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There's a thread on this over on the PS2-Linux community forum, although it looks like it ain't working yet. If anyone can help out, please do! I've been using Dillo on my PS2Linux, and it works fine, but isn't really an industrial-strength browser.

I've put up a mirror on playstation2-linux.com. You may also want to check out the official site which is, of course, http://playstation2-linux.com

I've put up a mirror on playstation2-linux.com. You may also want to check out the official site which is, of course, http://playstation2-linux.com

"Isn't this the SAME Sony that is pushing "copy protected" CD look-a-likes in an effort to eliminate your fair use rights? And you purchase their products? Doesn't that just tell them that what they're doing is OK?

Or is that Sony an evil twin from the mirror universe?"

It is. It's got the real Sony locked in a basement porting linux and netbsd.

That's the difference between Good and Evil.

Would rather have the PS2, run linux, pleay PS1 games, PS2 games, ad DVD's.
$200 for the box, $200 for the Linux Kit, and a freaking huge game library. Not a bad deal.

This is a software kit, the playstation 2 kit is hardware and software. See this faq for details

Well... you could always get a PS2 and run Linux on that.
I'm hoping for Sony to drop the PS2 prices as well, at least until they put MS out of business...

Push to test." (click) "Release to detonate..."

From Linux for Playstation 2

What are the differences between the Linux (for PlayStation 2) development environment and that used by professional game developers?

The final major difference between the two is the operating system. A licensed developer creates games for the PlayStation 2 which use a light weight proprietary operating system kernel. This kernel offers much less functionality than Linux, but has the advantage of offering slightly faster access to the hardware.

re: No "Runtime Environment" to go through.

The code on the bootloader, which runs before the kernel gets loaded, is basically a NT-like hardware abstraction layer that prevents you from getting direct register-level access to the GS (graphics/sound coprocessor) chip

That's not entirely true. The GS is the Graphics Synthesizer, and has nothing to do with sound. It's completely accessable. The SPU, for sound, has an interface. You probably want to check out the faq.

What are the differences between the Linux (for PlayStation 2) development environment and that used by professional game developers?

Professional game developers get access to a special version of the PlayStation 2 hardware which contains more memory and extra debug facilities. This hardware, known as the T10K, is a lot more expensive than a commercial PlayStation 2 and is only available to licensed game developers. If you are seriously interested in becoming a licensed game developer, please see this link for North America and this link for Europe and Australasia . In addition to the T10K, licensed game developers get additional support which is part of the reason that the T10K is so much more expensive than a PlayStation 2 console.

In terms of access to the PlayStation 2 hardware and libraries, Linux (for PlayStation 2) offers an almost identical set of functionality to that provided to licensed game developers. In fact the system manuals provided with the Linux kit have identical content to 6 of the 7 system manuals provided to licensed developers. The missing information which is provided to licensed developers and not to users of Linux (for PlayStation 2) describes the hardware that controls the CD/DVD-ROM, SPU2 Audio chip and other IO peripheral control hardware. This hardware functionality is still available for use with the linux kit through a software interface called the Runtime Environment.

The final major difference between the two is the operating system. A licensed developer creates games for the PlayStation 2 which use a light weight proprietary operating system kernel. This kernel offers much less functionality than Linux, but has the advantage of offering slightly faster access to the hardware.

In most cases, it is possible to get almost the same performance with Linux (for PlayStation 2) and the professional game development tools.

The other posts I'm reading say that you'll be denied this low-level hardware access you speak of.

Main processors (including MIPS core & FPU, vector units), graphics synth, DMA controller and MPEG decoder will be available, with specs and programming examples. So, the heart of the Emotion Engine is all yours. However, there is a run-time environment (RTE) that will handle other stuff, like sound processor, IO processor, DVD, hard disk, controllers, memory card, USB etc. They can't be accessed directly, but there are kernel device drivers, and the RTE API is available. On the downside, there's no firewire support in RTE, at least yet.

These protected parts include of course all the proprietary and copy-protection related stuff. The actual documentation for other parts should be the very same that official registered developers have.

For a lot of other stuff about PS2 Linux read the FAQ.

Linux for Playstation 2 Community

Pre-Order Linux for PS-2

The irony is that the PS2 does have firewire/usb ports, expansion slots for a hard drive, network addons, and the ability to hook up to CRT monitors (don't know about LCDs). The PS2 Linux Kit available for preorder will basically be a desktop computer. It's already out in Japan, and you can do quite a few things with it if you are dedicated. Want to play MP3s, type up documents, use external CD burners/hard disks (via USB), use it as a NFS server/client, program games for it, or browse the web? It's pretty much all there.

As for buying a computer, the majority of people hardly upgrade anything more than RAM and maybe a hard disk, so a console could conceivably be the next wave of computers. It sure would make programming "easier" with a non-moving hardware platform much like how Apple's computers are.

I just read a post here written by someone at SCEA confirming that CeBIT required all PlayStations to be removed from the show floor - even though they were not showing any games. (You can't play games at CeBIT, which I understand and agree with - but the Linux kit isn't a video game.) She even mentions that the signs with the apology could not mention the name PlayStation - they had to refer to it as "our computer system".

This was a gadget I was wanting to hear about from CeBIT, too bad I won't be able to.

