4 ms·

I'll never buy another Sony console again after they removed the ability to run Linux on the PS3. It's one of the reasons I bought one and I used it a lot.

grogenaut 7y ago
Do you buy Microsoft or Nintendo consoles? If so why?
- lostgame 7y ago
  I buy Nintendo consoles due to the quality of the software and hardware. The Nintendo DS, at the time, was unparalleled in terms of software quality, and, while not as portable as a Game Boy Advance, was compatible with my existing GBA collection, allowed me to wirelessly play; and even eventually play online, with friends, and offered an almost dauntingly large library of quality software. This was before the days of the iPhone, and while I did have a Windows Phone at the time, it never could have, and certainly did not, have the library of software, or hardware design, to consider it a valid console. Being a PDA and a phone was more than enough at the time. I played ‘Halo’, of all things, on my PowerBook G4 back in the day, saw that as the driver to XBOX, and couldn’t have cared less.
  - grogenaut 7y ago
    But both of these companies are hostile to Linux... Why would you buy anything from them? Is it worse to try and fail than to never try at all?
scarface74 7y ago
Do you think that Sony is having executive board meetings worrying about a few Linux users who won’t buy their consoles?
- qxnqd 7y ago
  Yes, they share the room with the Facebook executives who worry about the HN users who will quit the social network.
- Gracana 7y ago
  Choosing not to buy products from a company you don't like seems pretty reasonable to me. It doesn't have to be a cunning plot to destroy the company.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    True. But it’s like every single random submission about “Why I chose to leave $X”. In the grand scheme of things. No one cares.
    - Koshkin 7y ago
      Well, obviously, some do. There is always an agenda to be pursued, but you are right in that companies do not care. Even if they say they do.
- rasz 7y ago
  Im pretty sure they had more than one board meeting worrying about sudden coordinated effort of 'linux nerds' to utterly destroy PS3 security model.
chrischen 7y ago
They didn’t remove it. They just ended updates for it so you couldn’t also use an updated console AND have linux support. Software isn’t free, so I people are over entitled if they expect lifetime updates.
- aibara 7y ago
  Which crippled the console, because you couldn't play games online without updating. And if that wasn't bad enough, soon after you couldn't even play new games offline. I used my PS3 as a backup computer when I was at school (came in handy when my laptop died), so I didn't update it. When I bought Dark Souls, I found out I couldn't play it.
  - lostgame 7y ago
    This makes sense. New games could rely on API changes in software. It happens all the time for me as an iOS developer, and we have to make an educated decision on which OS versions to support and which ones not to.

grogenaut 7y ago

Do you buy Microsoft or Nintendo consoles? If so why?

lostgame 7y ago
I buy Nintendo consoles due to the quality of the software and hardware. The Nintendo DS, at the time, was unparalleled in terms of software quality, and, while not as portable as a Game Boy Advance, was compatible with my existing GBA collection, allowed me to wirelessly play; and even eventually play online, with friends, and offered an almost dauntingly large library of quality software. This was before the days of the iPhone, and while I did have a Windows Phone at the time, it never could have, and certainly did not, have the library of software, or hardware design, to consider it a valid console. Being a PDA and a phone was more than enough at the time. I played ‘Halo’, of all things, on my PowerBook G4 back in the day, saw that as the driver to XBOX, and couldn’t have cared less.
- grogenaut 7y ago
  But both of these companies are hostile to Linux... Why would you buy anything from them? Is it worse to try and fail than to never try at all?

scarface74 7y ago

Do you think that Sony is having executive board meetings worrying about a few Linux users who won’t buy their consoles?

qxnqd 7y ago
Yes, they share the room with the Facebook executives who worry about the HN users who will quit the social network.
Gracana 7y ago
Choosing not to buy products from a company you don't like seems pretty reasonable to me. It doesn't have to be a cunning plot to destroy the company.
- scarface74 7y ago
  True. But it’s like every single random submission about “Why I chose to leave $X”. In the grand scheme of things. No one cares.
  - Koshkin 7y ago
    Well, obviously, some do. There is always an agenda to be pursued, but you are right in that companies do not care. Even if they say they do.
rasz 7y ago
Im pretty sure they had more than one board meeting worrying about sudden coordinated effort of 'linux nerds' to utterly destroy PS3 security model.

chrischen 7y ago

They didn’t remove it. They just ended updates for it so you couldn’t also use an updated console AND have linux support. Software isn’t free, so I people are over entitled if they expect lifetime updates.

aibara 7y ago
Which crippled the console, because you couldn't play games online without updating. And if that wasn't bad enough, soon after you couldn't even play new games offline. I used my PS3 as a backup computer when I was at school (came in handy when my laptop died), so I didn't update it. When I bought Dark Souls, I found out I couldn't play it.
- lostgame 7y ago
  This makes sense. New games could rely on API changes in software. It happens all the time for me as an iOS developer, and we have to make an educated decision on which OS versions to support and which ones not to.