Sony included the PS1 CPU inside the PS2, including the GTE (Geometry Transform Engine, a type of math co-processors for doing the obvious), but *NOT* the GPU.
The GPU of the PS1 is emulated in software on the main PS2 CPU, the Emotion Engine. This is extremely well documented in fact, and not just in the patents for the PS2.
This was the first thing I thought. Even by the time its released next spring, it will be a bargain compared to general-purpose computers of comparable power.
All they did was test out installing on sundry hardware platforms. Thats no real life test because people who use Solaris will match the hardware to the OS, and not the other way around.
They briefly mentioned Janus, ZFS, zones (maybe) and the improved tcp/ip stack.
They said it was faster than previous versions.
Thats it ?
Oh, and its not a good alternative for linux ? On the sole basis that you can't install it on any hardware ? Utter BS! Yes, its a true statement, but probably the worst basis for comparison.
Having worked side-by-side with thousands of CPUs of Linux and Solaris, its still Linux that isn't a good alternative to Solaris.
How is this an infomercial ? Some enterprising individuals, on their own, went out and hacked the way (externally to) the PSP accesses the web, so that people can browse reasonably freely. Granted, its a kinda awkward thing to setup and use, but it IS geeky and news for nerds. At this point in time, Sony clearly hasn't intended the PSP to be used freely as a web browser, though its possible in the future.
Well, perhaps they failed to recognize it as such.
But also, perhaps you could have done more to sell it as such, and organize your resume, coversheets, and interview materials appropriately.
Just speaking as someone who is a PHB for a living.
And a good one. Someone actually modded this person as Interesting.:)
Having said that, if the original poster of this thread truly does think its underpowered, one should provide a bit more elaboration besides a trollish reference to the IBM/Sony marketing machine.
Since Toshiba is part of the collaboration, it is quite possible that the Cell's vector units are based on, and improved versions, of the PS2's vector units. Certainly the information I have seen so far hasn't led me to believe it was unlikely.
Check out his earlier articles on the PS2 architecture to learn more about those vector units.
I find it amazing that people who have glowing things to say about this product are call corporate shills.
Why all the vehemance denunciations against people who purchased one and realized that sony hit a home run with this one ?
Its perhaps more likely you and others like you are Nintendo corporate shills, people who are Nintendo fanboys who never will own PSP or touch one to be able to offer any real comment on it.
(btw, I do not work in the game industry, never have, do not work for anyone who remotely makes or sells games, nor has any such as a client, or otherwise gives me money. But no doubt you will still find a way to call even me a shill...)
About the same difference as x86 boxen made by Via, Dell, and Sony.
The first is oriented towards the embedded space. The middle is the big corporate mass-producer, while the latter focuses on cool-looking eye-candy.
For every case, Linux can run as an operating system. However, IBM and Apple designs their own UNIX-based operating systems to run only on their own hardware, although with some minor effort they each could extend compatibility to other manufacturer's boards.
For example, it is technically possible to run Max OSX on an IBM PowerPC based RISC6000 workstation. It is technically possible to run AIX (PPC arch) on Apple hardware. But it is terribly unlikely that either company will make any effort to develop the necessary hardware drivers and loaders in their respective OS' to make it happen in reality.
After 10 years of Linux, I was happy to finally switch to Mac OSX due to all the Linux deficiencies, stupid configuration issues, and a crippled GUI. I bought more Apples since that time. Now all of my systems are Linux-free and I am a happy boy now.
I would like to refer the original poster to the fact that the PSP has been in release for over a month. I don't know how the original poster could not have know that. Sure its only released in Japan, but the current release is not all that far from the US release, in fact it already has english language menus on its GUI.
Thus, for well over a month, there have been no previews of the PSP. They are all based on actual working units in consumers hands.
And, by the way, it is simply phenomenal. This is not based on any preview or review. I loaded it up with MP3 titles, JPEGS of my family, MP4 video clips, and the bright sharp screen just rocks.
Oh, and the games are good too.
It may be possible the DS can do the same stuff, I don't really know. all I know is, everytime I walk by one in the store, I can't stand the way it looks. However precocious it might possibly be, its still an ugly stepchild.
Oh, and the PSP looks as good as it functions.
The fact is, and no one can be accused of being a fanboy for saying it, all those glowing reviews are due to the PSP actually living up to the hype. This is a first for Sony, I can't imagine how much money they must be losing per unit initially to have accomplished this, but I am sure glad they did.
While you may have an otherwise reasonable point, I was refuting the parent poster's statement that Bluray is a myth, while in fact, it is selling in electronics stores as a consumer product right this very second, and has been for months.
Slashdot Mirror
I think people who crunch numbers are getting woodies just now...
Sony included the PS1 CPU inside the PS2, including the GTE (Geometry Transform Engine, a type of math co-processors for doing the obvious), but *NOT* the GPU.
The GPU of the PS1 is emulated in software on the main PS2 CPU, the Emotion Engine. This is extremely well documented in fact, and not just in the patents for the PS2.
This was the first thing I thought. Even by the time its released next spring, it will be a bargain compared to general-purpose computers of comparable power.
I, for one, will buy at least one of these...
What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen A380 ?
(hint: you can't waffle on this since there is only one type!)
All they did was test out installing on sundry hardware platforms. Thats no real life test because people who use Solaris will match the hardware to the OS, and not the other way around.
They briefly mentioned Janus, ZFS, zones (maybe) and the improved tcp/ip stack.
They said it was faster than previous versions.
Thats it ?
Oh, and its not a good alternative for linux ? On the sole basis that you can't install it on any hardware ? Utter BS! Yes, its a true statement, but probably the worst basis for comparison.
