If you choose to keep linux and not update, you are locked out of things like updates which some games are completely unplayable without some of these fixes.

So the idea that the choice is truly optional is just not true, sooner or later to enjoy offline content from disc based media you WILL have to update. That is my problem with the situation as I don't play online games to begin with.

Slowmo beat me to it, but I thought I'd expand. Just because they are removing a feature that "lol who cares? Play games loserz!" doesn't mean it's not kind of a big deal. As slowmo said, by people not making a stink about this, it could embolden them to make another change. Like finding out there is a web-browser based hack that comes out, best solution? Remove the web browser! Nobody complained before, and it's essentally the same situation right? A good PS3 fan that likes the features of their console should be a little miffed at this, maybe not a lot because they don't personally use it, but the fact remains they are removing functionality. And not just PSN functionality, this will cripple your system, you can do NOTHING with your system (from what I read at least).

Oh, and yes the "Just get a computer n00b!" argument can't work both ways for you, you can't argue for a computer being better in this case and not better for a browser without coming off as hypocritical at least a little.

But, then again, I have a slim to this doesn't pertain to me personally. But just because you have preference to some huge corporation doesn't mean that they won't screw you if they can. Your zealous love of a hunk of plastic offers you no protection from corporate greed or pragmatism.

the point is if the Hacker's would have not done what they did, none of this would have even been an issue.

the key here is Geohot used a mod chip, an FPGA to do his hack. that's the main problem I think many here are overlooking.

the fact that he used something like a spartan-board to do it hell even microcontroller's can be used. once he did that Sony was forced to go the route they did. it was not something they wanted to do. because if anything Sony has been a strong supporter of Linux.

while I understand the concern.

they are in the industry to make money. and they took a very steep loss to bring what was the most open game system, that has been released but yet some in the hacking community has taken thing's a little too far.

you use a mod chip to try to bypass the security an copy protection and this is one of the result's, at least Sony did not outright delete Linux.

but while i think Hacking is ok an all, when you know your hack would cause more harm than good that's a problem.

for one the entire software exploit currently relies on Linux:

PS3 Exploit: Software

As I’m sure everybody heard, the memory access exploit for the PS3 hypervisor was released recently by geohotz. I was finally able to replicate his hack so I thought I’d take the time to help out others who may also have trouble due to being linux n00bs like me If I were to post everything at once it would be too much work and I’d never get around to it, so I’ll post bits at a time to ensure I actually do post it heh. Today’s post will talk about the software side of the exploit.

Please note that the geohotz exploit software was hardcoded for the v2.42 firmware, I have made a small fix that attempts to dynamically support all firmware versions. I have only tested and used it on v3.15 however.

Fixed PS3 Exploit Files

The first step is to install Linux on your PS3 which means of course that this will not work on a slim PS3. I tried a few different Linux distros and after various different issues I settled on using Ubuntu v8.10 since this is the same version that geohotz used. I suggest using the “alternate” version since it includes a gui which the “server” version does not. You can download the 636MB image below, I suggest using the legal torrent below to save the bandwith of the Ubuntu servers.

"the big one is " with work from linux:

Obviously notorious George Hotz has managed to get all 7 SPUs of the Playstation 3’s CPU under his control. This means although he cannot access the CPU’s root key, he now can decrypt everything that’s going thru these SPUs like datastreams of (encrypted) commercial games.

with Time it would take quite a bit but as you know Hacker's seem to have quite a bit of Time!

That's exactly why Sony is trying to keep Mod chipped PS3's off of PSN.

EXAMPLE:

Quote from a hacker that has correspondence with Geohot stated this:

this hack does not and will not be used for booting backups or copies or whatever you want to call it. it is useful for research purposes only. *sigh* how many times must this be said?

that very same hacker also acknowledges:

Obviously notorious George Hotz has managed to get all 7 SPUs of the Playstation 3’s CPU under his control. This means although he cannot access the CPU’s root key, he now can decrypt everything that’s going thru these SPUs

"like datastreams of (encrypted) commercial games."

research my @ss

That whole argument doesn't work because of one small detail: Competition. And also the fact that Sony only makes money from consumers by continuing to sell them products. Sony is not a used car dealership. It's not a company who's goal is to just get someone to buy a PS3 then move on to the next guy. They build relationships with their customers and IF they decided to go down this slippery slope of removing functions and features that consumers really do care about then they will greatly be hurting their bottom line as customers get angry and leave to the competition. It's not just that "Other OS" was necessary for potential hacks that's why it was deleted but also that it was a function that was not a selling point, it was a feature that was not widely used, and it was a feature that was not necessary for the core purpose of the console as well as being a feature that current systems no longer had anyways. 

the reason they do it its actually understandable.


microsoft did the same to use accesories from third party, nintendo also removed mp3 playback from the wii to not pay a license

while I think Sony want the PS3 to be an all inclusive Multi-media machine, install other OS was indeed one of the Point's that When the PS3 was designed that before say for example the PS2 had a kit that allowed you to add Linux, but it was $200.00 for that kit when it was  first released

there even has been a dedicated playstation 2 linux website for 7 year's

http://playstation2-linux.com/

when the slim ps2 came out you could no longer install Linux on your Playstation 2 on the slim's but you could on the Phat ps2's

Sony like I stated has beeen a very strong supporter of Linux, it was just a shame Hacker's decided Linux was not good enough for their HomeBrew.

It prevents piracy, which increases dev funds, potentially increasing game quantity &/or quality as well as attracting devs and publishers to the console.
Who used other OS anyway? The only reason I can think of to use it is to watch .mkv files, and why should someone have .mkv files if they have a working bluray player?

That's how I feel about it.

Until I hear people defending the removal of lifetime. 

Then it just pisses me off that people are supporting a corporation over people when the corporation has no justifiable reason for taking away lifetime.

The only proper reactions to this are to ignore it or to condemn Sony.

To be upset at people who are upset or be glad that Sony did it.  That's just ridiculious.  "I'm glad that other people are inconvienced with no benefit to anybody".  The hell is that?

As for threads like this... I wish people would stop posting them, and just start up a lawsuit if they think it's illegal under their countries laws.

Not illegal since you have to digitally accept the contract before you can access PSN the first time and it says in there that they have the right to change their features.

And we should be miffed at them as well. MS is pretty guilty of this as well, although they have been boldfaced assholes about it. I didn't realize the Wii had that removed, yuck on them.