PS3 classified as a computer?
- Thread starter vazel
- Start date
Gradthrawn
Veteran
If I'm not mistaken, those tax laws (applicable to game consoles at least) were repelled shortly there after, making the whole thing moot. I'm going off memory here though, and could very well be wrong (or inaccurate to a degree).
jandlecack
Banned
AFAIK they did succeed, that you can install Linux on the machine is an undeniable fact. By definition it is a computer.
Well it didn't work for PS2. Thanks for the info Gradthawn. I have the sneaking suspicion I asked this before so if that's true sorry for the redundancy.
Yes, that tax-dodge is no longer applicable. Probably because defining a computer was a tough task!
PS3 and X360 are both classified as computers in europe. In most if not all european countries this means increased warranty for the consumers because being classified as a computer means expected lifetime of the product is higher than toys or whatever they where classified as before.
In Norway, the x360 and ps3 has a 5 year warranty by law because of this.
In Norway, the x360 and ps3 has a 5 year warranty by law because of this.
tongue_of_colicab
Veteran
Silly law if you ask me. Arnt alot of electronics computers? In what way is a GC or a ps2 less of a computer than your home computer?
Can you install a run-of-the-mill PPC Linux/Unix distribution and accompanying software in them ? Replace the hard drive with any other laptop drive ? Hook any USB keyboard and mouse to it ? Connect a monitor (through HDMI/DVI, etc) ?
Then it's within the archaic and now fortunately defunct definition of "computer" was to them.
I'm surprised they didn't throw in a floppy disk drive too.
Can you install a run-of-the-mill PPC Linux/Unix distribution and accompanying software in them ? Replace the hard drive with any other laptop drive ? Hook any USB keyboard and mouse to it ? Connect a monitor (through HDMI/DVI, etc) ?
Then it's within the archaic and now fortunately defunct definition of "computer" was to them.
I'm surprised they didn't throw in a floppy disk drive too.
But you CAN do all that on ps2
there is official linux for ps2+hard drive, keyboard via usb etc. all without hacking the machine and using official sony stuff.tongue_of_colicab
Veteran
Can you install a run-of-the-mill PPC Linux/Unix distribution and accompanying software in them ? Replace the hard drive with any other laptop drive ? Hook any USB keyboard and mouse to it ? Connect a monitor (through HDMI/DVI, etc) ?
Then it's within the archaic and now fortunately defunct definition of "computer" was to them.
I'm surprised they didn't throw in a floppy disk drive too.
But what about some of the prefab pc's that used (and still come?) from the likes of dell and hp that dont always like the default size stuff?
I dont really see why a computer is only a computer if you can install your own software and hardware on it. Btw, as said above that is possible on the ps2. Not too sure about the GC or Xbox but the Snes for example already had a mouse (and keyboard?) for it. The N64 also had the extra ram pack so that could count as putting in extra hardware?
No options for extra software, but what about MACS? they used to be locked to Apple OS'. So what about that?
Their definition of what a computer is sounds a bit dodgy to me. THough its probably just for the $$$ that they did it this way.
But you CAN do all that on ps2
Yaroze (that's the name of the first kit for the original 1994 Playstation, IIRC) and Playstation Linux 1.0 style proprietary Sony distributions isn't what i had in mind when i said "run-of-the-mill" operating systems and respective software ecosystems...
DeadlyNinja
Veteran
You can't fire nukes with a GC.
Oh man, I still remember that crap from 1999. It was hilarious. If the PS2 was considered that dangerous, think about what people can do with a PS3.
Oh and I believe they also came out with a Linux Kite for the PS2. It comes with software, keyboard, harddrive and stuff.
jandlecack
Banned
Wasn't actually firing nukes.
Was the simulation of it.
Was the simulation of it.
I also remember some BS that Saddam was trying to import PS2's for military purposes.
Jesus Christ! US propaganda against the Arabs was out of hand since forever!
