For the record I'd like to state the following: Sony are selling the PS3 at a price comparable to a fully compliant Blu-Ray player (the new de facto HD standard) with the ability to automatically update itself with new firmware when available / necessary to continue supporting updated standards. They also threw in a fully network aware media player that can connect to numerous digital sources (online and in the home) to provide full video, audio and pictoral entertainment without the need for third-party software and/or hardware. Then they throw in the ability to install a world-wide standard freely distributed operating system which gives you access ot a whole host of free software, including emulators of various retro consoles and arcade machines. Oh yeah, they used standard USB connections to facilitate usage, and allow connection of a mouse and keyboard. But wait, you say - didn't they add something else? Oh yeah, a fully up to date new generation gaming machine that can play HD gaming content with 7.1 surround sound, while still allowing you to play your old PS1 content without needing yet another box hanging around making your living room untidy. And of course, they fail to sting you with monthly subscriptions just in order to play online games you already bought... Bad, Bad Sony... Quit bitching people. You're buying a media center with a free console added for fun (and the kids). ffs. [my views are not those of the company which employs me and they are not to be held responsible for any comments herein]

Doesn't the patent imply that there is a master processor that automatically controls division of workload and the subsequent gathering up of results? That's not how the core works - each processor is a seperate entity, albeit on the same processor die, and you have to program them individually. Granted, the standard programming model is to write a control program for the main PU core, then trigger sub-tasks on the SPE's, but surely that's under the software applications control and not a master 'controller' processor?