PS3 = Possible massive distribution of Linux?

[Shifty Geezer]

And until I can surf the net, browse email and chat in one room while someone else plays MGS4 in another room, I don't see the interest in bundling PC functions with the PS3. Separate devices are good for homes where the two functions are likely to be needed simultaneously, and that's a lot of homes.

I have a PC upstairs for doing things while there's CE stuff downstairs for doing other things. I don't think there's any one device that can do what you ask. MS requires seperate consoles and PCs working together. There's nothing to stop you using a PC while someone's gaming on PS3, or buying a second PS3 so you can do your photoediting super quick while the sprogs play games on the living-room PS3. If there's more than one person in a house wanting to do stuff, you need more than one machine, no matter what machine that is. If there's only one person wanting to use different devices, a PS3 might cover a lot of ground.

It'd really need an HDTV to satisfy other functionality though, which limits audience, unless it can use a monitor.

 

[Nesh]

Ok, but it will take a long time to see real home server.
Tell all electronic companies (nvidia, ati, via, toshiba, philips, pionner) to stop making DVD player, dvd recorder, tv decoder, hifi stuff, etc.. and just make declination of "make it all" home media centre. they won't agree and take huge financial loss.
I think both MS and Sony want this to happen (in slightky different manner) but I think that at this point the other economic actor don't agree at all.
I think lot of person should be happy to buy a "make it all" home media server, cables start really to be problematic, encumberance too.
Unapgradeable media home server is an easy piece of technology at this time, but it's too much money loss at this time for too much companies.
at this time at think xbox pc synergy is a better choice than ps3 redundant with my PC solution.
Anyway i won't base my choice on this but games .

i would add for balance that psp ps3 synergy too.

Good points and I agree with you 100%.But again you are judging based on the present.The issues you mentioned can be adressed as products evolve.Slowly.It may even take a decade or more who knows.

The PS3 may not become what KK envisions and I am not expecting it either, but it will be a beginning.
PS3 wont become a media center, like you I am 100% sure about that so we agree..
The best case scenario says it might succeed at some features probably very very few and still be far from reaching the goal but I am seeing beyond the PS3.Its a matter of trial and error until its got right.

Probably the next PS or even the next next PS might reach that goal.

 

[Inane_Dork]

IBM is doing porting, or has already ported AFAIK.

Fine, but as I said, it's the upkeep that will be interesting. Preventing hackers from breaking PS3 security, preventing viruses, adding functionality, fixing bugs, etc. It's the maintenance that makes or breaks you.

You'll prob be able to do these things via the "main" PS3 OS, but not via the Linux distro, I'm sure.

Hadn't thought of it like that. It will be interesting to see what level of control the distro is given.

 

[Titanio]

Fine, but as I said, it's the upkeep that will be interesting. Preventing hackers from breaking PS3 security, preventing viruses, adding functionality, fixing bugs, etc. It's the maintenance that makes or breaks you.

It should be isolated totally from the "main" PS3 OS, in terms of the potential for its security to be compromised, but of course, the system itself would be no different than any other linux machine as far as bugs or viruses etc. are concerned. I guess maintenance will be the responsibility of the IBM team, if Sony is piggybacking off their work, as I guess they are.

Hadn't thought of it like that. It will be interesting to see what level of control the distro is given.

As nice as it'd be, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to run it simultaneous with games, unless it can run out of 64MB or less, which may not be pleasant. The main OS is supposed to offer web browsing, media playback, chat etc. simultaneous with gameplay.

 

[ImaginaryIndustryInsider]

MS is [moderated] in more was than one. Can you imagine 100m Linux boxes in the living rooms? Vista FTL.

Linux+Sony was probably the biggest reason MS got into the console industry...and because of that move, Sony probably won't have another 100 million console generation.

(That's not to say Sony still won't dominate to one degree or another.)

 

[[maven]]

You have to consider that PS2 Linux kit was mostly aimed a enthusiasts, AFAIK, and it was only sold online or directly through Sony.

But what tells you this will be different this time? Have a look at one's post, it is still aimed at developers. You (as in general you, not you or I in particular) don't know where or how it will be sold or whether it might only be available in some regions as before.
I just find it dangerous to — knowingly or unknowingly — ignore history when trying to interpret the scarce (and carefully selected) information we have been given thus far.

 

[nintenho]

Isn't linux on the PS3 console just possibly lacking........comfort factor? Seriously though, it would probably hurt the PS3's image more then help it if they talked about what a great PC alternative PS3 is going to be. Meh...all I know is that it's going to be a fun generation.

 

[liolio]

Good points and I agree with you 100%.But again you are judging based on the present.The issues you mentioned can be adressed as products evolve.Slowly.It may even take a decade or more who knows.

The PS3 may not become what KK envisions and I am not expecting it either, but it will be a beginning.
PS3 wont become a media center, like you I am 100% sure about that so we agree..
The best case scenario says it might succeed at some features probably very very few and still be far from reaching the goal but I am seeing beyond the PS3.Its a matter of trial and error until its got right.

Probably the next PS or even the next next PS might reach that goal.

I agree 100% too
i've forget a word : psp ps3 synergy is GREAt too oopps...

