PlayStation 3 Built-to-Order? PS3 is clearly a computer?

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/713/713012p1.html

This interview is actually a couple of weeks old, but since IGN and a few other sites are barely picking up on it, I thought I'd post it...that, and I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks about the PS3 being pushed as a computer.

I should note that, depending on the translation, Ken may not be serious about having the PS3 BTO (built-to-order). When I originally read this, the person translating the report also had Ken noting how that would confuse the market, so they probably wouldn't do it (although they could if they wanted to).

Here is the full interview (credit to "one" at the B3D forums for translating it):
http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=772350&postcount=1

edit: OK, I might be wrong on the source of IGN's quote. I thought they (or GamerNode) were sourcing the interview I posted, but maybe not. IGN already has an article up about the interview I posted:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/711/711688p1.html
I don't know much about the Nikkei newspaper article, so I guess he could have said that. Strange that he would go from joking about it to being serious about it in a week though.

edit2: Ah, I found it. I thought it was a more recent article, but the source in IGN's June 16th article is actually a report from May 12th. Here's that report, again credit to "one":
http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showpost.php?p=756616&postcount=1

 

This is more of a gray area that Sony hasn't directly commented on AFAIK, but there is speculation that you could use any HDD that you have (that fits the requirements anyway) instead of relying on Sony's PS3 HDDs. IOW, instead of waiting for a 120 GB HDD that costs $200, you could get one off Newegg for $125 or so (whatever they cost). That's all in theory, although I guess it would fit the "PS3 is a computer" idea. Still, it would make more sense to Sony, the company, to require special HDDs in order to make more money.

The 360s were going for at least $800 IIRC. Some went up to $1400 and maybe even close to $2000 IIRC. Depending on your luck and when you sell it, you could sell it for somewhere around there I guess. Maybe closer to $1000+ since all other Blu-ray players will probably be at least $1000.

However, I should note that I will lose my respect for you if you do this. Of course, my respect doesn't get you any games or pay the bills...so....no big deal I guess.

 

I don't think any of that is something we can answer for sure right now or even at launch.

Depending on what you're trying to upgrade (and what Sony is offering), it probably won't be too easy (as if I know for sure). Something like a Blu-ray burner might be easy to upgrade to, but something like more RAM may be a little more difficult to upgrade. I'm guessing you'd have to buy a PS3 with a burner or more RAM instead of upgrading it yourself.

You can install programs AFAIK. The PS2 Linux solution let you install a number of programs IIRC (Firefox, some word processors and photoshop-type programs, instant messengers, etc.), so the PS3 version should theoretically allow for the same.

PC games would probably be the least likely, although still a remote possibility I guess. First of all, it would probably have to be games that could run in Linux, or at least those would probably be the easiest. However, I'm not sure if running a program in the PS3's Linux will allow for use of the RSX (GPU) and the Blu-ray disc drive. I was under the impression that only the Cell processor would be "open." I might be wrong about that, and even then, it might be possible for Cell to emulate some of the older PC games I guess.

As you can tell, most of the functionality will probably have to come from the homebrew community. A lot of things are possible theoretically (especially since Sony hasn't commented much on the issue), but it still has to be made to work for the PS3.

 

I also think a lot of this is Kutaragi being Kutaragi. I doubt the BTO stuff will happen, the yearly changes probably won't happen, and most of the upgrades won't happen (faster Cell, more RAM, etc.). Of course, we might get some sort of PSX2, yearly PS3's with bigger HDDs and new features (support for new standards or whatever), or something like that. But it won't be like ordering a PC.

That said, I think it could be considered a PC, or at least a gaming machine that does a lot of other stuff. We already know that you'll be able to watch Blu-ray movies, download and play music along with other media, communicate with friends online, browse the Internet, and a couple of other things (maybe still secret, like possibly acting as a LocationFree base station for the PSP and other devices). And every PS3 will have a HDD with Linux installed, unless something changes. Assuming the PS3's Linux is as open as the PS2's Linux, then there should be a number of things that the PS3 could do that PCs tend to do (word processing and printing, MythTV capabilities, email, etc.).

It will depend on how things turn out, but I could see the PS3 being an attractive purchase for non-gamers....well, technically it is already due to its ability to play Blu-ray movies. I don't know if it is clearly a PC, but it could probably replace PCs in most people's homes (although whether or not it does is still uncertain...and probably unlikely unless Sony strongly advertises these functions).

 

I don't believe so, at least not officially. Some stores might let you join a list of people that they'll notify ASAP when preorders begin. Some stores might even let you preorder one, but that might not be such a good idea. A lot of stores are avoiding early preorders due to the problems that occurred last year with 360 preorders.

Well, it is already pretty attractive to the non-gaming HDTV enthusiasts. Whether they can get anyone else onboard will depend on what exactly they plan to offer and how they advertise it. Offering a device that can act much like a PC for under $500 would be a purchase a lot of people might not be able to avoid, especially those that want to tinker with Cell.

In a way, I guess both Sony and Nintendo are trying to increase the number of people who play games...just in different ways.

Not that it will happen, but considering how most people just use their PCs for browsing the Internet, email and other forms of communication (IM, video chat, etc.), using word processing and other simple applications, etc., it wouldn't be hard to do the same stuff on the PS3 (a lot of it is already in place). Unless I'm missing something that 90+% of PC users do on their PC that is impossible to do on the PS3, I don't see why some of these people couldn't replace their PC with a PS3.

Now whether that happens is a whole other story. Even if the PS3 could do everything a PC could do and more (and at a reduced price), it would be quite the battle to convince people to replace their PC with a PS3.