Sony releases Linux kit for PS2
05-24-02 | 08:51 AM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Arkansas USA
Sony releases Linux kit for PS2
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-921233.html
Sony ships PS2-Linux PC conversion kit
By Matthew Broersma
ZDNet (UK)
May 23, 2002, 6:55 AM PT
Sony Computer Entertainment has begun shipping a kit for turning the PlayStation 2 into a Linux console, bowing to the requests of thousands of open-source programmers. The kit is available in the United States and Europe.
It includes hardware and software for essentially turning the PlayStation 2 games console into a Linux PC, with a 40GB hard disk, 10/100Mbps network adapter, USB keyboard and mouse, monitor cable and a Linux installation DVD-ROM. The hard drive can't be used with PS2 games, Sony warned.
The keyboard is in the standard U.S. layout, but can be reconfigured for other layouts, or replaced with any USB keyboard, Sony said.
The kit began shipping worldwide on Wednesday, meeting a deadline Sony set itself at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in January. In the United States, Sony has been taking orders for the kit since March. It sells for £155 ex. VAT (£182.13 inc. VAT) in the UK, and 292.58 euros inc. VAT in the rest of Europe, or $200 in the United States.
For European, Middle Eastern and African orders, Interactive Ideas is taking orders on behalf of Sony at a special Web site, www.linuxplay.com.
Sites have been set up for United States, Australian and New Zealand orders.
The company moved to sell the Linux Kit over the Internet because of its niche appeal. "By distributing the kit via this Web site, we hope to avoid any confusion about what it is, and who it is suitable for, and thus save disappointing those individuals who might buy it in error," Sony said in a statement on the site.
Sony isn't expecting mainstream success with Linux, but is hoping to stoke the PlayStation2's appeal with hobbyists, who could wind up developing for the platform. "In the future, we hope an army of PlayStation developers takes hold," Dominic Mallinson, director of technology for Sony's North American research and development group, said in a January interview. "We are doing this largely for noncommercial reasons. If it just pays for itself as an operating cost, that's fine with us."
More than 9,000 people signed a petition to bring Linux to the PS2, apparently indicating substantial interest. However, it is a small fraction of the 30 million PlayStation2 consoles Sony has shipped so far.
Linux, a clone of the Unix operating system, is most widely used in servers. The software is popular with technophiles and is comparatively easy to move to different computers, so many efforts are under way to move Linux to everything from watches to mainframes.
CNET News.com's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.
Sony ships PS2-Linux PC conversion kit
By Matthew Broersma
ZDNet (UK)
May 23, 2002, 6:55 AM PT
Sony Computer Entertainment has begun shipping a kit for turning the PlayStation 2 into a Linux console, bowing to the requests of thousands of open-source programmers. The kit is available in the United States and Europe.
It includes hardware and software for essentially turning the PlayStation 2 games console into a Linux PC, with a 40GB hard disk, 10/100Mbps network adapter, USB keyboard and mouse, monitor cable and a Linux installation DVD-ROM. The hard drive can't be used with PS2 games, Sony warned.
The keyboard is in the standard U.S. layout, but can be reconfigured for other layouts, or replaced with any USB keyboard, Sony said.
The kit began shipping worldwide on Wednesday, meeting a deadline Sony set itself at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in January. In the United States, Sony has been taking orders for the kit since March. It sells for £155 ex. VAT (£182.13 inc. VAT) in the UK, and 292.58 euros inc. VAT in the rest of Europe, or $200 in the United States.
For European, Middle Eastern and African orders, Interactive Ideas is taking orders on behalf of Sony at a special Web site, www.linuxplay.com.
Sites have been set up for United States, Australian and New Zealand orders.
The company moved to sell the Linux Kit over the Internet because of its niche appeal. "By distributing the kit via this Web site, we hope to avoid any confusion about what it is, and who it is suitable for, and thus save disappointing those individuals who might buy it in error," Sony said in a statement on the site.
Sony isn't expecting mainstream success with Linux, but is hoping to stoke the PlayStation2's appeal with hobbyists, who could wind up developing for the platform. "In the future, we hope an army of PlayStation developers takes hold," Dominic Mallinson, director of technology for Sony's North American research and development group, said in a January interview. "We are doing this largely for noncommercial reasons. If it just pays for itself as an operating cost, that's fine with us."
More than 9,000 people signed a petition to bring Linux to the PS2, apparently indicating substantial interest. However, it is a small fraction of the 30 million PlayStation2 consoles Sony has shipped so far.
Linux, a clone of the Unix operating system, is most widely used in servers. The software is popular with technophiles and is comparatively easy to move to different computers, so many efforts are under way to move Linux to everything from watches to mainframes.
CNET News.com's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.
05-24-02 | 08:54 AM
#2
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Arkansas USA
order here (US)
Last edited by Jabx; 05-24-02 at 08:57 AM.
05-24-02 | 12:49 PM
#5
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: AZ
For one, Linux is a cool OS and is very fun to play with. Second, you can get pretty much and software you need to program on it for free. So now people who are so inclined will be able to write programs, yes even games, and share them for free. I would probably buy it if it weren't for the fact that I already have linux running on both my laptop and Desktop at home and I do not program.
05-24-02 | 02:25 PM
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: WashingtonDC
it'll be very interesting to see what comes of this. how powerful will ps2's CPU be for computing applications? this clearly isn't going to take over the desktop computer market, but it's going to tempt a lot of people.
05-24-02 | 05:33 PM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: San Diego to Los Angeles
Originally posted by ZakVTA
I really hope there will be a way to get that monitor adapter seperately.
I really hope there will be a way to get that monitor adapter seperately.
The simple answer is no. The Computer Monitor Cable (for PlayStation 2) (with audio connectors) which is provided in the kit will work with PlayStation 2 software that outputs VESA compatible signals. Currently, there are no commercial PlayStation 2 games available that output in VESA display modes. All games today use TV signal standards NTSC and PAL which cannot be displayed on most computer monitors.
DAMN!!!!!!!!