Having worked side-by-side with thousands of CPUs of Linux and Solaris, its still Linux that isn't a good alternative to Solaris.
One *always* pays taxes on capitals gains from stock sales. Has nothing to do with salary.
Is it me or does the article poster spin from the left and ignore facts ?
Lik-sang tore a PSP apart back in mid-December.
Here http://www.lik-sang.com/psp.html/
Less annoying adds and page flipping. Everything is on one page.
How is this an infomercial ? Some enterprising individuals, on their own, went out and hacked the way (externally to) the PSP accesses the web, so that people can browse reasonably freely. Granted, its a kinda awkward thing to setup and use, but it IS geeky and news for nerds. At this point in time, Sony clearly hasn't intended the PSP to be used freely as a web browser, though its possible in the future.
Well, perhaps they failed to recognize it as such. But also, perhaps you could have done more to sell it as such, and organize your resume, coversheets, and interview materials appropriately. Just speaking as someone who is a PHB for a living.
Since when was that rule made ? Let me check my datacenter...
Hmm, the thousands of 1U linux servers with video cards...guess we better call the vendor to complain they lied about them being servers...
Sarcasm off, the presence of a video card means nothing if its not used by the system, and especially if the windowing system is turned off.
Headless, has always meant the lack of a monitor, not a video card. Please consider the logical analogy between a monitor and a head.
And what precisely is that ?
I run OpenOffice just fine on the MAC. Or Microsoft Office as necessary.
Having been doing UNIX for 15 years now, I really don't see much that would be available on Mac Linux that isn't also available on Mac OSX.
What are you seeing ?
You can do that with OSX on the Mac mini. I certainly intend to. Who says it cannot be headless ?
Just what can you do on Debian PPC that you can't do on OSX ?
And a good one. Someone actually modded this person as Interesting. :)
Having said that, if the original poster of this thread truly does think its underpowered, one should provide a bit more elaboration besides a trollish reference to the IBM/Sony marketing machine.
This has nothing to do with online rights. If anything, it belongs in the "Politics" section.
Since Toshiba is part of the collaboration, it is quite possible that the Cell's vector units are based on, and improved versions, of the PS2's vector units. Certainly the information I have seen so far hasn't led me to believe it was unlikely.
Check out his earlier articles on the PS2 architecture to learn more about those vector units.
First invalid assumption: the same people developing desktop stuff are NOT going to be the people typically developing games.
So, having said that, whats holding back the people developing the games ? It can't be the desktop, they can code around that....
I find it amazing that people who have glowing things to say about this product are call corporate shills.
Why all the vehemance denunciations against people who purchased one and realized that sony hit a home run with this one ?
Its perhaps more likely you and others like you are Nintendo corporate shills, people who are Nintendo fanboys who never will own PSP or touch one to be able to offer any real comment on it.
(btw, I do not work in the game industry, never have, do not work for anyone who remotely makes or sells games, nor has any such as a client, or otherwise gives me money. But no doubt you will still find a way to call even me a shill...)
About the same difference as x86 boxen made by Via, Dell, and Sony.
The first is oriented towards the embedded space. The middle is the big corporate mass-producer, while the latter focuses on cool-looking eye-candy.
For every case, Linux can run as an operating system. However, IBM and Apple designs their own UNIX-based operating systems to run only on their own hardware, although with some minor effort they each could extend compatibility to other manufacturer's boards.
For example, it is technically possible to run Max OSX on an IBM PowerPC based RISC6000 workstation. It is technically possible to run AIX (PPC arch) on Apple hardware. But it is terribly unlikely that either company will make any effort to develop the necessary hardware drivers and loaders in their respective OS' to make it happen in reality.
And it has been since inception.
Multiple companies make CPUs based on the architecture.
There are many generations to the architecture.
The architecture is implemented for general purpose CPU's as well as embedded devices.
And finally, most chips based on PPC are sold outside of the Apples and RISC6000 lines. Oh, I already mentioned embedded...
You be the judge. This sounds like something in the realm of the fake cell-phone antenna extenders.
Stick a sticker on a battery to extend its life ? Someone needs to get a life.
After 10 years of Linux, I was happy to finally switch to Mac OSX due to all the Linux deficiencies, stupid configuration issues, and a crippled GUI. I bought more Apples since that time. Now all of my systems are Linux-free and I am a happy boy now.
I would like to refer the original poster to the fact that the PSP has been in release for over a month. I don't know how the original poster could not have know that. Sure its only released in Japan, but the current release is not all that far from the US release, in fact it already has english language menus on its GUI.
Thus, for well over a month, there have been no previews of the PSP. They are all based on actual working units in consumers hands.
And, by the way, it is simply phenomenal. This is not based on any preview or review. I loaded it up with MP3 titles, JPEGS of my family, MP4 video clips, and the bright sharp screen just rocks.
Oh, and the games are good too.
It may be possible the DS can do the same stuff, I don't really know. all I know is, everytime I walk by one in the store, I can't stand the way it looks. However precocious it might possibly be, its still an ugly stepchild.
Oh, and the PSP looks as good as it functions.
The fact is, and no one can be accused of being a fanboy for saying it, all those glowing reviews are due to the PSP actually living up to the hype. This is a first for Sony, I can't imagine how much money they must be losing per unit initially to have accomplished this, but I am sure glad they did.
While you may have an otherwise reasonable point, I was refuting the parent poster's statement that Bluray is a myth, while in fact, it is selling in electronics stores as a consumer product right this very second, and has been for months.
Blu-ray PVR recorders have been out in Japan for months. I can walk down to the electronics store right now and buy one, and the media.
Ain't no myth. They are alive.