Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    PlayStation 3

    Platform »

    The PlayStation 3 (often abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console created and released by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

    PS3 ‘Other OS’ feature. Was it really important?

    Avatar image for metalsnakezero
    metalsnakezero

    2884

    Forum Posts

    113

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 27

    Edited By metalsnakezero

    I don't get it. It was a feature that I completely overlooked and felt that I would never need to use it. Even when Sony said that it was going to get rid of it I looked away knowing that it wont effect me. However, many others are contently complaining about the removal of the Other OS feature, even going as far as suing sony for it: 
    http://gamer.blorge.com/2010/04/29/sony-sued-over-other-os-removal-from-ps3/
    I don't see how important this 'Other OS' feature was as I seen reports of it being slow and almost useless (Useless when you have a PC with you). What do you guys think?

    Avatar image for metalsnakezero
    metalsnakezero

    2884

    Forum Posts

    113

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 27

    #1  Edited By metalsnakezero

    I don't get it. It was a feature that I completely overlooked and felt that I would never need to use it. Even when Sony said that it was going to get rid of it I looked away knowing that it wont effect me. However, many others are contently complaining about the removal of the Other OS feature, even going as far as suing sony for it: 
    http://gamer.blorge.com/2010/04/29/sony-sued-over-other-os-removal-from-ps3/
    I don't see how important this 'Other OS' feature was as I seen reports of it being slow and almost useless (Useless when you have a PC with you). What do you guys think?

    Avatar image for jeevespleez
    JeevesPleez

    375

    Forum Posts

    930

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 2

    #2  Edited By JeevesPleez

    I was about to start using it to get some practical experience with programming the cell, so to me, the removal cost me a big bullet point on my resume. Otherwise, I wouldn't have used it at all, so I can see both sides of it.

    Avatar image for godwind
    Godwind

    2924

    Forum Posts

    345

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #3  Edited By Godwind

    Well if 1% of people were using that features, that includes 340,000 people.  A lot of publishers would probably like to have them as customers.

    Avatar image for geno
    Geno

    6767

    Forum Posts

    5538

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 15

    User Lists: 3

    #4  Edited By Geno

    It was probably important to some people. It was also a feature that was originally available upon purchase, and then later removed without compensation, which shouldn't really happen with any product. 

    Avatar image for indigo
    Indigo

    103

    Forum Posts

    418

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 7

    #5  Edited By Indigo

    I think the biggest loss to the average customer is that when the PS4 comes out and you'll want to do something useful with the old one - you won't be able to turn it into a network media player like Boxee.

    Avatar image for kyle
    Kyle

    2383

    Forum Posts

    6307

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 12

    #6  Edited By Kyle

    There's definitely some number of people that actually bought PS3s specifically for the feature as an affordable means of being able to gain experience programming for the Cell processor, so for them, it's a pretty huge deal.

    Avatar image for xoaks
    xoaks

    29

    Forum Posts

    4

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #7  Edited By xoaks

    Well, the man I sold my PS3 to was programming on the CELL so.....

    Avatar image for fynne
    fynne

    320

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #8  Edited By fynne

    Not to me.  I never used it.

    Avatar image for efwefwe
    wefwefasdf

    6730

    Forum Posts

    694

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: -1

    User Lists: 1

    #9  Edited By wefwefasdf

    I could have used it in the future. I don't like it when features are removed but it doesn't really bother me.

    Avatar image for andorski
    Andorski

    5482

    Forum Posts

    2310

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #10  Edited By Andorski

    It's never good when sellers retroactively take out shit that you bought.  Then there is the added stigma that the reason for the removal of the OtherOS was rumored (or confirmed?  Not sure of Sony has gone out and stated it) to be all about stopping potential piracy.  At that point, it just becomes another case of companies treating their userbase like potential criminals rather than loyal customers.
     
    Do I miss the feature?  Until news about that update was brought up, I totally forgot that the PS3 can run Linux.  Still, just retroactively removing something that they use to advertise as a feature rubs the consumerist side of me the wrong way.  I hope whoever put out that class action lawsuit against Sony wins.

