Sony didn't just enrage Linux-loving gamers when it removed the Playstation 3's "Other OS" feature, as the U.S. Air Force and several universities are also hurt by the decision.
Other OS was primarily intended to let users install Linux distributions on the Playstation 3, turning it into an entry-level home computer. But the Air Force and academia found utility in the console's powerful Cell processor, letting them perform complex computing tasks on the cheap.
Ars Technica reports that the Air Force amassed over 2,000 PS3s to combine into a giant processing cluster. This PS3 supercomputer was used to research high-definition video processing and "systems with brain-like properties," InformationWeek reported. The University of Massachusetts tied together 16 PS3s to create the "Gravity Grid," a supercomputer that investigated gravitational waves in black holes. A professor at North Carolina State University built his own cluster from 8 PS3s.
All these uses are in jeopardy now that Sony has pulled the plug on Other OS, apparently to stop piracy following one hacker's successful work on the console. The Airforce and universities can still run their PS3s as is -- they don't need to upgrade firmware as the consoles aren't being used for gaming -- but they won't be able to replace any PS3s that fail, or acquire new ones.
Sony faces multiple class action lawsuits over the death of Other OS, but it's not clear whether the Air Force or other entities will join. The Air Force told Ars Technica that it's disappointed with Sony's decision and is "aware" of the lawsuits.
My guess is that Sony isn't too upset about snubbing the Air Force and universities. Console makers tend to sell their hardware at a loss and make it back on game purchases, especially early in the life cycle, so it's unlikely that Sony was making money from the military and academia. Still, this doesn't look good from a public relations standpoint, and defending the class action lawsuits won't be cheap. I wonder if snuffing Other OS was really worthwhile.
