So with a single threat from a single, teenage hacker, Sony removes Linux support from the PS3. Oh, you can keep it as long as you don’t want to use online features.
A lot of rationalizations are being vomited up in discussions of the fallout that might occur due this move.
A few things that don’t apply to this discussion:
1. Sony’s only doing this to stop piracy.
Not really. Once the thing was hacked, all attempts to prevent piracy are futile. Instead this removes functionality from honest users.
2. Six users in Idaho use it. So who cares?
It doesn’t matter how many use it. The feature was removed from every single user because it was convenient for Sony.
3. It was the only way to fix this.
Perhaps, but fix it for what? Piracy? I understand that, ostensibly, Sony wanted everyone to upgrade to remove the majority of the hardware from the vulnerability, but I find it very hard to believe that a patch wouldn’t have been a more consumer-centric decision.
Things like this only tend to aggravate Piracy.
The PS3 was and is sold as a device of infinite possibility. When I bought mine, I hoped the firmware proper would be expanded to meet this potential. Linux allowed those who wanted to utilize (at least some of) its strengths to do so. While I hoped Sony would add the sort of features that you see in something like Boxee I was content knowing that watching things like Hulu was possible in Linux. Eventually Sony added Netflix support and I was thrilled. However, taking away the OtherOS function with very little warning despite the painful upgrade process made it seem that Sony was removing the potential of the PS3 faster than they were utilizing it.
In short, the infinite possibility of the PS3 now seems to be the ability to output pretty game graphics. There are cheaper bluray players now with more internet media consumption capabilities. Unless Sony ups the ante soon with major features that aren’t game related, the PS3 is starting to look less and less like a capable home entertainment device and more like a game-focused console. If that’s the case, then you’re better off with an Xbox 360.
