PS3 Informer

Did You Ever Use Linux on PS3?

We use the past tense here, because Sony has recently announced that it will cease support for other operating systems in an upcoming firmware update. Older models of the PS3 supported the feature, which allowed users to install third party Linux operating systems like Ubuntu and Fedora. With a bit of technical expertise, users could turn their PS3 into a somewhat capable PC computer, although access to graphics acceleration functionality was blocked off. This was seen as a cool compromise between the desire of the homebrew community to tinker with the device, and the need by Sony to control what uses homebrewers could find for the machine.\n\nThen, a hacker named George Hotz pushed the tinkering too far, and announced that he had found an exploit granting him full access to the system hardware. Sony, none too pleased about the potential for piracy signified by this development, has decided to withdraw the feature altogether.\n\nWhen the new firmware 3.21 lands on April 1st, it will block user access to the 'other' OS partition on the hard drive and remove the feature from the main navigation bar. Sony warns users of the feature that they should back up their data stored on that partition, because after the update it will be lost forever (along with the space used by the partition, unless you format your drive). \n\nPredictably, this move has not been met with enthusiasm by the hardcore tech community. Many see this as yet another example of a corporate giant restricting legitimate use of their device in the name of protecting intellectual property. Still others suggest that this violates their rights as consumers, because they originally bought the machine with the alternative OS feature advertised. We're pretty sure there is a line in the user agreement somewhere that gives Sony the right to \"withdraw services at any time\". Still, this does come off as a bit of a dick move.\n\nWhat do our readers think about this issue? Was the inclusion of Linux just a charade by Sony to appear as though it supported grassroots development? Was Linux support a feature that you will miss, or was it something that rightfully faded into obscurity once the games started coming out?\n\n
\n \n\n\n\nYellow Dog Linux was one popular distribution that could be installed on Sony's PS3.\n
\n\n\n\n\n