powerful machine to get by surfing the web, even for playing online media at high quality, a mid-range PC from ~4-5 years ago can still be fine for a lot of stuff.
Older OSs tend to be more stable and efficient in some respects too, of course support deminishes eventually, but XP is still fine, and Win2K isn't bad, some people still use 98SE. (I think TmEE uses that on his PC)
Of course, there's plenty of great options for linux too.

There's also a ton of good games that can be played on older PCs too, just not most of the current gen stuff, though probably some of th eearly multiplatform games on PS3/PC/360. (probably not at max settings) So lots of older PC games (really old ones can have compatibility issues on newer OSs though), plus other stuff like emulation. (which could include Dosbox too)

For a lot of the gaming stuff, linux wouldn't be preferred though, some emulators and a few ports, plus online games (tons of flash games, free, and many equivelent to some downlodable minigame stuff, if not superior).

There's also dual booting, of course.



With HDTVs, it's usually a lot easier to allow PCs to be hooked up too, especially with VGA support. (if you have an older video card and/or want the flexibility VGA offers over DVI/HDMI -some TVs/video cards are picky about resolution in DVI, but not VGA)
Plus, a lot of older video cards support S-video out, some have component video too, so can be good on SDTVs too, albeit a poor choice for the main monitor, but good for playing some games/movies. (with an HDTV, you could use that as th emain monitor)



BTW, how well did the original Xbox run alternate OSs? (I seem to recal Linux being used on modded xboxes)

[Pulstar]

Hooking up a PC to TV is a hassle, which is why most of us just stream the media to consoles. Building a cheap HTPC is still a reasonable idea, considering bluray isn't dirt cheap yet, and 99% of players don't support Matroska.

[E.J.]

Well, one could always get a cheaper/older PC, either building your own (possibly getting help from a tech-minded friend) while looking for the most cost effective components, or looking around for some good deals on older machines in decent shape. (local classifieds etc)

But you don't end up with a system, with a one-of-a-kind Cell mini-processor, capable of playing the latest games, or outputting 1080p component/HDMI video to your cozy living room TV.

Sony stated straight up that it isn't required to update, but you won't be able to use the PSN, or other network features. It's completely optional.

Simply put though, this means you either decide to continue using Linux, or lose the ability to play any new games. This is regardless of whether you even use PSN, or other network features, as Sony also stated that newer PS3 games, and Sony authored DVD movies, will require the PS3 be updated to the latest firmware.

IMO the only reason Sony left the option to not update is for businesses, Universities, and/or other research organizations to continue using multiple networked PS3s as cheap server/supercomputer alternatives. Due to the Cell processor, ~5,000 dollars worth of networked PS3s equals about ~20,000 dollars worth of supercomputing power.

[OldSchool]

IMO the only reason Sony left the option to not update is for businesses, Universities, and/or other research organizations to continue using multiple networked PS3s as cheap server/supercomputer alternatives. Due to the Cell processor, ~5,000 dollars worth of networked PS3s equals about ~20,000 dollars worth of supercomputing power.

What?

What's so special about an old single 3.2 Cpu from '06?
I don't get it. My Q6600 would take a giant dump on that processor.

[snakesqzns]

The Cell in the HPC market is being replaced by GPU arrays.

[Pulstar]

^ Quoted for the truth. Simply put Sony are scared of little boy George Hotz.

[Joe Redifer]

You can always turn your Genesis + Sega CD + 32X combo into a Mac!

[snakesqzns]

You can always turn your Genesis + Sega CD + 32X combo into a Mac!

Wasn't the guy who claimed to have done that the same one that "built a genesis from scratch in 3 months", and when asked to prove it with pictures said he couldn't because he took it apart to use the Z80s for his mom's vcr?

[Joe Redifer]

I don't recall the first part, but the second part wouldn't surprise me.

[Chilly Willy]

The SEGA MD/CD/32X doesn't have enough ram to make an effective Mac. You'd be stuck emulating the old B&W Mac with little memory. The SH2 is also not fast enough to emulate a 68020, so you couldn't do color Mac in any case (all color Macs use 68020 or better). So you're looking at vMac running OS6 or something similar. Forget OS7... requires too much memory. You need something similar to the Dreamcast in capabilities to run a color Mac emulation.

[gamevet]

What?

What's so special about an old single 3.2 Cpu from '06?
I don't get it. My Q6600 would take a giant dump on that processor.

Can that processor drop 25 Gflops?

Actually, half a Cell processor mopped the floor with this quad-core Intel processor.

The Folding@home network has generated more processing power than the worlds fastest supercomputer network. The Cell isn't your typical procecessor.

[Rusty Venture]

The SEGA MD/CD/32X doesn't have enough ram to make an effective Mac. You'd be stuck emulating the old B&W Mac with little memory. The SH2 is also not fast enough to emulate a 68020, so you couldn't do color Mac in any case (all color Macs use 68020 or better). So you're looking at vMac running OS6 or something similar. Forget OS7... requires too much memory. You need something similar to the Dreamcast in capabilities to run a color Mac emulation.

We found this out during the "Genesis Mac" drama.

[Robivy64]

I remember when that was posted. I never could get any tangible evidence out of the guy. It was like trying to nail jello to the wall.

Whatever happened with that?

I don't think i've seen him around recently, but he might still be.