Sony's anti-openness stance screws over the USAF

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Sony are dicks. They were dicks in the Betamax fiasco, they were dicks when they deliberately shipped viruses with their music CDs, and they are being dicks now. They're the Japanese Apple.

http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/215162/playstation-3-operating-service-changes-to-negatively-affect-air-force-supercomputer

PlayStation 3 operating service changes to negatively affect Air Force supercomputer
by Dave Rudden
May 12, 2010 14:45 PM PT

The recent removal of additional operating system support on the Sony PlayStation 3 is affecting more than just choice-seeking customers, as the U.S. Air Force Research Labratory has noted that it will have a difficult time finding replacement systems for its supercomputer.

Late last year, we brought you a story reporting that the U.S. Air Force commissioned a $2 million purchase for thousands of PlayStation 3 consoles in order to create a supercomputer capable of running complex military programs, with the PS3's cell processor and ability to run alternative operating systems were cited as major factors in the decision. Now it seems as though Sony's recent decision to remove the PS3's ability to run other operating systems will make upkeep of the Air Force's supercomputer a much more difficult endeavor.

While an Air Force Research Laboratory member told Ars Technicha "We will have to continue to use the systems we already have in hand," the official added, "this will make it difficult to replace systems that break or fail." The Air Force apparently is being given any preferential treatment by Sony in their procurement of the consoles, as the lab member recounted "The refurbished PS3s also have the problem that when they come back from Sony, they have the firmware (gameOS) and it will not allow Other OS, which seems wrong."

[Statistical]

1. And taxpayers are out $2 million. Great.

Was a good idea though well except they trusted Sony to not cripple their products by future firmware changes.

[kenny blankenship]

2. It's changing the terms of the contract as it stood at time of sale

but apparently big corporations can do this now to people with impunity, so long as the shat-upon party are just regular people, and not other large corporations who could bring the same number of lawyers to court.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. This kind of behavior is why I will not buy Apple or Sony products

They seem determined to control the hardware after it is my property. No amount of slick industrial design can compensate for that kind of attitude.

[Pholus]

4. This is why "It just works" is BS.

It just works, until the true owners change their mind. No Sony/Apple for me either!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. +1