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I always thought the XBox linux cluster was a better way of sticking it to MS. If the hardware is cheaper than you can actually buy it, then buy it, warp it to your own ends, and laugh all the way to the bank.

Most certainly so... http://www.shadowflux.com/xbox.html

Is this what you're talking about?

Oh you mean like this?

So... I don't have to imagine a beowulf cluster of these!

"Mod chips have only one signficant purpose: Copyright infringement.

Mod chips do not permit you to make your own games, you need a devkit to do that."



There is an Open Source, Free, Legal Xbox Development Kit. And not only that but once you installed Linux on the Xbox you can program with regular development tools because you do not program for the "W2K modified for Xbox" that natively run on a Xbox anymore but for Linux.

Then there other legitimate uses to name a few:

Backup of the games that you purchase:

Do you have kids? Kids throw there cds and carry them in a bags with rock and nails. Like for anything else they usually learn after they break a couple of ones but you still have to pay for the first ones. The mod chip allow you to play the backup you make. Without the mod chip your backup is useless. I think this is a legitimate use

Installing Linux

With a mod chip you can install Linux and from there you can install a plethora of new options to your Xbox and transform it in a Media Center. According to toms Hardware review this media center is even better than most "top-of-the-range DVD player's" that you can buy.

Hardware mods

Install a bigger hardware, plug a keyboard an a mousse.

Make an Xbox Cluster

Xbox Cluster

Now I know it's also possible to do many of those things without a mod chip by simply flashing the bios with a special homebrew bios but it is a delicate operation and then you can't play your games anymore. The mod chip allow you to tinker with your Xbox and continue to use it as a gaming console.

Now I know that the DMCA restrict to do many of those things and the debate is not if the DMCA allow us to do them or not but if the DMCA is a blatant abuse that protect the corporations but do not care of the regular citizen.

The Xbox has already been clustered. While it's not $99, it shows that modern consoles have more functionality than they're perhaps designed for.

Try this.

Yeah, I'd like to see report (with photos) on a three-way cluster of them!

Now I just need to find a university to give me funding....

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trolling for jesus