Air Force Buys 300 Playstation 3 Consoles for "Research"
The PS3. Endorsed by the Air Force
This week, the Air Force submitted a formal request for proposal for 300 Playstation3 consoles designated for research. Research? According to the RFP, the Air Force Research Laboratory is conducting a technology assessment
of certain cell processors. The processors in the Sony PlayStation 3
are "the only brand on the market that utilizes the specific cell
processor characteristics needed for this program at an acceptable cost." There you have it, folks. The Air Force has weighed in and has chosen the Sony Playstation 3.
Of course, leave it to the government to put out a full small business proposal simply to pick up a few hundred products. The proposal is targeted to small businesses under 1000 employees - as if there is some way to actually make money off the sale of 300 Playstation 3's which have an industry-wide retail mark-up of around $0.50 each - of you're lucky (we know, we considered stocking it in the store.) The actual proposal calls for:
Item 1: Sony PlayStation 3 Game Console - 40 GB Hard Drive
Qty: 300
Sony Part Number 98006
Specifications:
Processor: CPU: Cell Broadband Engine. GPU: RSX.
Main Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM. 256MB GDDR3 VRAM.
Hard Drive: 2.5" Serial ATA Drive- 40GB.
I/O Ports: (4) USB 2.0 ports. Slots for Memory Stick/SD/CompactFlash.
Communication: Ethernet (10BaseT/100BaseTX/1000BaseT). IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR). Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7).
A/V Output: Screen Size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p. HDMI: HDMI Out x 1. Analog: AV Multi-Out x 1. Digital Audio: Optical Digital Out x 1. Blu-ray/DVD/CD Drive "read only".
Accessories: 98040: PS3 Wireless Controller. 98042: PS3 Memory Card Adaptor.
Dimensions: 13.0"w x 3.92"h x 11.0"d.
Well, they got the specs right and it almost makes the game system sound fancy. What we really wonder is the nature of this research. I mean, if I had $120,000 to blow (or risk losing that money in next year's budget - ah government efficiency) I'd be tempted to "research" the PS3 as well. In fact, I'd be tempted to get an entire division to "research it". Maybe chalk it up to morale research or coordination testing.
Hey, maybe the Air Force will start some massive clans and finally kick some of these 12-year-old butts we've been getting spanked by lately in Halo 3.
See also:
Recent Forum Posts:
GlocksRock;385560What I've seen of it running, it didn't look that good. Time will tell though, I'm more curious about how it drives though. Not planning on buying a PS3, probably ever, but it'll be interesting to see what GT5 tries to do to one-up Forza in the driving department.
based on the demo I played, those look like they could be acutal pics from in game.
And although the PS3 is quite capable for other kinds of computations, have developers turned around and said it's really that applicable to gaming? Ultimately with the ins and outs of the CPUs in the 360 and the PS3 and the differences in their graphics systems, it'll be interesting to see where things go in the next couple years although I'd expect after that point the 360 will have been replaced.
davo;385205
Please tell me these are dressed up stills and not actual game play??!!!!
Whats the link for them? 'Cause they look smokin' hot.
based on the demo I played, those look like they could be acutal pics from in game.
jinjuku;385210
First they contract with EADS and Airbus (you know France) for 40 Billion worth of in flight re-fuel tankers, and now PS3's.
Doesn't anybody buy American made any more?
Yeap, Hondas!
Doesn't anybody buy American made any more?
Bluesmoke;384980
Gran Turismo 5, being released in a few weeks.
Please tell me these are dressed up stills and not actual game play??!!!!
Whats the link for them? 'Cause they look smokin' hot.
