Linux for the PS2 in May. $199 with 40 GB, 100BT, etc.

Post #26,518 by Another Scott 1/30/02 10:49:13 AM Reply	Linux for the PS2 in May. $199 with 40 GB, 100BT, etc. [link\|http://www.theinquirer.net/30010204.htm\|Here] at The Inquirer. Release 1.0 will include an internal 40GB drive for the PS2, a 100Base T Ethernet adaptor, the Linux kernel 2.2.1 with USB device support, software distribution on two DVDs, gcc 2.95.2 and glibc 2.2.2 with VU assemblers, Xfree86 3.3.6 with PS2 GS support, a computer monitor adaptor and a USB keyboard and mouse. Sony said today that users have to have standard North American PS2s, and you can't use your home TV as a monitor. Sounds like another reason to seriously consider a PS2. Hmmm.... :-) Of course, you'd still have to shell out $299 for the PS2 to add all this stuff to. Cheers, Scott.
Post #26,545 by ben_tilly 1/30/02 1:40:51 PM Reply	Turnabout is fair play Yes, I have Linux, but I only run it for the games. :-) Cheers, Ben
Post #26,791 by SpiceWare 1/31/02 11:33:13 PM Reply	It also makes a nice DVD player I used the PS2 as my DVD player until just recently. I upgraded to a "progressive" DVD player that works better with my HDTV. As the name suggests, it creates a progressive image(just like your computer) instead of an interlaced image. Here's a good [link\|http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/dvd-benchmark-part-5-progressive-10-2000.html\|site] to explain how progess DVDs benefit you. The Linux kit looks interesting. Think I might pick it up. Darrell Spice, Jr. [link\|http://home.houston.rr.com/spiceware/\|SpiceWare] - We don't do Windows, it's too much of a chore
Post #26,819 by nking 2/1/02 8:34:56 AM Reply	But for $500USD you could just buy a PC and then install Linux on it. What is the advantage of spending $500USD on a PS2X and the Linux hardware/software upgrade besides being able to play Playstation games and DVDs on it? For under $500 I was able to get a 1Ghz AMD Thunderbird CPU, ATX motherboard, ATX case, 512M of SDRAM, 10G hard drive, TNT2 AGP video adapter, Sound Blaster 128 PCI card, DVD drive, and Realtek PCI 10/100 Ethernet adapter. I have both Bleem and VGS which can play the Playstation games in emulation (I bought them last year, long before I lost my job and long before Sony had those emulators taken off the market). Bleem can even do some PSX2 games with the DVD drive. It sounds to me like Sony wants the PSX2 to compete with the PC market, the $299USD Linux upgrade sounds smart; however, PC parts are so cheap that it may be better to get a cheap PC instead. Still the Linux PSX2 will most likely to be used to run someone's web site? ;) "Will code Visual BASIC for cash."
Post #26,872 by ben_tilly 2/1/02 1:05:12 PM Reply	There are some nice benefits - and threats It is the first 64-bit general-purpose computer aimed directly at the home market. There are big questions about how everyone else is planning to handle the 64-bit wall. Sony is trying to take that and sew up the PC business. It doesn't run just some PS 2 games. When PS 3 comes out, you can bet this will upgrade with it. At the suggested prices, if anyone offers serious competition, Sony can drop the price very fast and still sell at a huge profit. If you [link\|http://www.actsofgord.com/Proclamations/chapter02.html\|believe The Gord], Sony probably makes about $120 per PS 2 sold. You can bet they have a nice profit margin on this upgrade as well. If they think they need it, they can reduce prices by a lot. (They won't unless they need to though.) Furthermore for many people, their playstation comes first, and the computer comes second. For that market Sony is selling a $300 computer which won't cause additional clutter. If all goes according to Sony's plan, in 10 years Microsoft will be ancient history, along with Intel, AMD, and all of the OEMs. I am not betting against them. Cheers, Ben
Post #26,933 by pwhysall 2/1/02 10:55:53 PM Reply	Re: But for $500USD you could just buy a PC Sure you can. But it won't go next to your TV, and it won't be black, and it won't play PS2 games. And it's still $200 more than a PS2. Remember this : no-one understands the consumer electronics market like Sony. No-one. Microsoft haven't got a snowball's chance in hell going into this market against this competitor. X-Box is toast. And so, if Sony's plan comes off, is the general purpose home PC. Peter Shill For Hire [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org\|There is no K5 Cabal]
Post #26,949 by static 2/2/02 12:35:19 AM Reply	Indeed. Microsoft are a little afraid to admit it, but in the Home space, Sony is Microsoft's biggest enemy. One who's already said "No" to Microsoft at least once. Wade. "All around me are nothing but fakes Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
Post #27,102 by Meerkat 2/3/02 6:45:49 PM Reply	And in a way, I wish them luck. But whenif Sony own the home computer/game/thingy market, will there be any escape at all from Digital Rights Manglement? Microsoft may own the OS market, but they don't own content on the scale the Sony does. Still, it'll be a nice change having a different evil overlord to whinge about :-) On and on and on and on, and on and on and on goes John.

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