    Avatar image for nettacki
    Nettacki

    1333

    Forum Posts

    74

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #11  Edited By Nettacki
    @Andorski: I totally agree. Sometimes though, people don't quite get this idea...
    Avatar image for marz
    Marz

    6097

    Forum Posts

    755

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 11

    #12  Edited By Marz

    I think there was some company that had a product revolved around using the PS3 cell processor for rendering and encoding video super fast which used the Linux function.  Sucks for the people who bought that product which was kind of expensive, they can still use it for rendering but the ps3 basically can't play games anymore if they were using it as a render box.

    Avatar image for drakesfortune
    drakesfortune

    369

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    #13  Edited By drakesfortune

    I'm torn on it, I never saw any use for it.  That said, it's a dick move to advertise a feature, sell someone something, and then take the feature away.   I certainly don't want piracy to take root as that will hurt us all, but still it's not cool to advertise something and then remove it.

    Avatar image for bluethunder35
    Bluethunder35

    364

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #14  Edited By Bluethunder35

    I was playing GTA4: Episodes From Liberty City and I had Johnny Klebitz surfing the 'Net. One of the websites was about a send-up of Linux called Eunux and reading the material Rockstar North created for the send-up pretty much proved to me that the people wanting to sue are probably the biggest geeks in America. Honestly, why would anyone want to even run Linux on a console? What's the point of it anyway, other than some of the "big" stuff Mr. Hotz was planning? 99.9% of Linux users do it on a PC.  Yeah, I made up the number but I'll bet it's a legit number.
     
    Sony didn't take away the "Other Os" function. You can choose not to upgrade the firmware and you can run Linux on the PS3. I find it hard to believe that these geeks don't own multiple machines to run their applications. These guys are the hardcore of the hardcore. I'm sure they have a Slim PS3 for regular gaming use, if they even game period.  I just can't believe these guys would cry about losing the ability to run Linux on a CONSOLE.
     
    I don't really care. I just see a bunch of bored virgins with no lives suing Sony for no reason other than litigate litigate, litigate is in these days. If they want to spend their summer doing that and defending the good name of George Hotz, fine.  
     
    Honestly, I would like Sony to give them back the other OS function so these geeks would just shut the fuck up already. I'd like to then see what George and his buddies would do with their hack.

    Avatar image for liquidprince
    LiquidPrince

    17073

    Forum Posts

    -1

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 5

    #15  Edited By LiquidPrince

    Not to me.

    Avatar image for emilio
    Emilio

    3581

    Forum Posts

    1268

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 6

    #16  Edited By Emilio

    Hey guys, you remember that one feature.. what was it called... 
     
    Backwards Compatibility? 
     
    I think, right? 
     
    Yeah, I didn't use it so its okay that Sony took it away.

    Avatar image for lordmaiden
    LordMaiden

    188

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #17  Edited By LordMaiden
    @Emilio:  Backward compatibility and being allowed to run free software on the PS3 are two different things. At least with BC, you get to play more games. See, I want to stick this PS2 game in my PC but the thing won't fucking take it. But look at this! It dual boots with Linux which means I don't need a console to mess around with it. The point? BC is a more valid reason to get worked up because your options are more limited. Anyone who is a geek will already have a PC to run Linux anyway. Fuck Linux on the PS3 and fuck these idiots being so pissy over it that they decide to waste the court's time.
     
    EDIT: One more thing - I find it odd anyone would have bought the PS3 because it could run Linux. Do people forget the PS3 was $600? For that much, I have an HP dual core with 4gb of ram that runs Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere very smoothly. I just bought my wife a Dell laptop for $550 that has the same chip and can do everything this CPU can. But I'm an idiot. So let me buy a $600 gaming machine that can run the Linux kernel because Linux takes up SO MUCH FUCKING RESOURCES, there is no possible way to put it on a Windows machine with 5000GB of space. I mean can you imagine being able to run both operating systems on the same PC? That would be sweet.
    Avatar image for bluethunder35
    Bluethunder35

    364

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #18  Edited By Bluethunder35

    Seems like a lot of people want Sony to give them B/C on their PS3 and yet people are still buying PS2 consoles. If they are still manufacturing the PS2 and people are still buying it, why cut the lifeline of the nearly 10 year-old PS2 off? 
     
    I'm sure at some point they will bring it back, probably when they finally discontinue the PS2 for good. Myself, it's been a good long time since I've played any PS2 game on my 60 GB. The last PS2 discs I played were my old OPM demo discs.

