Installing Yellow Dog Linux on the PS3 90
johnnyb writes "A new series of articles is out on IBM DeveloperWorks on programming the PS3. The first article is up, discussing the installation of Yellow Dog Linux and first steps in programming the Cell BE Processor on this platform. From the article: ' It is unusual for gaming consoles to allow foreign operating systems to be installed on them. Since consoles are usually sold at a loss, they are usually locked down to prevent games from running on them without the publisher paying royalties to the console developer. Sony decided to open up the PS3 console a little bit, and allow third-party operating systems to be installed, with the caveat that they do not get accelerated graphics. Because of this, you can now install Linux on the PS3. You have to jump through a few hoops, but it definitely works.'"
Re:Question... (Score:4, Insightful)
So, if you're interested in learning to program IBM's new chip design, this is the best way to do it. It not only has a dual-core PowerPC element, but eight independent vector processors attached, with a radical new architecture (because of manufacturing decisions by Sony as well as implementation decisions, you may have access to as few as 6, but in any case, there's lots of processing elements in there).
Then there is always the Geek factor, which can never be underestimated.
Re:Question... (Score:3, Insightful)
I see a bunch of people have already pointed out that it's a dual-boot arrangement and you don't have to give up your nifty PS3 gaming capability. With that in mind, there are a few really good reasons to have Linux on your PS3.
- Firefox is much better than the PS3 web browser.
- You have many choices of players when you want to play MP3s and videos, or look at pictures with your family.
- When your family loves that one special pic of Junior, but wishes there was no red-eye, you can edit it on the spot.
- You can immediately email that picture to your aunt Betty.
- You can check your email from the couch while waiting for your favorite show to come on..
- It's an extra general computer in the house when you need it. You at least have an option if your boss needs you to send a quick document to your client at the same time you're replacing the video card on your PC.
- You can get data on and off your PS3 from the home LAN, thus making the sharing of those pictures, videos and MP3s much easier (the PS3 doesn't natively have this functionality at this time, and if someone knows better, PLEASE tell me, because this is the feature most important to me that I'm missing at the moment.)
Like a lot of dual boot options, this one isn't quite as smooth as it could be, based upon what I've read. Ideally, I'd never have to leave my couch, but I think this one requires me to hit a button (at least that's what I read, but I hope I'm wrong here too.). But considering all this great functionality is literally free, completely legal and actually encouraged, I feel like I'd be a fool to not take advantage of it.
I'm just getting familiar with my PS3 at the moment, but this is my next step. It's not a perfect solution, but with Linux on board I feel I'll have enough quality functionality that I won't need a separate PC in the living room any more.
TW
Re:Does this mean... (Score:3, Insightful)
If homebrew and emulation is your thing though, you can run homebrew applications on the Wii using the SD card exploit that worked on the Gamecube; I could be wrong, but I believe that all gamecube homebrew works on the Wii meaning that you have access to all of the emulators that would work on the PS3. What this means is that you can spend $500/$600 to do the same thing you can do with a $250 Wii
Note: From my understanding all of the current Wii exploits only give access to the Wii in Gamecube mode, the extra processing power the Wii has is unavailabe and the hackers are looking for new exploits.