PS3 HD may run Linux

Addis · 11-06-2005, 09:58 AM

SONY COMPUTER Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi has suggested the upcoming Playstation 3 will come equipped with a hard disk. And the hard disk may come with Linux pre-installed.

Kutaragi is miffed that the likes of Nintendo and Microsoft won't call their consoles computers. Nintendo, he complains to Japanese site Impress PC Watch, "keeps telling the world their consoles are 'toys'," while Microsoft keeps calling the Xbox a "game machine".

"We're positioning the PS3 as a supercomputer", he says, "But people won't recognize it as a computer unless we call it a computer, so we're going to run an OS on it. In fact, the Cell can run multiple OSes. In order to run the OSes, we need a hard disk. So in order to declare that the PS3 is a computer, I think we'll have [the hard disk] preinstalled with Linux as a bonus.

Kutaragi said the PS3 will run operating systems as applications. "The kernel will be running on the Cell, and multiple OSes will be running on top of that as applications. Of course, the PS3 can run Linux. If Linux can run, so can Lindows. Other PC Operating Systems can run too, such as Windows and (Mac OS) Tiger, if the publishers want to do so. Maybe a new OS might come out," he adds.

He says that providing hard disk with the PS3 will permit the, um, console, to be used as a computer - for applications beyond gaming. Video editing and photo retouching are examples of applications that could be run on a Linux-powered PS3, he suggests.

It is not yet clear whether a hard disk will ship with the PS3 as standard or whether it will be and optional extra. "There are still some issues if the machine doesn't come with a hard disk," said Kutaragi. "We've added a 2.5-inch HDD bay so that users can add hard disks, such as 80GB and 120GB," he said.

The Xbox 360 is expected to ship with a 20GB hard drive as standard. It is not expected to be running Linux.

The Inquirer

Nic · 11-06-2005, 03:45 PM

Well thats a big boost for both the ps3 and linux

Exfoliate · 11-06-2005, 05:40 PM

Not a bad move there Sony, "Lindows"? Never heard of that one, what is it, Linux + Windows? Either way Nic's right that should give the PS3 further leverage over the Box and it's little 20gig drive w/o an OS.

ninja fetus · 11-06-2005, 06:47 PM

lindows is very much like windows, yet still a linux distro. It's very easy for windows users to switch over to lindwos-so I hear.

Exfoliate · 11-06-2005, 07:12 PM

Cool, are there compatability issues with say, apps like PS or games, I imagine there would be.

Addis · 12-06-2005, 05:05 PM

Basically linux with a windows feel. I think they had legal problems and changed to Linspire.

Anti-Trend · 13-06-2005, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addis

Basically linux with a windows feel. I think they had legal problems and changed to Linspire.

Not so much legal problems (they were winning the case) as problems with a huge company that didn't like them. MS ended up paying them like $30million to change their name to Linspire. IMHO, one of the worst Linux distros. Are you sure the PS3 will run Linspire? If so, you could you point me to a link? Thanks.

Edit: NM, I see it in the article. I hope he's just using it for an example and not implying that that is the OS which will ship on the HDD. Of course, Mandriva 2005LE comes with a precompiled kernel to run on the XBOX, so there will likely be some choice as to what flavor of Linux (and maybe BSD) you run on the PS3. Unless we enter the Twilight Zone, I don't think MS will ever port Windows to the PS3 in a million years.

-AT

Addis · 13-06-2005, 03:48 PM

Yea probably just using an example. I'm not too bothered what distro it uses, as long as tis stable, and easy to use and functional.

ninja fetus · 13-06-2005, 07:26 PM

I want the distro to be able to run games, watch movies, store music on hard drive and atleast internet browsing and maybe some messaging. Just games would be a waste of distro.

syngod · 14-06-2005, 10:49 PM

Chances are it will be Red Hat since that is the dist. Sony put out for PlayStation 2 Linux when it was available.

Can find out more info here.

ninja fetus · 14-06-2005, 10:52 PM

I don't like redhat

Exfoliate · 14-06-2005, 11:05 PM

Red Hat? Really, wow I thought that was pricey stuff I don't know how MS can manage to keep this thing at $500 when the gfx card alone should cost that much.

syngod · 14-06-2005, 11:22 PM

You can get Red Hat for free. Red Hat's business model is charging for support, and for their Enterprise Edition.

Think you meant Sony instead of MS. But on a cost basis MS is still losing money on every Xbox sold, Sony has got the PS 2 now to where they are making money but it's nothing new to lose money on the consoles. They make it up on the licensing side, so you take a couple hundred dollar loss on the HW side and hope you make it up on the software side.

Exfoliate · 14-06-2005, 11:27 PM

Free really, I must have seen some server edition thing. Yeah, sorry Sony, I was thinking of the xbox 360 for some reason. I know that the gamecube is probably in the same boat too, nobody buys that puppy anymore.

