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Linux for the PlayStation 1
OberonX writes: "Blockman Trading has released the alpha version of Runix,
which is a working verion of Linux 2.4 kernel working with PS2. [ed. note: for the original Playstation, though they plan on porting to the PS2 also.] You can read
an article about it at zdnet and you can download the 26MB file here.
The final version is expected to be released by October while office software
for PS1 is due by the end of the year. Pretty neat stuff..."
Linux on a PS2 (IMHO would rule...)
In our business we use MIPS based SGI equipment for doing image manipulation. I believe it wouldn't take much work to port those libraries to the PS2. We use a simple cluster of XMLRPC servers to handle image conversion requests and the data is transfered over simple NFS style filesystems.
The problem I have right now is that the image conversions have to happen on demand and in real time (well, there is a user waiting). Most of the images on the fastest PC's I can get my hands on happen in around 2 seconds. (I use Image magick, there are probably better things out there). On the Irix machine we have we can do the same conversion less than
I believe that the reason the SGI machine does so well is because of the internal bandwidth and system architecture, not so much the CPU speed. (Again, AFAIK).
Now, if I can use 13-14 playstation2's in a small cluster to get similar results (even close) would be MUCH MUCH MUCH more cost effective than a Origin class server.
Strangely enough those little machines are designed to maintain a fairly intense sustained level of io/cpu internaly without keeling over.
Just a thought... anyway. It might very well be the pro-c compilers for Irix give me the edge and with GCC I wouldn't see much of a performance gain over a normal ia32 system.
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Would you like a Python based alternative to PHP/ASP/JSP?
Go back and read any of the 10 million previous debates on this subject. Every time they post something about a port to a console, this debate gets run through again. Here, in a nutshell, are some of the main reasons:
1. M.A.M.E. -- run a bazillion and one arcade games with a nice controller from your couch
2. XMMS -- burn off a CD of a bootable kernel, audio drivers and XMMS with a CD full of MP3s and you've got an MP3 player hooked up to your home theater
3. Because it is there. Why the hell not port it? If you don't want to use it, it's quite simple -- don't. I know a lot of people who enjoy getting things ported just for the fun of it -- why not see the linux boot screen scrolling by on your television? Seems pretty cool to me.
On May 30th, "The Register" had the same article with the same problem of confusing "1" with "2". The Register has since pulled the article alltogether (this distribution has been available for more than a month -- not big news).
I downloaded the kernel -- it's for the PlayStation I only. The PS2 version should be available in a month.
When I die, please cast my ashes upon Bill Gates -- for once, make him clean up after me!
Productivity Software? Are you nuts?
[right] [left] [left] [right] [up] [button 3] [right] [up] [up]...
Be quiet! I need to finish this report tonight!!!
And I thought typing on that half-keyboard mentioned here a few days ago was going to be hard!
I've often dreamed of being able to use a gamepad at work, but not for office productivity software.
Special Relativity: The person in the other queue thinks yours is moving faster.
Ok I have Linux for my Dreamcast -- Linux for the ps2 and ps1....Linux for my toaster, etc, etc....I have yet to here of anyone porting MAME to run on these....(Sound support, Joypad Support, and acceptable speed please....) Has anyone worked on this --- or do they just port the base OS and move on to the next toy...Hell if the OS was all that mattered I would be running CP/M or maybe even BeOS.....It's the apps that make the world go round.
(+1 Funny) only if I laugh out loud.
Just a brief note here, but at E3 (the Electronics Entertainment Expo) the Sony area had two AOL employees demonstrating AOL on the PS2 running linux. Additionally, there was an ethernet card adapter "thingie" (for lack of a better term) stuck on the back. From what I could tell, it was a production unit rather than a one-off. The demo personnel said there would be an ethernet adapter for PS2 out "soon". Unfortunately, the folks working that corner of the booth were from AOL (despite their PS2 shirts) and were not 100% familiar with Sony's plans.
Morgan
A sig?!? I don't think so.....
We now need to build a PS1 emulator so that it can run all the stuff it used to run in emulation mode, only slower!!! No more constant crashing of the PS1 console! Er, um, wait....
+5:offtopic,but anti-American
The aim, according to Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs, is to "transform [the] Apple G4 and G4 Cube into a full-featured, high-priced gaming console".
This is a joke. Don't find it funny? move on.
~
"It appears that you're searching for ancient treasure! Would you like me to: