bloodgain

February 08, 2011 at 4:19pm

Get over yourself.  Just because you don't find any utility in something (Facebook, Yellow Dog Linux on a PS3) doesn't mean it doesn't have any.  Maybe when you grow up, you'll understand that.

You are obviously not a software developer.  At one of my previous employers*, we were developing a scientific application that would eventually run on x86, GPGPU, and the Cell processor (the customer's focus was on Cell).  While it was intended to be run on big multi-processor Cell blades, those are expensive.  The PS3 isn't as powerful as a modern Intel or AMD-based desktop, but it makes a perfectly acceptable, inexpensive test bed.  It sure as hell beats emulating the Cell on an underpowered RedHat box (the other option), and you can chain them together to act as a cheap multi-Cell server.  The Cell and PS3 might not be as good for surfing the web as your PC, but it is superior to x86 in certain types of calculations/applications.  So yes, someone DID use it, and as far as I know, still is.

Nonetheless, the point is that Sony touted the OtherOS as a big selling point when they released their overpriced behemoth of a console.  They also promise firmware updates.  You can't have both now, because a firmware update scrubs OtherOS availability unless you use GeoHot's hack.  If anyone still wants to use it, they should be supporting it like they promised. The new slim consoles don't come with OtherOS support, so they can validly exclude them.

* Before you go on a rant about how I don't work for them any longer, I left for a bigger paycheck in another state, not because of the project.  The work was good work, and the project had real-world applications.