Linux on ps3?

[rexest]

Ive only had my ps3 for about 2 weeks just wondering what the advantages of running linux on it are? Ive never used linux on anything before, And where can i get it from can i just dl it burn it and install hows it all work?

 

[rpgcyco]

Ive only had my ps3 for about 2 weeks just wondering what the advantages of running linux on it are?

In my opinion, there are not many advantages for a normal consumer.

The architecture of the Cell PPE is PowerPC, meaning you can only use distributions compiled for that architecture. This prevents the use of almost all commercial closed source Linux programs, mainly games, as they are only released for x86 and\or x86_64. This point becomes irrelevant however, when you learn Sony has implemented a hypervisor which prevents Linux from using the RSX to accelerate 3D rendering anyway.

It can be useful, I suppose, as a basic web browsing computer and also for applications that can properly use the full parallel processing potential of the Cell as Linux has unrestricted access to 6 of the 7 SPEs.

Ive never used linux on anything before, And where can i get it from can i just dl it burn it and install hows it all work?

Considering you have never used Linux before, I suggest you download a Live CD and try it out on your computer first. If you're interested in trying that and want help, let me know.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

If your knowledge of linux is nothing, it'll be difficult, time consuming, and annoying. The advantages are pretty much limited to web browsing, some GIMP, and if you're really feeling frisky, you can install MAME and enjoy some arcade emulated greatness.

 

[Flerbizky]

If your knowledge of linux is nothing, it'll be difficult, time consuming, and annoying.

But also a learning experience - Never under estimate those..

Search for Yellow Dog and find a thread by Pako who did this a long time ago with plenty of screenshots..

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

But also a learning experience - Never under estimate those..

Search for Yellow Dog and find a thread by Pako who did this a long time ago with plenty of screenshots..

Well, of course I blindly ran into Linux with no prior knowledge, and I learned a great deal. That didn't make it any less frustrating

Also, be sure that you have an HDTV, as it is difficult to use Linux on an SD TV.

 

[Eric.]

Ubuntu has a PPC version that is supposed to work on the PS3, so its also worth a shot if you aren't a fan of YDL.