    Avatar image for lordmaiden
    LordMaiden

    188

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #19  Edited By LordMaiden

    Really, I'll even go as far as to say BC isn't a big deal to me, considering that by removing it, they were able to sell the consoles cheaper anyway. And now for $300, you get a gaming machine, Netflix player, Bluray player, online gaming, wi-fi, rechargeable controller and the ability to do other little things. You just can't run Linux or play a five year-old game. How fucking dare they.

    Avatar image for phileskyline
    PhilESkyline

    877

    Forum Posts

    11

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #20  Edited By PhilESkyline

    It wasn't a big deal for me, however I do understand those who do use it having a problem.  You buy a product and use the features they have and are even encouraged to use the features.  Then you remove the feature that they wanted.  Now I'm sure there aren't that many people (excluding the military) who use it just for the OS.  But it is primarily a gaming device.  If it someone that feature will exploit current and future gaming plans then you remove it.  Save the money maker stuff not the "luxury add-ons." 

    Avatar image for jaserno
    Jaserno

    255

    Forum Posts

    12

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #21  Edited By Jaserno
    @Bluethunder35 said:
    " I was playing GTA4: Episodes From Liberty City and I had Johnny Klebitz surfing the 'Net. One of the websites was about a send-up of Linux called Eunux and reading the material Rockstar North created for the send-up pretty much proved to me that the people wanting to sue are probably the biggest geeks in America. Honestly, why would anyone want to even run Linux on a console? What's the point of it anyway, other than some of the "big" stuff Mr. Hotz was planning? 99.9% of Linux users do it on a PC.  Yeah, I made up the number but I'll bet it's a legit number. Sony didn't take away the "Other Os" function. You can choose not to upgrade the firmware and you can run Linux on the PS3. I find it hard to believe that these geeks don't own multiple machines to run their applications. These guys are the hardcore of the hardcore. I'm sure they have a Slim PS3 for regular gaming use, if they even game period.  I just can't believe these guys would cry about losing the ability to run Linux on a CONSOLE. I don't really care. I just see a bunch of bored virgins with no lives suing Sony for no reason other than litigate litigate, litigate is in these days. If they want to spend their summer doing that and defending the good name of George Hotz, fine.   Honestly, I would like Sony to give them back the other OS function so these geeks would just shut the fuck up already. I'd like to then see what George and his buddies would do with their hack. "
    So you agree that a company can just advertise a feature, which makes it a big selling point and then just remove it when they choose because they've already made their money. And besides, the way you speak about people is disgusting, I bet you're a right dick.
    Avatar image for bluethunder35
    Bluethunder35

    364

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #22  Edited By Bluethunder35
    @Jaserno: If they advertised Linux, I never saw any T.V. promo about it and seeing that few even cared or knew about it in the first place, I wasn't alone. I'm surprised they are suing Sony over the removal of Linux but not for no longer supporting B/C via software emulation. 
     
    You know what, I opine about people as I see them. These geeks need to stop drinking George Hotz's Flavor-Aid, realize that he's going to be the only one that gets any notoriety over this and move on. If that makes me a right dick, fine. I don't kiss ass online.
    Avatar image for lordmaiden
    LordMaiden

    188

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #23  Edited By LordMaiden
    @Jaserno:  Linux was a big selling point? Really?
    Avatar image for zero_
    zero_

    2105

    Forum Posts

    378

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #24  Edited By zero_
    @LordMaiden: I don't have the exact quotes and such here, but Sony is on record multiple times as saying the ability to install Linux distinguished it from it's competitors. 
    Avatar image for sopranosfan
    sopranosfan

    1965

    Forum Posts

    35

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 8

    #25  Edited By sopranosfan

    I didn't care about it until I found out they took it away.  I still really don't care too much.

    Avatar image for zen313
    Zen313

    111

    Forum Posts

    20

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #26  Edited By Zen313

    I personally never used or intended to use the "Other OS" feature. It just gets on my nerves that they removed a feature that didnt need to be. The same thing with the removing backwards compatibility from current PS3 models. It doesnt make sense. I know their a company and making a profit is the main goal but were(games in general) have supported and built these companies up if you think about it. Give us something back once in awhile. 

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.