Geekdom unites with new kit

By PETER GRIFFIN

Linux buffs and gaming fanatics may have once occupied opposite corners of computer geekdom.

But Sony's introduction of the Linux operating system to its gaming consoles has brought them together.

The consumer electronics giant has put a Linux developer's kit on the market so users with computer knowhow can convert their PlayStation 2 consoles into basic PCs to run Linux-based applications and develop their own games.

Sony will sell the kit only online in New Zealand, for about $600.

It includes a network adaptor, a 40GB internal hard drive, a monitor-capable adaptor, software DVDs, a keyboard and mouse.

Auckland system integrator and Linux specialist Zombie Linux plans to run training programmes for enthusiasts wanting to learn how to use the kit.

Sony launched the kit in Japan in the middle of last year, with no plans to sell it internationally, but promptly sold nearly 8000 kits.

Bill Dixon, demonstrating the kit at last week's Computerworld Expo in Greenlane, said the PlayStation 2's limited 32MB memory would prevent graphic-intensive web browsing.

Shipments of PlayStation 2 consoles worldwide have now reached 30 million.

In New Zealand, 60,000 have been sold, many at close to cost price, as retailers looked to console games and peripherals such as extra game controllers and memory cards to make a margin.

Sony is not tipping the Linux kit to be a major revenue spinner. It expects to sell 20 to 30 in the next six months.

Meanwhile, overseas reports suggest Sony boffins are already well advanced on PlayStation 3, which has US$400 million ($880 million) earmarked for its development.

The PS3 is expected to centre on online gaming and focus on distributed computing, which would spread processing tasks across several networked computers.

Members of the Linux community believe it will also be popular with people who want to develop console games, but previously had to reverse-engineer the system to do so.

Linux for PlayStation 2 Community