PS3 is a computer - Kutaragi

PS3 News | Upgrades and built-to-order systems on the way?

In a claim we're sure we've heard before somewhere, Sony Computer Entertainment head Ken Kutaragi has described the PlayStation 3 as "clearly a computer," before suggesting that hardware upgrades could be made available for the PS3, and that built-to-order systems were also on the cards.

Speaking to Japanese site PC Watch, Kutaragi was adamant that Sony's latest platform was not a games console. "Speaking about the PS3, we never said we will release a game console," he said. "It's radically different from the previous PlayStation. It is clearly a computer. Indeed, with a game console, you need to take out any unnecessary elements inside the console in order to decrease its cost. This will of course apply to the PS3 as well."

Kutaragi also touched on the customisable nature of the machine, assuring would-be PS3 owners that Sony will "put up no restrictions. Because it is a computer, it can interact with anything, freely. If someone is familiar with PC building, he or she can easily upgrade PS3's HDD." And it's not just because it has a HDD that Kutaragi considers the PS3 to be a little different from your common or garden games console. "Everything has been planned and designed so it will become a computer," he insisted. "The previous PlayStation had a memory slot as its unique interface. In contrast, the PS3 features PC standard interfaces. Because they are standard, they are open."

The Big Cheese of SCEI was even confident that the PS3 could achieve what no other console has previously managed, by keeping up-to-date with the specs of the latest PCs: "In the PC world, specifications rarely last more than two years. You need to update them. I believe the PC is always evolving. I think that the time may come that the 60GB HDD would become too small or the RAM to low. Such issues are numerous."

The PlayStation 3 games console/computer/multimedia hub launches globally this November. By which time we may all just be a little clearer on what the hell it is.

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32 Comments

chatguy

5 years ago

man the ps3 a pc what next i tell you. Who knows what sony will do next but I don't think anyone saw that one not a good move really makes me start to think less of the ps3 really

Sin Ogaris

5 years ago

"The PS4 is not a gaming console, it's a fridge. Look at how cold it keeps this bottle of Coke. Give us your first born child and the deed to your house as a down payment." - Ken Kutaragi

wobbler

5 years ago

--alex-- wrote

So was the PS2, a computer is less taxable than a video games console.

Quoted so people can get a clue.

Calling the PS3, and indeed the PS2 means less tax to pay for EU import.

I think we can see that point but the rest of the article was stating how the PS3 could have upgradable parts and that is what is the worrying bit. So it is not as cut and dry as tax purposes.

The PS3 is not a true console or computer (PC) but is a test bed to get Sonys new technologys out. Eg Bluray so they can push it for HD movie players and the Cell processer which is not a gaming specific chip but a multi purpose chip which Sony will then use in quite a few of its electronics equipment and try to sell/licence it to other manufacturers.

To me this is the anoying thing about the PS3, the fact that Sony have not gone out to make the best console that they could, but instead used the popularity of previuos playstations to flog technologies that have very little to do with games/gaming

admeister

5 years ago

Very funny Sin!

themak

5 years ago

Lord Justice Chadwick- PS2 is not a computer

""Put shortly, Sony's concern in these proceedings is to establish that duty should not have been levied on imports of PlayStation2 into the Community between 19 October 2000 and 31 December 2003 on the basis that that product was to be classified under sub-heading 9504. It is said that the customs authorities were required to treat the goods as classified under sub-heading 8471. The amount of duty that Sony has overpaid is said to be some €50 million. But, for reasons which I shall explain, the point does not turn on whether, on a proper interpretation of the CN – or on the true effect of rule 3 of the GIRs - the goods ought to be classified under sub-heading 8471 rather than under sub-heading 9504. The point turns on whether, in the events which have happened, Sony was entitled to continue to rely on binding tariff information issued on 12 June 2001 – which did classify the goods under sub-heading 8471 - notwithstanding the subsequent decision of Customs and Excise that that information be revoked. In order to decide that point it is necessary to have in mind the provisions of the Community Customs Code.""

BAHAMUT

5 years ago

gee...
never thought of that...
but this is Sony trademark...
they always innovate...
i think Playstation is the first console with CD format but i am not sure...
that's what i like about Sony, innovation...
can't wait until November, too bad my exam is coming at that time too...
sigh...

cheers,
Albert

admeister

5 years ago

Sony don't know all that much about innovation. I don't think the PS1 was the first console to use CDs, or was it? I thought one of the sega consoles did.

Jellyfish

5 years ago

Sony are pretty innovative, it's just they don't apply it well to Playstation area. I mean, Betamax, CD, MiniDisc/k?, the Cell, Blu-Ray among other things are stuff that Sony has had a hand in developing.

Not to mention Kutaragi is monsterously innovative with the hype he can build on the Playstation brand.

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