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21118
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=29913
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/19/iraq_buys_4000_playstation_2s/
Even the PS2 was used!!
Anyways didnt the CNN also report how powerful the PS2 was for controlling missiles or something of that sorts?
The PS2 was a huge phenomenon back then. I remember how hyped upped I was back then with anything PS2 related.
It looked like a dream machine.
Lucas also said that you could even get data from the Star Wars movies CGI work and use them to create real time visuals on the PS2.
And then here comes Tekken Tag Tournament which to me looked as good looking as the CGI movies of Tekken 3.
God the memories :smile:
Jesus Christ! US propaganda against the Arabs was out of hand since forever!
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21118
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=29913
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/19/iraq_buys_4000_playstation_2s/
Even the PS2 was used!!
Anyways didnt the CNN also report how powerful the PS2 was for controlling missiles or something of that sorts?
The PS2 was a huge phenomenon back then. I remember how hyped upped I was back then with anything PS2 related.
It looked like a dream machine.
Lucas also said that you could even get data from the Star Wars movies CGI work and use them to create real time visuals on the PS2.
And then here comes Tekken Tag Tournament which to me looked as good looking as the CGI movies of Tekken 3.
God the memories :smile:
jandlecack
Banned
That's not even so far off...Sony's consoles have always had (maybe not the PS1) very powerful or unique CPUs for their time. Selling at lower prices than regular devices with that hardware.
Just look at the Cell...companies are buying PS3s because they are cheaper than Cell-based computers or blades on their own. Retro-fitting RAM has also been attempted or done, not up to date at the moment.
I doubt dictators would import them but yea with a powerful number cruncher like the Cell or, given that it was one (I don't know), the PS2, they can be excellent for arithmetic calculations like that of missile launches i.e. angle they will hit over what distance at what speed with strongness of the wind bla bla bla.
Just look at the Cell...companies are buying PS3s because they are cheaper than Cell-based computers or blades on their own. Retro-fitting RAM has also been attempted or done, not up to date at the moment.
I doubt dictators would import them but yea with a powerful number cruncher like the Cell or, given that it was one (I don't know), the PS2, they can be excellent for arithmetic calculations like that of missile launches i.e. angle they will hit over what distance at what speed with strongness of the wind bla bla bla.
This was in my mind. It is an official real linux distro for ps2. It came with rather full hw documentation, hard drive, vga cable etc. You could hack freely the hardware with c/c++/whatever in that linux kit. It's way beyond yaroze or other basic stuff.
You couldn't do any of that stuff with the old 8 bit machines either, but they were all computers. The definition was also non-exisistent - it wasn't a definition but a vague notion. Consoles are and always were computers, but with specialised software. The nature of the hardware was indisputable, and the whole tax thing ridiculous.
The PS1 CPU was impressive for its day too. Its one CPU with its built-in geometry accelerator gave the Saturn's two CPU system a run for its money. And it held up against PC games for about two years.
Megadrive1988
Veteran
Most missile conventional & strategic missile guidance systems of the late 1990s, early 2000s used far less computing power than the PS2's Emotion Engine had.
It simply isn't needed. What was and is needed, is reliability, durability, and hardened protection against EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) from nuclear blasts taking place hundreds or thousands of miles away which would fry & shut down computers of all types, including military computers in anything that are not protected.
Now, where supercomputing power is needed and far more than PS2 could've offered, is for predicting/simulating the effects of nuclear weapons, war games, and overall command & control of an entire offensive & defensive arsenal.
It simply isn't needed. What was and is needed, is reliability, durability, and hardened protection against EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) from nuclear blasts taking place hundreds or thousands of miles away which would fry & shut down computers of all types, including military computers in anything that are not protected.
Now, where supercomputing power is needed and far more than PS2 could've offered, is for predicting/simulating the effects of nuclear weapons, war games, and overall command & control of an entire offensive & defensive arsenal.
