[olug] Tiny computers

[nate]

On Mon, Apr 05, 2010 at 03:03:58PM -0500, T. J. Brumfield wrote:
> If you don't install the firmware update, you keep Linux on it just fine.
> 

Yeah... if your buying a Playstation to run Linux your doing it wrong,
unless you have a fetish for non-x86 architectures. There are a lot
cheap and lot more powerful machines for running Linux. 

256MB of RAM just does not cut it and Sony has Linux locked out of
GPU accelerated graphics.

> Also, you don't need to install Linux on it to play YouTube on the TV.

Yeah, but it sucks for that. Low quality and difficult to use. If your
goal is to watch Youtube vids on your TV then PS3 isn't a good solution.

> Out of the box, the PS3 has a web browser and Flash. It also supports
> Netflix, plays BluRay movies, and has a video rental service. It also
> streams video files across your wireless network.
> 

I know people that use Netflix on the PS3. It works out very well and is
good quality. The downside is that you have to use Netflix's web-based
UI on a Windows PC to setup what movies you want to play on the PS3. 

It does make a excellent Blueray player, though. And very good at video
games, of course. 

> You could build a small home theater PC, but if you install Linux you
> won't be able to watch BluRay movies or Netflix streaming.
> 
> I'm a fan of Linux. I hope to see BluRay and Netflix support on Linux
> soon. But if you want a box to play media on your TV, a PS3 may be the
> best current solution.
> 
> -- T. J.
>

It all depends on what you want. Playstation is good for Blueray and
Games, average for Netflix (since you need a seperate PC, from what I
remember, to set up the movie feeds). 

However Linux PC is going to be superior in terms of web-based
entertainment (not Netflix since it's Windows-only on the PC, so far).
Youtube, Hulu, Amazon, etc etc.  Also Linux has a much wider range of
media support. The PS3 is going to be very limited in the codecs and
media it supports... Linux can play just about anything. 

With Nvidia proprietary codecs it's a very good performer for HD video,
also. 

But a Sheeva Plug and that sort of thing is not appropriate. You have to
go with a x86-based system to get good graphical performance.