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Sony to sell Linux kits for PlayStation 2

The consumer electronics giant says it will sell kits for Linux programmers in coming months to allow Linux applications to run on its PlayStation 2 game console.

TOKYO--Sony said Wednesday that it would start selling Linux operating system kits for Linux programmers in coming months to allow Linux applications to run on its PlayStation 2 game console.

The consumer electronics giant said it would begin selling disks to install Linux on PlayStation 2 and tools to develop Linux applications.

The kits will go on sale in Japan in May and in the United Sates and Europe in June.

"Many Linux fans have requested that they would like to execute applications not only on personal computers but also on PlayStation game consoles," a Sony representative said.

The kits will cost $188.30 in Japan, $199 in the United States and $215 in Europe.

Linux, which competes with Microsoft's Windows, is an open-source model and has become a popular master computer program.

Sony aims to expand the role of PlayStation as a technology and allow more applications such as word processing.

Sony said the kits also included an internal 40GB hard drive and USB (universal serial bus) keyboard and mouse.

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