Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.20010726095414.00c9eeb0@mail.dslonramp.com> Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 09:54:20 -0500 From: Bradley Miller <bradmiller@dslonramp.com> Subject: PS2 Box ?
Saw this and thought I'd pass it along:
ExtremeTech CTO
CORE TECHNOLOGY ONLINE
Wednesday, July 25th
www.extremetech.com
* Sony May Market Linux Kit for the PlayStation2 in US:
A Linux kit available for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) from Sony
currently available in Japan may hit American shores in the
coming months. A survey on Sony's site to gauge US interest
also lists the kit's components, which include:
DVD-ROM containing Beta Release 1 of Linux for PS2
40GB Hard Disc Drive
10 BASE-T/100 BASE-TX Ethernet Interface
USB Keyboard
USB Mouse
PlayStation 2 VGA AV Connector (HD 15 plus Stereo Audio) - requires
"sync on green" monitor
This seems to be aimed primarily at hobbyists and Linux twiddlers
looking for a lean/mean box on which to run the open-source OS.
Given its stringent licensing requirements, and that essentially
all revenue comes from game sales (Sony loses money on every PS2
box it sells), it's unlikely that Sony would be looking for Linux-
based games for PS2. Instead, Sony may be trying to create another
incentive to buy a PS2 (a cheap, fast Linux box), and the upside for
Sony would presumably be additional sales of PS2 games for when the
box wasn't running Linux. How long will it take some Linux maven to
boot that OS on Microsoft's upcoming Xbox? slated to ship in October.
And, if being able to run a Linux distro on these consoles boosts
hardware and game sales, could it be that console makers have a new-
found friend in Linux? -- Dave Salvator
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