4 ms·

How is a console not a general purpose device? If I gave you a PS5 dev kit, what software would you be unable to port?

zeta0134 2y ago
It's mostly about intent: just about no one on the planet looks at the marketing for a PlayStation 5 and expects to be able to use it to file their taxes. That device is sold as a multimedia platform; that it happens to be a general purpose computer with software locks is irrelevant to it's stated purpose. The consumer is pretty well aware of what they're getting. Not so with your average Apple device with access to the App Store, outside of maybe the TVs these days. The iPad ad that made all the headlines recently was clearly trying to bill it as a general purpose everything device with few if any such limitations. In terms of how the devices are marketed to consumers, it's night and day, and that does make a huge difference when trying to determine if consumers have been mislead by shady business practices.
- burnerthrow008 2y ago
  > just about no one on the planet looks at the marketing for a PlayStation 5 and expects to be able to use it to file their taxes Ah, this old chestnut of circular reasoning. It's not a general purpose computer because people think it isn't, so they don't use it as one because it's not a general purpose computer. > The consumer is pretty well aware of what they're getting. Is the consumer not well aware that iOS is a walled garden?
  - zeta0134 2y ago
    I should clarify that I don't personally hold this particular chestnut. A computer is a computer, and I'll remove the locks and run whatever software I please. I make homebrew games as a hobby, after all. But regulators don't tend to write laws based on the actual tech, as much as how it gets used. That's the disconnect, but it still helps to try to understand the other point of view.
- criddell 2y ago
  Sony hasn't marketed the PS5 as a general purpose computer, but they did that with the PS2 and 3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_PlayStation_2 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_PlayStation_2
hu3 2y ago
Economical viably? No software. It's a platform for games. With input devices targeted for games. With an operational system target for games.
- criddell 2y ago
  > It's a platform for games. Primarily. Some can also play Blu-ray disks and all can stream music and movies from a bunch of different sources. The PS5 also has integrations with some social media sites and a built-in web browser. The PS5 Game Base application also lets you call and text other PS5 users. > With input devices targeted for games. But also bluetooth keyboard and mouse support. > With an operational system target for games. Did you have something specific in mind for this?
  - hu3 2y ago
    You're seriously asking me how is Playstation OS targeted at games? Sorry I wont indulge in this level of discussion. Waste of time for all involved.
    - criddell 2y ago
      > You're seriously asking me how is Playstation OS targeted at games? We know the OS is great for games. What I'm asking is why it's not good for other things (the OS kernel is FreeBSD 11). The PS2 and 3 had full user Linux support so those were obviously general purpose PCs. They removed Linux support for the PS4 and 5 though and apparently that seems to be enough for many people here to no longer think of them as computers. If the dividing line between general purpose computer and appliance is in how the manufacturer lets you use it, then what functionality would the iPhone need to lose to in order for you to stop thinking the iPhone is a general purpose computer?

It's mostly about intent: just about no one on the planet looks at the marketing for a PlayStation 5 and expects to be able to use it to file their taxes. That device is sold as a multimedia platform; that it happens to be a general purpose computer with software locks is irrelevant to it's stated purpose. The consumer is pretty well aware of what they're getting. Not so with your average Apple device with access to the App Store, outside of maybe the TVs these days. The iPad ad that made all the headlines recently was clearly trying to bill it as a general purpose everything device with few if any such limitations. In terms of how the devices are marketed to consumers, it's night and day, and that does make a huge difference when trying to determine if consumers have been mislead by shady business practices.

burnerthrow008 2y ago
> just about no one on the planet looks at the marketing for a PlayStation 5 and expects to be able to use it to file their taxes Ah, this old chestnut of circular reasoning. It's not a general purpose computer because people think it isn't, so they don't use it as one because it's not a general purpose computer. > The consumer is pretty well aware of what they're getting. Is the consumer not well aware that iOS is a walled garden?
- zeta0134 2y ago
  I should clarify that I don't personally hold this particular chestnut. A computer is a computer, and I'll remove the locks and run whatever software I please. I make homebrew games as a hobby, after all. But regulators don't tend to write laws based on the actual tech, as much as how it gets used. That's the disconnect, but it still helps to try to understand the other point of view.
criddell 2y ago
Sony hasn't marketed the PS5 as a general purpose computer, but they did that with the PS2 and 3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_PlayStation_2 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_for_PlayStation_2

hu3 2y ago

Economical viably? No software. It's a platform for games. With input devices targeted for games. With an operational system target for games.

criddell 2y ago
> It's a platform for games. Primarily. Some can also play Blu-ray disks and all can stream music and movies from a bunch of different sources. The PS5 also has integrations with some social media sites and a built-in web browser. The PS5 Game Base application also lets you call and text other PS5 users. > With input devices targeted for games. But also bluetooth keyboard and mouse support. > With an operational system target for games. Did you have something specific in mind for this?
- hu3 2y ago
  You're seriously asking me how is Playstation OS targeted at games? Sorry I wont indulge in this level of discussion. Waste of time for all involved.
  - criddell 2y ago
    > You're seriously asking me how is Playstation OS targeted at games? We know the OS is great for games. What I'm asking is why it's not good for other things (the OS kernel is FreeBSD 11). The PS2 and 3 had full user Linux support so those were obviously general purpose PCs. They removed Linux support for the PS4 and 5 though and apparently that seems to be enough for many people here to no longer think of them as computers. If the dividing line between general purpose computer and appliance is in how the manufacturer lets you use it, then what functionality would the iPhone need to lose to in order for you to stop thinking the iPhone is a general purpose computer?