Hard drives in PlayStations!
April 14, 2000 6:46 AM   Subscribe

Hard drives in PlayStations! "Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony (NYSE: SNE) will reportedly include a hard drive and modem in the U.S. version of its second-generation PlayStation gaming product set for a fall release."

Slashdot reported that linux would be the development platform, but my question is how soon to expect a linux port to a Playstation?
posted by plinth (6 comments total)

 
Let's clarify: from the reports *I've* heard, Linux already *is* the development platform, though that's not being admitted officially yet (which is ok, as long as they're not shipping the code, the GPL doesn't require them to admit to using it...)

What's at issue is when they'll admit to it, and release the patches -- even unofficially.

That is: if the reports are correct, the port *already exists*.

Cheers,
-- jra
posted by baylink at 7:56 AM on April 14, 2000


Cool... Now is the processor powerful enough to run a webserver while I'm playing Deathrace 3D?
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 8:42 AM on April 14, 2000


From what I've read, the hard drive is because Sony want to use the PS2 as a multimedia device. One of the things they want to do is distribute films & music over a broadband network straight to peoples homes.
So you'll be able to run a webserver, play Deathrace 3D, listen to music and watch a movie all at the same time. Probably.
posted by Markb at 9:01 AM on April 14, 2000


FYI - there is a difference between a development platform and a port. For example, I can compile Windows applications on MacOS but that doesn't mean my Windows box runs MacOS.


Linux is not a good real-time operating system, which means having things that need to happen at time-critical intervals occur when you think they will. Games are such a thing. It's a real bummer, for example, when your frame rate goes to hell because some other process caused your textures to get swapped out.


What I want is an entremely cheap, fairly powerful linux box and a built-in HD is a very good sign of the possibility.
posted by plinth at 9:22 AM on April 14, 2000



ahhhhhhh, too much. I just want to play fun games with great graphics. I have a computer for all the other stuff.
posted by corpse at 9:22 AM on April 14, 2000


Indeed.

The latest Linux Journal covers a new approach to firm-real-time support (ie: 50-100us repsponse) that loads as a module set. I suspect that this approach would be well better than good enough to support console style gaming on a running Linux box; hell, PC's do it now without any help...

Cheers,
-- jra
posted by baylink at 9:55 AM on April 14, 2000


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