Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> Free Linux on PS3 this year
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | What's more, if you wait a little while it won't actually cost
> | anything. Terra Soft's "YDL.net" service users (who pay a fee)
> | will be able to get it first, as a PC distribution that allows
> | for the creation of a PS3 install-disc; then two weeks later
> | you'll be able to order ready-made PS3 install discs for a cost;
> | and another two weeks after that the PS3 distribution will be
> | released onto public mirrors.
> `----
>
> http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=68795
>
> $600 for a powerful gaming box and a virus-free computer seems
> like a bargain all of a sudden.
Microsoft made a big mistake when they decided to take on Sony
directly. Keep in mind that Sony is the people who brought you the
VCR, the Walkman, the CD, the DVD, and numerous other leading-edge
high-technology consumer products, and then licensed them to numerous
other companies.
Sony introduced Linux for the PS/2 a few years back, and Microsoft
retaliated by coming out with the XBox and later the XBox/360. But in
doing so, they pulled the tail of a sleeping tiger.
Sony also makes the Vaio line, and still makes the PS2, and a number of
other personal electronics devices.
Sony has also been very well known for it's ability to take competitors
by surprise, for their ability to generate a market, often within 6-12
months, and drive that market to astronomical levels by COOPERATING
with their competitors.
If Sony decides that Linux is their future, and that Microsoft is no
longer an acceptable "partner", they could begin shipping their VAIO
line with Linux, and having it displayed on Retailer shelves. If the
other OEMs do not follow suit, Sony could begin licenscing it's
technology to Phillips, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sharp, and numerous others,
who could make Linux, not Microsoft, their sole operating system.
Sony probably won't telegraph their intent. One day, the PS/3 will
just run games, the VAIO will run Windows, and Linux will be "an
interesting curiousity". But just as quickly, Sony could flip to Linux
on every PS3 and/or on every VAIO. These machines will be expensive,
much the same as the first Betamax VCRs, the first Walkmans, and the
first CD players were expensive. Sony has shown that it's capable of
leading the market, even when they are introducing technology created
by other companies (who didn't have the fortitude to introduce their
own products).
> ,----[ Further quote ]
> | As well as a single-click install mode for Linux newbies,
> | Terra Soft will include an advanced installer. The operating
> | system itself is based on the Fedora Core 5, with an integrated
> | E17 desktop, and bundled FireFox 1.5.0, Thunderbird 1.5.0,
> | OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 and other applications.
> `----
Looks like it could be a winner to me.
I'm sure that the Microsoftees will disagree.
> This brings computing to some households that previously had no PC/s.
This is probably the biggest challenge. There are 300,000 people in
the United States. There are about 7 Billion world-wide. There are
less than 1 billion computers.
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