 

[Titanio]

Isn't linux on the PS3 console just possibly lacking........comfort factor? Seriously though, it would probably hurt the PS3's image more then help it if they talked about what a great PC alternative PS3 is going to be. Meh...all I know is that it's going to be a fun generation.

You don't have to use it you don't want to. Only programmers and the like will likely check it out. There'll be the "comfy" XMB interface, the "main" PS3 OS that most people will only ever use. If more people started using it as a PC, I guess that's great, but reading Kutaragi's comments, that's not quite their intention or goal.

 

[nintenho]

You don't have to use it you don't want to. Only programmers and the like will likely check it out. There'll be the "comfy" XMB interface, the "main" PS3 OS that most people will only ever use. If more people started using it as a PC, I guess that's great, but reading Kutaragi's comments, that's not quite their intention or goal.

Care is not absolute, but twelve year olds will use any trainwreck of logic to prove that their system is the penultimatest. I'm just saying!

 

[NavNucST3]

I wonder how long it will take for MythTV to be ported to the PS3, or if PS3s features-set is so complete that I wouldn't even need to think about it.

 

[Nick Laslett]

It would be great if Sony planned to turn the PS3 into a truely functional media device.

That could do all of the following things

1. Surf Web
2. Store, print, edit, view JPEGs
3. Store, hear, edit MP3s
4. Store, watch, edit Video (mpeg2?)
5. Email
6. VOIP
7. Play Blu-Ray, DVDs, CDs
8. Play Videogames
9. Simple Word processor, Graphics package and spreadsheet.

This is all I use my home PC for.

Sony already has Video, Audio and Picture editing software they include with those devices that people install on their PCs. Should not be a problem to have these for the PS3.

So of this might happen, but it seems unlikely.

 

[Seb555]

What do you guys typically use a home PC for? I thought about my PC use and I think it's about:

~40% web browsing ( pictures, videos )
~15% email
~10% viewing/editing//storing pictures from my camera
~5% chatting online ( IM, video phone/etc )
~5% editing docs ( usually because I brought work home with me )
~25% coding.

So if a PS3 had a web browser built-in and 1080P ( which is more resolution than my pc monitor ) I can shift 60% of my computer use to the PS3. ( Browsing, E-mail, IM )

If it ran a desktop linux, then I could also do everything else as well and would NOT need a PC. And could play some topnotch games to boot.

And all this on a nice big 60" 1080P screen. Though not sure how I would make a mouse work while sitting on my couch..perhaps a Revolution like want controller instead?


( As a disclaimer, my PC runs linux today for all those tasks.. so no learning curve for me )

 

[valioso]

i am sorry but I dont want a keyboard, mouse and all the cables all over the place in my living room where my tv is.

 

[SPM]

i am sorry but I dont want a keyboard, mouse and all the cables all over the place in my living room where my tv is.

So get a wireless keyboard with a trackball.

 

[bobthebub]

i am sorry but I dont want a keyboard, mouse and all the cables all over the place in my living room where my tv is.

What are you sorry about? I don't believe that mouse keyboard etc will be mandatory to play games on a PS3 so you should have nothing to worry about.

On the other hand people like myself who would prefer to connect their PS3 to a monitor at a desk away from the TV might get the opportunity to do lots more stufff that could eventually save them from actually having to have a PC (or MAC) there as well, everybody wins

 

[Sxotty]

So what is the consensus as of now?

Will it be protected so a different version of linux cannot be placed on it?

I was wondering about getting a PS3 especially if it happens to end up with a g80 class GPU in it. If I could install linux and use it as a regular PC that would be awesome.

And a bluetooth keyboad mouse setup works great on my current htpc from couch I am sure it would work on the ps3 as well.

 

[pcostabel]

So what is the consensus as of now?

Will it be protected so a different version of linux cannot be placed on it?

It will probably work like the PS2 Linux kit: a bootable disc that starts Linux from the HD.
Not sure what other version you would want to install, none of the distributions out there could run on the PS3. Granted, you could recompile most of them while still using the Sony kernel, but I don't see the point...

I was wondering about getting a PS3 especially if it happens to end up with a g80 class GPU in it. If I could install linux and use it as a regular PC that would be awesome.

Define regular PC. You would have to recompile any application that you want to run on the PS3. Apps like Firefox and OpenOffice could be ported, but it won't be trivial. To my knowledge, Firefox doesn't run on the PS2 Linux kit yet. If you want a regular PC, you are better off getting a cheap x86. PS3 Linux only makes sense to develop apps that take advantage of the PS3 strength, e.g. distributed rendering, PVR, media center etc.

 

[one]

It will probably work like the PS2 Linux kit: a bootable disc that starts Linux from the HD.
Not sure what other version you would want to install, none of the distributions out there could run on the PS3. Granted, you could recompile most of them while still using the Sony kernel, but I don't see the point...

Actually there are PPC Linux distros such as
http://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/

Besides the latest Linux kernel 2.6.xx already contains patchs for Cell.

Define regular PC. You would have to recompile any application that you want to run on the PS3. Apps like Firefox and OpenOffice could be ported, but it won't be trivial. To my knowledge, Firefox doesn't run on the PS2 Linux kit yet.

http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/mozilla-ps2

 

[rounin]

Firefox, office apps and such should work fine on PS3 linux should they not???