I know this will sound cliché
but does it run Linux?
(I'd genuinely like to know)

there's also been some rumors that it's been cracked / adapted for 3.42
but I'm not sure if it's fake based on the youtube clips I've seen so far

The funny thing is, when the new Splinter Cell Conviction comes out over here in the UK
I was going to actually buy the PC version
but after reading the above and this http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/splinter-cell-dev-defends-ubisofts-always-on-drm/
I'm actually really tempted to pirate the thing
(or perhaps get an xbox given that Sony's screwed me over with the whole otheros thing)

Personally I've always intended to use Linux on the PS3 not for the usability aspect
but simply because it has around 7-8 cores (if you include the PPU) running at around 3.2Ghz (most have limited memory)
the sort of thing ideal for running simulations / cracking codes
(personal interest was more geared towards the use of FEM or Finite-Element-Analysis to simulate different types of stress's within CAD)
if your clever enough to code for it, effectively your own mini super computer

I'd be fairly impressed if he does manage to pull off running custom firmware on the PS3
From what I understand there's been some hardware around for a while (similar to a mod chip)
that allows you to read or write directly to the firmware bios chip

but the main issue has always been that the firmware code needed to be digitally signed before it would run on the metal
which meant you were pretty much limited to just switching between different official versions of the Sony bios
up until now the use of such a mod was fairly limited / useless as you couldn't run any custom code without getting around the digital signature issue

given recent developments, such a mod may become more popular if it allows users to say switch temporarily to an older official bios for Linux
then back to the new one for the PSN

if the new hack that's recently been discovered could somehow lead to a workaround on the digital signature
(if custom firmware's could be run on the box in some way)
that pretty much opens the flood gates for pirate software, as all your missing then is a custom loader
from what I understand of the loaders so far most of them have relied on bugs patched in new firmwares
and even then the closest I think anyone ever got to running pirate games was booting them off the HD

If the firmware itself with the digital signature is hacked then Sony's going to be in for a whole world of hurt
even if they tried to block users on the PSN I don't think it would take much to simply generate a new random number and pass this onto the PSN to re-register if you've gotten as far as accessing the box at the firmware level

Here I'll make it easy
google proxy

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthepiratebay.org%2F&sl=es&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Try CaeLinux http://www.caelinux.com/CMS/ a bootable CD distribution which is basically a collection of different open source Cad apps
I'm hoping to make a reprap 3d printer at some point, so I've been looking into writing some ebuild scripts to get some of the stuff from caelinux into gentoo
like Salome, elmerfem, brlcad

I'm not an expert in CAD mind you but some of the below may be useful

One of the things I've discovered is that there's a difference between 3D Cad and 3D Modeling software
Modeling is about approximating the appearance of an object for appearance sake only, usually using a mesh / grid of some kind, this is a typical use for Blender
CAD is about what the object is made of, and it's physical dimensions in real space, typically objects are constructed from primitives such as a hollowed out cylinder for example
Modeling = what you can see the outside appearance, CAD = the innards, what it's made of and more of a focus on measurements in real space

If your going to design something that's going to be built it's probably better to design it in Cad software first
then convert it to a modeling form later on for the sake of pretty pictures / animations / appearances in a demonstration etc.
This way the original design is stored in a form where there's actual physical measurements (in mm for example)
and in a form that can be manufactured (drill holes at these points here and here etc)

While Blender could in theory support CAD capability, I think it's current features are lacking in that area
(although it is open source so if you want to add those features go right ahead)
From a commercial perspective I think the 2 main packages are Catia and Solidworks

Also If you want to simulate the environment on a 3D Cad object, the usual way is via FEM or Finite Element Analysis
This is the sort of thing used to simulate the way temperature travels through an object made of different materials for example
I think Catia / Solidwords have this sort of thing already inbuilt, in the case of open source software there's a lot of separate packages to play around with (elmerfem for example)
I think the linux cae pages have some good tutorials / examples on this
http://www.caelinux.org/wiki/index.php/Doc:CAETutorials

I'd say pretty good, probably better than a stand alone BluRay player
The controllers are all Bluetooth, which is a nice touch with the Remote control (so you don't have to point the thing at the PS3)
slot load so no worry's with the old PS2 cd tray
I've not owned a stand alone player myself, but I know they're constantly rolling out updates to the PS3 at the same time as they're updating the firmware, adding on Divx etc with a few other codecs besides

I remember with the old PS2, usually for a DVD playback update you'd usually need a new CD with the updated software on, with the PS3 it's all online easyier to update

standalone players are still fairly expensive, and you might as well get something that can also playback movies across the network, and play games at the same time, and is more likley to get updated for approx the same cost

one point twenty-one ji-ga-wahts??

I'd prefer to make a tank look like a Volkswagen beetle. just imagine the field of battle, a swarm of beetle against beetle firing tank shells at one another
"Sarge it looks like they're bringing out the heavy artillery, I can spot 3 Ford Escorts's and what looks like postman pat's van in the distance"

It'd be great as a car alarm / defense system, one click of a button and the car changes from a Ferrari into a Robin Reliant (let's face it no-one's going to steal one of those)

how about one of these?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-000-OC

I'm reminded of the TopGear episode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4WzWFKQ20

where they launch a Reliant Robin (old 3 wheel car) as a re-usable space shuttle on the back of one of these things
I wonder how the size compares?

I can just imagine the guy at the bar cleaning a glass while saying
"remember guys Gratis versus Libre, that's Think free as in free speech, not free beer"