Addis · 17-06-2005, 03:12 PM

The gamecube just didnt really have the sex appeal that the PS2 had. Don't know why but there just wasn't the urge to buy a gamecube especially since PS2 has a huge games selection.

11-06-2005, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	PS3 HD may run Linux SONY COMPUTER Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi has suggested the upcoming Playstation 3 will come equipped with a hard disk. And the hard disk may come with Linux pre-installed. Kutaragi is miffed that the likes of Nintendo and Microsoft won't call their consoles computers. Nintendo, he complains to Japanese site Impress PC Watch, "keeps telling the world their consoles are 'toys'," while Microsoft keeps calling the Xbox a "game machine". "We're positioning the PS3 as a supercomputer", he says, "But people won't recognize it as a computer unless we call it a computer, so we're going to run an OS on it. In fact, the Cell can run multiple OSes. In order to run the OSes, we need a hard disk. So in order to declare that the PS3 is a computer, I think we'll have [the hard disk] preinstalled with Linux as a bonus. Kutaragi said the PS3 will run operating systems as applications. "The kernel will be running on the Cell, and multiple OSes will be running on top of that as applications. Of course, the PS3 can run Linux. If Linux can run, so can Lindows. Other PC Operating Systems can run too, such as Windows and (Mac OS) Tiger, if the publishers want to do so. Maybe a new OS might come out," he adds. He says that providing hard disk with the PS3 will permit the, um, console, to be used as a computer - for applications beyond gaming. Video editing and photo retouching are examples of applications that could be run on a Linux-powered PS3, he suggests. It is not yet clear whether a hard disk will ship with the PS3 as standard or whether it will be and optional extra. "There are still some issues if the machine doesn't come with a hard disk," said Kutaragi. "We've added a 2.5-inch HDD bay so that users can add hard disks, such as 80GB and 120GB," he said. The Xbox 360 is expected to ship with a 20GB hard drive as standard. It is not expected to be running Linux. The Inquirer __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

11-06-2005, 03:45 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Nic Sleepy Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 18 Female Posts: 2,470 Times Helpful: 21 My Mood: Sleepy Status: Offline My Computer	Well thats a big boost for both the ps3 and linux __________________

11-06-2005, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Not a bad move there Sony, "Lindows"? Never heard of that one, what is it, Linux + Windows? Either way Nic's right that should give the PS3 further leverage over the Box and it's little 20gig drive w/o an OS. __________________

11-06-2005, 07:12 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Cool, are there compatability issues with say, apps like PS or games, I imagine there would be. __________________

12-06-2005, 05:05 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Basically linux with a windows feel. I think they had legal problems and changed to Linspire. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

11-06-2005, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 3,525 Times Helpful: 70 Status: Offline My Computer	lindows is very much like windows, yet still a linux distro. It's very easy for windows users to switch over to lindwos-so I hear.

13-06-2005, 03:48 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Yea probably just using an example. I'm not too bothered what distro it uses, as long as tis stable, and easy to use and functional. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

13-06-2005, 07:26 PM	#9 (permalink) Top
ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 3,525 Times Helpful: 70 Status: Offline My Computer	I want the distro to be able to run games, watch movies, store music on hard drive and atleast internet browsing and maybe some messaging. Just games would be a waste of distro.

14-06-2005, 10:49 PM	#10 (permalink) Top
syngod Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 949 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Stressed Status: Offline My Computer	Chances are it will be Red Hat since that is the dist. Sony put out for PlayStation 2 Linux when it was available. Can find out more info here. __________________ DVD Collection

14-06-2005, 10:52 PM	#11 (permalink) Top
ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 3,525 Times Helpful: 70 Status: Offline My Computer	I don't like redhat

14-06-2005, 11:05 PM	#12 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Red Hat? Really, wow I thought that was pricey stuff I don't know how MS can manage to keep this thing at $500 when the gfx card alone should cost that much. __________________

14-06-2005, 11:22 PM	#13 (permalink) Top
syngod Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 949 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Stressed Status: Offline My Computer	You can get Red Hat for free. Red Hat's business model is charging for support, and for their Enterprise Edition. Think you meant Sony instead of MS. But on a cost basis MS is still losing money on every Xbox sold, Sony has got the PS 2 now to where they are making money but it's nothing new to lose money on the consoles. They make it up on the licensing side, so you take a couple hundred dollar loss on the HW side and hope you make it up on the software side. __________________ DVD Collection

14-06-2005, 11:27 PM	#14 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Free really, I must have seen some server edition thing. Yeah, sorry Sony, I was thinking of the xbox 360 for some reason. I know that the gamecube is probably in the same boat too, nobody buys that puppy anymore. __________________

17-06-2005, 03:12 PM	#15 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	The gamecube just didnt really have the sex appeal that the PS2 had. Don't know why but there just wasn't the urge to buy a gamecube especially since PS2 has a huge games selection. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

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