QOTD: Should Sony be Sued for Removing Linux?

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techguy378

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Sony did not do anything illegal. I have Sony's original 80GB PS3 and nowhere on the box did it say I could run Linux. The ability to run Linux on a PS3 was a free bonus feature, revocable at any time. Just like Apple is under no obligation to continue to support Windows on Intel Macs, Sony was never under any obligation to continue to support Linux on their PS3's.
 

Blessedman

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Yes they should be sued, this is a practice of bait and switch. Like one example of Toyota for example. They bring in all those hybrids for fixes and in the process take out the hybrid part. So now you just have a POS car that doesn't save on gas at all! This is extreme example but some people only bought the PS3 for it's otherOS functions.
 
G

Guest

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BOOHOO

SOCIALIST FAGGOTS CAN'T INSTALL THEIR my wise and beautiful friend FREEWARE WHEREVER THEY PLEASE.

FUCK OFF.
 

annymmo

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[citation][nom]Franklin Hennersdorfer[/nom]Yes, they should, if only to set a precedent to stop others from doing this same kind of thing. Removing features from an already purchased product is tantamount to theft if you ask me, (and any EULA that tries to make this practice kosher should be illegal, too). If Toyota recalled those accelerator challenged vehicles, and in the process disabled 'left turns', shouldn't they be sued? There's little difference here in my eyes. Sure, Toyota could argue that one could live without left turns, after all 3 right turns equals one left. But would you buy that excuse? Doubtful.[/citation]

That actually makes a lot of sense.
Removing features from an already products should indeed be threaded as theft.
I'm all for it.

It's also, because they used it as a selling point on occasions, deceptive advertising.
 

annymmo

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[citation][nom]otacon72[/nom]Do you really think Sony would use a EULA that wasn't legal in the US? You can sue Sony all you want, they will all get tossed out. Not saying it's right but I dealt with the whole TOS issue when I worked for an ISP. The lawsuits will go nowhere.[/citation]

If I make an euro where I claim everybody's soul.
Or demand the user to cut his foot off because I feel lucky? Should this be demanded too?
MS's eula's have already come under fire from antithrust. An EULA is not a contract.
 

annymmo

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[citation][nom]techguy378[/nom]Sony did not do anything illegal. I have Sony's original 80GB PS3 and nowhere on the box did it say I could run Linux. The ability to run Linux on a PS3 was a free bonus feature, revocable at any time. Just like Apple is under no obligation to continue to support Windows on Intel Macs, Sony was never under any obligation to continue to support Linux on their PS3's.[/citation]

Okay what if MS decides to let you pay for every movie you want to watch on Media Player. Redownload the codecs because windows update removes it. It's the same thing, little more extreme, but hey, why wouldn't those companies go to that extreme if nobody cares and everybody accepts the change.
 

mosz

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Polls are pointless. 700 people? I bet it was at a mall. Of course wanting Linux is not going to be a top reason, at a mall. Now if you ask Tomshardware members I’m sure it would be one of the top reasons why we would buy it. Polls are useless and most of the time is manipulated to get the data people want. Just ask Fox News. lol

So my answer is yes. It’s like buying a car with gps and then the car manufacture removes the gps and says you cant use it anymore, WTF. It’s a feature we paid for and we should at least be refunded something.
 

sailfish

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There really is no need for these petty threats about suing and stuff when, in fact, there is a very simple resolution to the problem. The Air Force could just inform Sony that without the Linux option there is no longer any guarantee that their smart bombs might now get misdirected to their HQs due to some non-Linux computer glitch, similar to what happened during the Balkan War.
 

Fusion777

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The answer is simple. If it's an advertised feature then there's grounds. If it's merely a feature that existed or is described on FAQ/details areas then it's not a strong case. It's not fair, but it's not illegal
 

RailGun88

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I think they should. I actually had a friend in college that used his for school with not only school documents but also is an avid programmer who was working on different programs to show to various companies to hopefully get employed. Unfortunately he also likes to game to chill and relax. Without knowing he did a firmware update, luckily he had is more important items backed-up, but when this happened he lost more than 10 gigs of important data. I may love Sony, but this was like a kick to the balls for him and I.
 

techguy378

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[citation][nom]annymmo[/nom]Okay what if MS decides to let you pay for every movie you want to watch on Media Player. Redownload the codecs because windows update removes it. It's the same thing, little more extreme, but hey, why wouldn't those companies go to that extreme if nobody cares and everybody accepts the change.[/citation]
There is a big difference between a console and a computer that is suited for running a full fledged desktop operating system. It's not the lack of memory that makes the PS3 run Linux so slowly compared to an Intel Core 7 or Core 2 based PC.
 

COLGeek

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No. The PS3 is Sony's product. They make the rules. The AF (and other DoD) efforts to harness these systems was done without Sony support. If they want Linux support they will have to buy or develop it.

If this is a sticking point for geeks (I am one as well), then put your money elsewhere.
 

TheKurrgan

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Despite all the current patent trolling and what not going on out there, I do have to say when it comes to a full and complete product, the company DOES have the right to do what they want with it. There should be no legal issues either direction. If sony wanted to stop total production and do away with the PS3 all together, thats their ability. So, should they be sued? No is my opinion.
Now on to the griping: I cannot figure out why sony would go OUT of their way to remove the feature. Who cares? Such a small portion of people used it why would they put the effort into making it NOT do it. I do think a friggin explanation is at least in order, at the very minimum to the USAF who uses PS3's for cluster farms.
 

a4mula

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Is it wrong? Without a doubt. Should they be sued? Probably. Should the courts favor the plaintiffs? Absolutely not.

Imagine the precedent it sets. We live in a different world than we did even 10 years ago. It's a much more flexible and changing world. Imagine all the online games producers that would then be open to lawsuits because they changed their game. Imagine the hardware companies that now become exposed because they changed their firmware.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with what Sony did, it's despicable. The way to handle it however isn't through the legal system, it's through the market and dissatisfied customers making an alternate choice for their next purchase.
 

applegetsmelaid

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Sony should be sued because they have a lot of money and this is a great technicality to base your "victim of circumstance" argument. Do you really think a judge gives a shit about linux? He's just worried about his court fees.
 

matt87_50

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yes! of course they should! what if Ferrari suddenly enabled a 60mph speed limiter on all their cars after people had bought them? or something that made the silent? or ugly? you can't just remove features from something after people have bought it! not without atleast offering a refund!
 

eyemaster

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I really doubt that including the linux support on the PS3 cost them much money. There's no valid reason to not include it in there anymore. Sony just got scared that someone managed to hack it, that's it.

Put it back, Sony, put it back!
 
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