POSTED BY

Brandon Boyer

AT 11:11 AM
Tuesday August 18, 2009

PlayStation 3

linux • ps3 slim

Caveat emptor: PS3 Slim removes Linux installation option

ps3linux.jpg

One side note to this morning's PS3 Slim announcement: buried within Sony's press release is this "new feature" addendum:

Removal of "Install Other OS" feature

The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

Translation: no more installing Linux on your PS3. I can't honestly say I'd seen the feature gain much traction over the past few years, but for those that were holding out for a price drop specifically for it, your best bet is grabbing one of the remaining standard 80GB models at their newly dropped price.

Previously:
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2 Comments

John G Bell

#1 – 2:25 PM August 18, 2009

When Sony did the slim ps2, they took away linux as an option then too by removing the ability to add a hard drive. I still have my ps2 linux kit, actually. I suppose that's at least consistent to remove the option for linux when they slim the ps3.

I kept wondering what they'd remove as far as functionality for the slim ps3, and now we know. But, it's not clear to me yet why they removed the ps3 ability to install another OS. Is there actually a hardware reason it wouldn't still work, as there was when the hard drive adaptor slot was removed from the ps2?

Hey, there's even a grim timeliness to this. Sony will release the new slim ps3 with the removed option for linux just in time to commemorate the death of the old ps2 linux community website!

mrjohnc

#2 – 4:01 PM August 19, 2009

Bloody dreadful

I'm organising a PS3 Linux cluster for my university. What a shame we can't have a smaller, lower power version.

Dear Sony

Way to go alienating the nerds, the people who create the hype and generate sales and get the most out of your products

Thanks a bunch idiots

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