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Linux kit for PS2

category: general [glöplog]
 
Sony is now shipping their Linux kit for the PlayStation2. For 249 Euros plus VAT, you get a 40 Gb hard drive, a network adaptator, USB keyboard and mouse, a nonitor cable and Linux installation disc.

For more information you can have a look on playstation2-linux.com

Of course this will make development of your own PS2 programs quite easy. But more important, this could make of the PS2 a true demoscene platform. To me that looks promising, as this is a quite cheap machine with "fixed" specs (no need to upgrade it), therefore enabling coders to really optimize their code, enabling an easy comparison of demos and finally avoiding most compatibility problems... a bit like were the ST or the A500 some years ago...

Some questions remain though, like if it's possible to use an USB floppy drive on the PS2, and to read CD-R on the PS2 (even if the FAQ says it's not).

moreover it seems the PS2 is a bit picky for the monitors, as lots of models were reported not to work with it :/

Anyway I'm interested to hear your opinion :)
added on the 2002-06-28 22:05:12 by exocet exocet
true... but the same goes for the xbox which comes with an architecture and OS most people will already be familiar with.

still, no harm can come from hacking away on the ps2. and those hippies will like linux :)
added on the 2002-06-28 22:07:39 by sagacity sagacity
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added on the 2002-06-28 22:08:09 by exocet exocet
W00t! I wonder if it's enough to run dedicated game servers.
added on the 2002-06-29 01:34:45 by Cesar Cesar
My opinion is, yeah, a fixed specification platform is cool. Say bye-bye to OpenGL coding and hello to hitting-the-hardware!

But personally I'm just not interested in a PS2, or X-Box, or GameCube.
PS2 is crap, hit the hardware my ass, nothing's worth than PS2 architecture, maybe PC... I won't say more because of NDAs.
30 M units sold... Damn marketing.
added on the 2002-06-29 03:02:10 by Sanx Sanx
exocet: the reason that some monitors dont work with the linux kit for ps2 is that it require a monitor that supports Sync-on-Green.
added on the 2002-06-29 13:20:52 by a_lee_n a_lee_n
too fucking expensive
added on the 2002-06-29 16:42:26 by hooligan hooligan
ps2 linux ? well, this is pure crap. The Demos for it would only run on a system with PS2 Linux, so it is bullshit hoch drei.
added on the 2002-06-29 20:07:01 by Fzool Fzool
thom: and when you gave up openGL and actually started rendering stuff with the PS2 i wonder how long it would take before you come crawling back, crying and on your knees, for something like openGL or D3D ;)

i'd then rather pick the g'cube or the xbox
added on the 2002-06-29 20:23:44 by superplek superplek
in terms of support, the dreamcast would still be better. plus it's cheap.

didn't make it a demo hit either. don't count on the ps2 to be one (fortunately, i'm not going to buy an useless machine like that one)
added on the 2002-06-29 22:39:50 by _-_-__ _-_-__
ps2 is pretty hard to code.. requires a lot of effort. probably most opengl/dx people wont want to touch it =) there's no quick and easy way.. but you can do some really nice stuff with it. hopefully we'll see some good ps2 demos, cant wait.. (im tempted to buy this kit myself i think)
added on the 2002-07-01 10:56:15 by smash smash
yep, ps2 coding requires #include <skills.h> ;)
added on the 2002-07-01 11:35:16 by superplek superplek
Yeah, It has been heard that ps2 consists of the complicated architecture.:)
added on the 2002-07-02 21:10:14 by got got
Dreamcast is a great platform for democoding...
And the homebrew scene keeps progressing all the time...

SEGA RULES!!!!!!!
added on the 2002-07-03 00:24:27 by mulambo mulambo
...and is also, effectively, dead. ;)
added on the 2002-07-03 03:03:32 by Shifter Shifter
I think it's quite different from what exist on Dreamcast, Xbox or Gamecube, as it is an OFFICIAL kit, thus enabling a decent user base to exist.

Sanx : your argument about the crap hardware of the PS2 is quite dubious. People laughed their ass off when the CPC was released, criticized the ST comparing it with the Amiga, and finally pissed on the GBC and still, many years later, there are still demos and games released on those machines. I think there is no bad hardware, just bad (or lazy) coders.
added on the 2002-07-03 23:39:29 by exocet exocet

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