http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8594720.stm

Sony intend to push out an 'update' that deliberately breaks the 'alternative OS' feature on the PS3. AIUI, this isn't just stopping installation, but also stopping PS3's that currently have Linux from continuing to run it.

Don't install the update, and games newer than it - or even rereleases of older games - may refuse to run.

It's bloody ridicuolous of Sony to sell a product with certain features then take them away after the sale. This isn't the first time Sony has exhibited a shocking arrogance and disregard towards the rights of its customers.

I was considering buying a PSP (for FFVII: Crisis Core and KH: Birth By Sleep) - but not now, not now.

And take them away from a software ''update''.
This is why i am hesitant to use updates, in fact i haven't updated windows in a while and when i do, i select the updates manually.
M$ Trys to install an ''update'' that searches your machine for pirated software!

This is why I stick to the outdated consoles. The games are better anyways.

LOL! This is why I just use linux. It's nice to be in the sun! It reminds me of one of the people I do work for. He calls linux communism, and says he likes microsoft because, "It's American software," and he doesn't think it's right for someone to come along and offer something for free that takes away their profits. Only problem is......he doesn't have a legit copy of any microsoft software on any of 10 machines except for on the new netbook he bought. It just kills me.

original (not slim) ps2 has the ability to run linux if you can find a kit
and yes, hackers have always found a way to get what they want
take the TI8X series of graphing calculators not the more recent ones but like the 82 and 86
some hackers found out how to run assembly programs on them
take dvd region coding, hack the firmware of the player and yer golden (yes i've done this)
take dvd encryption, dvdcss or low level copying of the disk
all they will need to do is find a buffer overflow in the software and voila

the people who suffer from restrictions are the legitimate users
the hackers simply see it as a sport, quite a few i would imagine love a good chalange, kind of like a game of chess

corporations need to realize that implementing such restrictions is simply a waste of their money

What's the purpose of restricting what people can do with their hardware?

How does it harm Sony to run Linux on a PS3?

the point is that they wanted the alternate os to be crippled in terms of hardware access as opposed to official sony approved software, thus making home-brew games on linux that takes full advantage of the graphics impossible therefore forcing developers to pay for the api to access the full features of the hardware (or something like that), i'ts not as much about the end user running linux as much as it is about someone taking away sony's exclusive ability to control who can take full advantage of the graphics hardware and who cant and charge a fee for it and sony fighting back
(just conjecture mind you but probably pretty close)
keep in mind this is SONY afterall, a huge proponent of DRM etc..

To protect users from themselves, because users are like careless children and can't handle rights to the property that they own.

I think I have to agree here. It's about protecting Sony's precious IP.

I once thought I really wanted a PS3 (mostly because a friend of mine let me play Burnout: Paradise City on his and I thought it was really cool), but after all this crap coming from Sony (and since I've swtiched to Linux), I've reconsidered...