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Sony Announces Version 1.0 Of Linux for Playstation 2

Posted by timothy on from the uncrackable-web-server dept.

ResearchBuzz writes: "Sony has announced the May 2002 release of Linux (for Playstation 2) Release 1.0." He quotes from the press release: "The company expects the kit to sell for about $199 USD when it is made available in May 2002 exclusively through its website, http://www.us.playstation.com."

11 of 458 comments (clear)

  1. Not on TV, Requires Sync on Green by srw · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is this really useful? You need a monitor which supports Sync-on-green to use this. I guess we won't be able to use this as a set-top box.

    1. Re:Not on TV, Requires Sync on Green by fliplap · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Actually, old Sync-on-green monitors are very very cheap. I've met places that are giving away 21" old x-term monitors, almost all of which are sync-on-green.

      And, IIRC, you can still use this with a normal TV, you just won't get that great of resolution. I'm not sure how it would work with say a 1080i HDTV.

  2. here is a good question... by AnimeFreak · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Considering there is a hard disk and a operation system that is developed by "hackers," what is stopping someone from creating a bootloader for Linux to boot PS2/PSX burns (let it be a DVD-R/CDR).

    I don't see why it would not be possible to do so unless they have really done a good job putting protections into place.

  3. PS2-linux URL by gkbarr · · Score: 3, Interesting
    playstation2-linux.com

    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.

    --
    Sapere Aude - Homer
  4. Re:Don't fret the $199 by slashdot.org · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All of the hardware can be had for well under $100

    And this is exactly why Linux won't make it bigtime,- there's no money in it. I'm sorry to be so negative (but I'm sure the Karma Police will fix that) but here's a company that's actually doing something kewl, and what do they get? People bitching about 2 hundred fucking dollars.

    Have you looked a M$ XP license recently?

    I mean, what do you expect? Sony people preparing each individual kit by purchasing used gear from eBay???

    Show me an other company selling an add-on kit including harddrive, keyboard, mouse and network adaptor AND an OS for $200,-

  5. Television output by Linux+Freak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    According to the press release, ``The graphics output requires a high-resolution computer display, with standard output set as XGA (1024 x 768 resolution); home televisions cannot be used as monitors."

    This is the only thing that bugs me (well, aside from the fact that I live in Japan and this won't run on my Japanese PS/2, and the Japanese version of the kit is high near impossible to obtain). I don't really _need_ a monitor (I'd just ssh in from my main workstation) but I would really like to be able to, say, watch streaming video on my TV. (Example: Star Trek Enterprise won't be showing in Japan for like, another 2 years. I have been grabbing eps from the 'net and watching them on my crappy 17" LCD monitor, while my 24" TV sits there idle.)

    Anybody know more about this? Surely the development of a driver to push video through the RCA video hookup wouldn't be too difficult?

  6. Re:Kit... by baka_boy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    But, looking at Apple's DVD-R compatibility list, they say that a PS2 works fine.

    Unfortunately, I'm sure that Sony won't allow redistribution of their accellerated X server; otherwise, you might be able to ship pure Linux game packages on DVD-R.

  7. Re:Don't fret the $199 by fireboy1919 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Umm...they do provide all the hardware except the TV or monitor.

    It comes with a 40 GB hard drive, network card, 2 Linux DVDs, a VGA interface adapter, a mouse, and a keyboard. This is a competitive rate for all of this stuff. Plus, you have the guarantee of compatibility.

    What else were you planning on putting into your playstation? A floppy drive?

    This is a competitive product; most applications don't need a powerful processor, and it really is a full fledged computer which even has an edge for gaming with the built-in hardware. Is $300 too much to pay for a fully loaded computer?
    I gotta tell you, I'd never buy a playstation for just the games. But I'd buy one that I could use to run games AND a mature operating system.

    --
    Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
  8. Sony abides by GPL by jgarzik · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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!

  9. They want to sell me my own code? by thogard · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've been contributing to open source projects for 15 years and now these jokers want to sell me that code back?

    I don't think thats quite right.

  10. Re:No by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yes you can...

    Sorry, But I have seen a PS2 that was chipped cold boot to a DVD backup of Kolona 2. It happily booted the DVD and started the game. Only a un-modified PS2 display's this behaivoir... mods that correct these little bugs make everything alright....

    but then again.... How the hell does it boot a origional DVD disc when modified to boot from a backup?

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.