[Gecko_r7]

Well this has been rumored for a while, but now appears to be the real deal.

PowerPC Linux for Desktop, Workstation, Server, and HPC Clusters.
PowerPC Linux for Desktop, Workstation, Server, and HPC Clusters.

" Under basic agreement with SCEI, Terra Soft was granted a unique opportunity to develop and bring to market a complete Linux OS for PLAYSTATION 3. In development of Yellow Dog Linux v5.0, Terra Soft integrated and enhanced code from Barcelona Supercomputing Center, SCEI , and Fedora in order to offer the following:
- kernel 2.6.16
- gcc 4.1.1 and glibc 2.4
- Cell SDK 1.1
- OpenOffice.org 2.0.2
- FireFox 1.5.0 and Thunderbird 1.5.0
- Nautilus 2.14
... and a suite of Personal Accessories, Development Tools; Sound & Video, Internet, and Networking applications.

A simple installer enables absolutely anyone to install without instruction. Post-install, the default suite of applications presents an intuitive, self-guided means of exploring Linux without the confusion of multiple applications in the same family. An Advanced installer mode enables selection from greater than fifteen hundred packages, as is expected from a complete Linux distribution. "

This could be fun to try BOINC and S@H, but if I understand correctly, would likely run slower using only it's PPE if not optimized to exploit it's SPEs. From different comments Alex has made, it sounds like it would require self-imposed purgatory to sort out a programming solution that could apply the full potential of the Cell towards S@H. There's always hope, right?

Still, being able to run a complete Linux distro makes PS3 a legitimate PPC-based computer, even if not an Apple . Not a bad price for one either if enough aps become available to actually exploit the advantages of the Cell architecture, instead of just running on it.

It will be interesting to read some reviews once this hits the market.
Cheers!

[Tuoder]

That is crazy stuff. I wonder if anyone will think it is worth $600-$700 now?