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Linux and the Coming Consoles

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the penguins-without-joysticks dept.

eldavojohn writes "Despite reports from the CEO that the PS3 will ship with Linux, LinuxDevices is now saying that it won't. Also, despite a rumor that the Wii will have Linux, the originator of the rumor has revealed himself to be a prankster. This won't stop you from putting Yellow Dog on the PS3 or running WiiLi, a live Linux CD for the Wii."

8 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. What practical things have people done... by chroot_james · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...with Linux on consoles? Is it just for the fun of getting it to run?

    --
    Reality is nothing but a collective hunch.
    1. Re:What practical things have people done... by twistedsymphony · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You could also build a mini-itx based computer running linux/MythTV, or a modified Xbox 1 with Linux, or even the default Xboxdashboard with Xbox Media Center, or PS2 Linux...
      I think a modified Xbox 1 would be your cheapest route, but a custom built MythTV box would be the most versatile... none of these options would be as expensive as a PS3 though, For the Price tag the PS3 could be pretty limited considering it's lack of system memory, and the fact that it only supports expensive 2.5" hard drives. Though I suppose the built in bluetooth and blu-ray would be handy... though not $500-$600 handy IMO.

      --
      Collector's Edition
  2. Actually... by aztektum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "This won't stop you from putting Yellow Dog on the PS3 or running WiiLi, a live Linux CD for the Wii."

    <minirant>I will be too busy playing fucking games on it to want to do the above. For all the bitchin on /. about cellphones with cameras, mp3 players and web browsers, why does Linux on everything seem to get accolades?</minirant>

    --
    :: aztek ::
    No sig for you!!
    1. Re:Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
      Parent wrote: I will be too busy playing fucking games on it to want to do the above. For all the bitchin on /. about cellphones with cameras, mp3 players and web browsers, why does Linux on everything seem to get accolades?


      Some of us will not be too busy playing fucking games ('though that particular kind sound kinda fun) since I get bored of the games after about 4 hours of gameplay. OTOH, I have a fair amount (20+ years) of embedded systems progamming experience; and Linux on a Cell chip will keep me entertained for literally months or years.


      Why does Linux on everything get accolades? It doesn't unless there's a reasonably open development environment -- but if there is, it enables a bigger and better and more educational game than any console game ever was.

    2. Re:Actually... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Hardware is like bread and Linux is strawberry jam. When someone comes up with a new kind of bread, I put strawberry jam on it and eat it. Why would I put strawberry jam on this bread which is meant to be eaten with cheeze? Well I don't care what you think. I like bread, I like strawberry jam, and the first thing that comes to my mind when I see a new bread is to try it with strawberry jam.

  3. Linux *DOES* impact my buying decision. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
    I will by the console(s) that have Linux supported in a friendly way by the manufacturer.


    I do this for 3 reasons.

    • I've been a fan of non-Wintel computers for quite some time (Apple ][, Amiga, Mac, at home and Suns at work) - and will buy it for the novelty factor,
    • I'm looking for a computer-like box for my living room - if the PS3 can do computer stuff (this includes my ability to run shell scripts) - I will use it as my living room computer instead of the mac mini I'm considering, and
    • I know Linux, and think it'd be fun to see what a game console can do if I can program it.

    I'm not alone in being a fan of non-wintel computers - so I'm not alone in this influencing my decision heavily. However I haven't bought a pure-game console since the Atari 2600 (the games themselves bore me, though I find the technology interesting)


    PLEASE, manufacturers, support Linux. I'm not alone here.

  4. For anybody reading the sites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
    running WiiLi, a live Linux CD for the Wii.
    If you actually go to the WiiLi site, apparently some college doofus thinks he's going to make be able to make live Linux CDs for the Wii with:

      * Absolutely no prior knowledge of the other console linuxes to date (how they work, how they boot, and the difficulties with them)
      * No actual knowledge of the Wii more than what's out there

    So in other words, he lacks two fundamental things:

      * No knowledge of how the hardware works, so he probably won't be able to get things to display at the very least
      * No knowledge of how to burn a "CD" that will somehow magically boot on the Wii... which btw, the gamecube won't run cds even with modchips... you need DVDs.

    On top of all of this, he thinks he can do the impossible-- bypass something like 10 years or more worth of research into not letting homebrew cds boot on consoles.

    This is nothing more than a pipe dream by some kid who's probably never used a compiler before... nothing to see here. He's doing this as a "final project" for college-- He'll probably get an A because of a mass of paperwork documenting all of his various struggles and why he realizes that he could never get it to work.

    Dumbass, I swear.
  5. says who? by brunascle · · Score: 2, Interesting

    not to queston LinuxDevices' integrity, but what's their source on this? it didnt mention anyone, it just kinda flat out said it.