I saw the news at PlanetPS2 that Sony will be releasing Linux for Playstation2, that sounds like a great idea. Here's a link if you wanto know What is Linux for PS2? I can use Playstation2 Linux to replace my old PC now instead of upgrading to a new one. If I can get AbiWord to work on it and find a printer that works with it I can write all my papers on it! Imagine the look on my roomate's face when I bring my Playstation2 up with amonitor and start working on a paper. :-o

But what else is new? It's same thing with DVDs, X-Boxs, etc. We don't have one big market (not yet..). Just many small ones, and that's what costs.

We are aiming this kit and this site at smart people... We are trusting them to be curious and capable enough to explore together and support each other in the way the Linux community have proven they can in the past, without demanding that we stop what we're doing to support them. We are trusting them not to take what we're offering and turn around and screw us with it. We're not running a school for game programmers, just trying to provide the means for you to learn on our hardware. If all you want to do is be warez h0zer with it, that sucks and we're unhappy about it; we have no way to stop you but hopefully you'll have the common courtesy not to rip us off using our own site.

A website has been set up at this place.

That phrase suggests that the site was just created (which is not true, as the site was already mentioned at this comment, and it seems that the site is up since January 1st, at least) and by Sony, which I doubt (the site looks more like an unofficial community site). In fact, a whois query shows that:

#whois playstation2-linux.com
[whois.crsnic.net]

Whois Server Version 1.3

Domain names in the .com, .net, and .org domains can now be registered with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net for detailed information.

Domain Name: PLAYSTATION2-LINUX.COM
Registrar: TUCOWS, INC.
Whois Server: whois.opensrs.net
Referral URL: http://www.opensrs.org
Name Server: NS1.SCEA.COM
Name Server: NS2.SCEA.COM
Updated Date: 15-jan-2002

The kits comes with a 40gb hard drive... The memory card is mountable as a drive for convenience, but it's far from the only place to put your files. Try reading the FAQ: Linux (for PlayStation 2) FAQ

No, no, no. That is simply not true. As documented at this playstation community web site (set up to support ps2 linux). While the complete hardware specification is indeed not made available, the device drivers (with source code) allow access to the restricted i/o devices. So you WILL have access to the hard disk, although you won't be able to make cd/dvds that you can read on the ps2.

Also, while the i/o and sound subsystems are wrapped up in the RTE, by contrast the EE cpu, the vector units, the DMAC and the GS are not only fully open for you to play with, but their specs are provided in the proper system manuals (provided on disc) and libs tools and source code are provided to help you use them. Put another way, you have full access to the graphics and cpu side of ps2. This is great for anyone wanting to play with the ps2s awesome graphics power, and a real opportunity for anyone wanting to get into games development!

• Internal hard disc drive (for PlayStation 2) (HDD) with a 40 GB capacity
• Network Adaptor (Ethernet) (for PlayStation 2) 100 Base T Ethernet interface
• Computer Monitor Cable (for PlayStation 2) (with audio connectors)
• USB Keyboard (for PlayStation 2)
• USB Mouse (for PlayStation 2)
• Linux (for PlayStation 2) version 1.0 software distribution on 2 DVD-ROM Discs,
• 
  
  • DISC 1 contains the Runtime Environment and the PlayStation 2 System Manuals and is Sony Computer Entertainment Copyright material
    
  • DISC 2 contains the Software Packages to be installed. This is the main Linux distribution. Each software package has its own license.

*Sigh*

From the PS2 Linux FAQ:

Can I use a TV as my display ?

Yes. However, it is necessary to install Linux (for PlayStation 2) for the first time using a compatible VESA Monitor that supports "sync on green". Once Linux has been installed, it is possible to configure it to boot using TV display from then on. Some digital TV (DTV) modes are also supported (separate cables may be required for DTV).

Yes it is. Chack the FAQ at this site and you'll see that it requires a PS2. And what are those USB ports for? Good looks?

Give me a fucking break. Sony's in complete compliance with the GPL in this case; this has nothing to do with testing the GPL in court. Go see the FAQ and forums at the PlayStation2 Linux Community site for more information before letting the froth and spittle run down your chin.

Many of the questions posed in the forum are answered in the FAQ at http://playstation2-linux.com/faq.php. I'll try to answer other questions as time allows, but I'm at LWCE today. Stop by and say Hi if you like, I'll be in the Sony booth. I've made some performance tweaks to the website, let's see if we can avoid slashdotting for a little longer...

Actually if you read the FAQ that is linked to in the article. They specifically addressed the issue of being able to run it on your TV. YES, you can run it on your TV, but for the initial setup of PS2 Linux you must use a monitor. From then on, however, you can use your television.

The press release nor either of the PS2 web sites appeared to mention source code, as far as I could see. So I asked for a clarification.

Color me impressed. Not only did I receive a reply within minutes, but they are indeed fully abiding by the GPL.

This forum message contains the reply with a bit more info.

Thanks, Sony!

Can I use a TV as my display ?

Yes. However, it is necessary to install Linux (for PlayStation 2) for the first time using a compatible VESA Monitor that supports "sync on green". Once Linux has been installed, it is possible to configure it to boot using TV display from then on. Some digital TV (DTV) modes are also supported (separate cables may be required for DTV).

Which Display Resolutions are supported ?

NTSC/PAL interlaced and non-interlaced

DTV 480P, 720P and 1080I modes

VESA modes 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 at 60/75 Hz

More:
Linux (for PlayStation®2) Version 1.0 FAQ

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Hurray and be registered user 6!

For those who are interested, this is the place to go. Every 'community' like /. stated as one or two guys with an idea...

In other words, the site is kinda small right now.

It helps if you, like, smoke a lot of weed.