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PS3 Apparently A Computer
Rinzai writes to mention an article on Gamasutra, noting a statement by Ken Kutaragi where the CEO states that the PS3 is a computer, not a console. From the article: "He went on to outline a scenario where many parts of the PS3 were upgradeable, much more like a PC, noting: 'Since PS3 is a computer, there are no models but configurations', and continuing (though talking in the theoretical): 'I think it's okay to release a [extended PS3] configuration every year'. It's clear from the comments that Sony is indicating that it will be possible to upgrade hard drives and perhaps even other components easily."
Atari VCS: Atari, Spectravideo, and Perphial Visions Inc. all tried to create a keyboard for it. Only the Spectravideo keyboard made it to market. Only the Spectravision keyboard made it to market. It flopped.
Intellivision: Mattel promised from day 1 that the Intellivision would be able to be turned into a full computer by adding a special keyboard component. Unfortunately, the component proved too expensive to manufacture. When Mattel was finally forced to release the product due to an FTC fine, nearly every unit was returned as broken or defective. Mattel then shifted gears in a hurry and released the Entertainment Computer System, a quick hack produced by a secret project that was intended to get Mattel out of hot water. Predictably, it flopped in the market.
Odyssey 2: Magnavox actually integrated a keyboard into this console, but gave no thought to an OS, tape drive, or printer. There was a BASIC kit released for the European version, but otherwise this console's potential as a computer was sadly underutilized.
Coleco Adam: Coleco had the bright idea of creating a computer that could play Colecovision games. Consumers couldn't decide whether or not it was a game machine or a serious "home computer" system. Combined with its odd design (the power was routed through the printer) it flopped in the market.
Atari 5200: This actually WAS a computer packed into a game system case. Unsurprisingly, no peripheral components were produced to prevent competition with the Atari 400/800 systems.
Atari 7800: Again, a keyboard component was created, but never marketed. With Nintendo deciding NOT to ship the Famicom Floppy Disk Drive in America, Atari may have finally realized that trying to make a game console into a computer wasn't such a good idea.
PlayStation 2: Sony tries to make the PlayStation into a generic computer with a keyboard/mouse attachment, a harddrive, and a copy of Linux. Sony kills the product citing poor sales.
PlayStation 3: Sony tries to differentiate their console by claiming that "it's a computer". Welcome to the 1980s.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
So now they are saying it's a Computer to explain the price. Ok I can understand that.
What I still can't understand is why they refuse to talk about the OS in it. if they plan for it to be a "Computer" then how are they going to pull it off with a closed OS?
I've only heard them say "It will come preinstalled with Linux!" well big woop there, I could sell PC's preinstalled with linux, doesn't mean people will want to buy it if they find out that Linux is completly locked down with me owning the master account and not telling them what it is so they can't install, update or view hardly anything. Oh and I could access their computer at any point in time I would like when they are connected to the internet.
,br> so far the only thing's I know about the OS are, It's Linux.
Not exactly something that makes me want to rush out and buy this "Computer", especially when doing a search for "Linux OS" returns about 4,560,000 results, and having tried to use linux on 5 seperate occasians I know there are atleast 10 different versions of a "Linux OS" with god knows how many more.
So far they have said it will be Linux and then showed off THEIR web browser (which makes me wonder if it will be possible to even install an alternate browser on this Linux) yet that is all.
So we are basically paying $600 (cause the $500 model is pointless) for a locked down, nonuseable "computer" with a Blu-Ray drive. wow, just makes me all giddy to get one (and I used to be someone who would be waiting in line (and i HATE waiting in lines) to get this thing, till they announced $600 as the price and hardly anything else about it after that).
From Sony's past behavior with the PS2, it seems to me that the computer classification is not targeted at the end user, but rather, the bill collectors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1003076.stm
XBOX 360's Media Center Extension compatibility is actually not any good even if you DO stream from a PC. Ask anyone who has a reasonably sized media library how their experience went with media discovery and the ludicrous symbolic link methodology utilized in the process. After waiting 3 days for your XBox 360 to unfreeze you might be able to select a song before it freezes again.
Where would you like to freeze today?
As has been noted countless times, you can do 1080p over component cables. There are TV's out today (for as low as $1700!) that do so. You'll be able to buy Blu-Ray movies and play them at 1080i at least until 2012.
Given all that, why must you spend $100 more when the only thing you gain is an unwelcome does of DRM with HDMI?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Except that it doesn't have a 16MB/s L1 cache. It has 16MB/s read speed for the cell SPEs to read the GPU's memory, which is something that you rarely if ever have to do in games.
:P
I dislike Sony as much as the next guy, but come on
If the PS3 is declared a computer then it does not attract this tax in the UK for example. For this very reason Sony shipped the PS2 with a very simple programming language, thereby allowing them to call it a programmable computer (with some educational value) and qualifying for an import taqx break.
Nick.
The PS3 has top-end console graphics. I think it's only fair to try to spec high on the PC.
More than a PowerPC with 8 cell SPEs behind it?
PS3's hard disk drive is upgradable.
This is your one correct point.
PS2 (by design - the linux kit) and the PSX, Dreamcast, and Xbox all do this (through hacking, and linux)
If they can successfully market it as both, then it's a nice second computer/set top box, and a nice gaming console, and (if anyone cares) a Blu-Ray player.
The memory is kind of serious but not at all a show-stopper. You can get quite a bit done in linux in 64MB, especially if you're willing to forego KDE and GNOME. Doing so greatly reduces the value of using it as a primary computer, but is fine for a terminal or set top box. This unit has 256MB, which is completely usable, even with KDE or GNOME, and which is quite spacious if you forego them.
So, I completely disagree with all of your points except for the memory thing, and only half-agree with that.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Physics. CD, DVD and future format drives are (mechanically) about fast as they're going to get. If they spun much faster, there'd be a serious risk of a disc shattering in the drive and wrecking it. Read speed is going to be largely dependant on how densely packed the data is. So, more pits over the same physical area of identically sized discs = faster data transfer.
It's getting so bad that the more times Kutaragi shoots off his mouth, the more I think that he is purposely sabotaging the PS3 out of anger that he was not named CEO. I thought Nintendo requiring a $50 (?) upgrade to their $200 N64 was crazy. This is just ridiculous.
The N64 RAM upgrade was $30, and the N64 was around $120-$150 when it came out. The upgrade came bundled for free with Donkey Kong 64. It was required to play the 2nd N64 Zelda game, and Perfect Dark required it to play single player or to get more than 2 players in multiplayer. Those games all sold 4-5 million copies each, so the RAM upgrade was rather successful.