Why no linux on the PS3 slim?
Friday, August 28th, 2009
It seems the reasons that the PS3 slim won’t have the OtherOS option are not as we expected. Seeing as Sony make a loss on these machines and can only recoup the costs by selling games and peripherals, it does make sense that they don’t want people buying hundreds to use in PS3 cells. Those people don’t buy games or peripherals. Sony just lose out.
But apparently this is not the reason that the new PS3 has had its linux capability removed. According to this post on the official Sony linux site, by a Sony employee, the reason is that the hypervisor drivers were too expensive to maintain.
“I’m sorry that you are frustrated by the lack of comment specifically regarding the withdrawal of support for OtherOS on the new PS3 slim.
The reasons are simple: The PS3 Slim is a major cost reduction involving many changes to hardware components in the PS3 design. In order to offer the OtherOS install, SCE would need to continue to maintain the OtherOS hypervisor drivers for any significant hardware changes – this costs SCE. One of our key objectives with the new model is to pass on cost savings to the consumer with a lower retail price. Unfortunately in this case the cost of OtherOS install did not fit with the wider objective to offer a lower cost PS3.”
So there we go. Maybe in the future we will see this option return. Lets all keep our fingers crossed. In the mean time, lets all go out and buy XBOX 360s as they seem to offer better value for money with a larger range of games should we get no linux love from Sony.
Note to Sony: Linux would have made me buy a PS3 slim. Now I’m buying from your competitor.
It seems the reasons that the PS3 slim won’t have the OtherOS option are not as we expected. Seeing as Sony make a loss on these machines and can only recoup the costs by selling games and peripherals, it does make sense that they don’t want people buying hundreds to use in PS3 cells. Those people don’t buy games or peripherals. Sony just lose out.
But apparently this is not the reason that the new PS3 has had its linux capability removed. According to this post on the official Sony linux site, by a Sony employee, the reason is that the hypervisor drivers were too expensive to maintain.
“I’m sorry that you are frustrated by the lack of comment specifically regarding the withdrawal of support for OtherOS on the new PS3 slim.
The reasons are simple: The PS3 Slim is a major cost reduction involving many changes to hardware components in the PS3 design. In order to offer the OtherOS install, SCE would need to continue to maintain the OtherOS hypervisor drivers for any significant hardware changes – this costs SCE. One of our key objectives with the new model is to pass on cost savings to the consumer with a lower retail price. Unfortunately in this case the cost of OtherOS install did not fit with the wider objective to offer a lower cost PS3.”
So there we go. Maybe in the future we will see this option return. Lets all keep our fingers crossed. In the mean time, lets all go out and buy XBOX 360s as they seem to offer better value for money with a larger range of games should we get no linux love from Sony.
Note to Sony: Linux would have made me buy a PS3 slim. Now I’m buying from your competitor.
