I find it amusing that some people (unclesharkey in this case), are quick to make generalisations and assumptions based on how very little they know. Its unfortunate.
Atari's 2600 was a game console, that's it. You can't do much with it other than to play games. I still have the original one from 1977. (wooden front with the 4 toggle switches).
PS3 is a:
(1) game console
(2) Blu-ray player with upgradeable firmware.
(allowing you to support the latest Blu-ray changes in a convenient manner.)
(3) Web browser
(4) A DVR
(when the PlayTV DVB-T dual tuner and software is released later in the year.)
(5) Linux system.
(Just plug in a USB mouse and keyboard)
Once you put Linux on it, you can expand its capabilities: Webserver, file server, basic desktop for email, web, etc.
Maybe a node for a computational cluster?
see here: http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/store/index.php?submit=so tware&submitimg%5Bhardware%5D%5Bsolutions%5D=1
You are strictly limited by the amount of RAM on the PS3 and how optimised the applications are to the Cell processor. (Since its open source, you can understand how things work and re-code/tweak the apps to run better, working around the limitations of the PS3 hardware).
(6) A development platform for the Cell processor as well as a learning tool for parallel programming and parallel architectures.
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps -1/
http://cag.csail.mit.edu/ps3/lectures.shtml
(7) Hackers and enthusiasts.
(At this time, Sony won't let you access the RSX for 3D acceleration under Linux. So this is being worked on).
http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.php?p=59170
"...here today gone tomorrow."
=> A modern day console is developed with the life expectancy for approx 5 to 6 years. Anything longer is a bonus. Look at the PS2. Its STILL being sold today. (almost 8 years since it was first introduced in 2000). The PS3 is intended to last for 10yrs.
Even when its "game console" purpose has long expired, people are bound to use the PS3 for other uses. (once the hackers develop the proper API for video acceleration, a PS3 is perfect for acting as a front-end for MythTV. ie: Linux's equivalent of Windows MCE implementation).
As you can see, a PS3 is a little more than just another "game console".
[Posted by: tumb | Date: 02/19/08 10:39:41 PM]