OK 1 yes you did have to instal said patch, or you lose out on the features that was the highlight and there selling point.

2 the reason sony used to set the msrp as high as it was, was in fact that you could install another operating system as said by sony when it came out.

in other words sony said "bye this, you can watch blurays, play our games online, install another os, etc,etc"

then comes the patch, install this we only take ONE feature away, dont and we take two features away, all three features that were already bought and paid for in the original package.

yes they are allowed to change the EULA, not disable all the features after you pay for it.

like a TV company coming to your house, and patching the tv, stopping you from getting a chunk of channels, but if you dont patch it, you get no channels

I've warned so many folks against Sony products over the past 5 years, that I've lost count. NOW will you folks listen to me? Blu-Ray was just the start, force feeding us this ill-conceived format. They will also start charging for the PSN soon too. Sony doesn't give a rat about consumers.

Lets try to explain this in terms even you can understand.

Scenario 1:
I buy a widget for mending socks and feeding the cat. After I get it home, the cat-feeding function breaks. What should I do?

Scenario 2:
I buy a widget for mending socks and feeding the cat. After I get it home, the manufacturer offers a firmware upgrade that disables the cat-feeding function. True, I dont *have* to install it - but if I dont, then the sock-mending feature will stop working. What should I do?

Can you see the analogy? I bought something for a purpose and it is *for whatever reason* not fit for that purpose.

I hope your answer to (1) is "take it back and get a refund". Yes?

But presumably, your answer to (2) is "accept that the manufacturer can do whatever they want, including make material changes to terms and conditions after the fact, and stop acting so butthurt over it".

Can you see why some people might not be entirely happy with that answer?

No?

Oh well, I tried.

Figures that Americans bring forth a law suit...

I think people forget that its:

A: Optional
B: Software

Try reading the license agreement you agree to but setting up the PS3. Sony has the right to change things, just like Microsoft or anyone else. (Though I generally stay away from Sony products).

Is it a rip that they are doing this? Yeah...

Do you have to install 3.21...? NO! This is the same for xbox360 with their interface updates or Microsoft introducing new patches that prevent people from getting updates if they do not install the 'prevent piracy' patches...

No one has sued over that...

Grow up, if you don't like it, SELL IT. Your not going to get anything out of it!

As for the "Manufactures who take away features without compensating purchasers are E v i l ." If it causes them to loose money (IE hacks) then they have the right. Would you want to loose more money out of pocket? I didn't think so...

goob

for shooting itself in the foot. There's not much to Sony these days but a ho-hum tv manufacturer.

Good for Anthony Ventura, and good for the rest of us.

Manufactures who take away features without compensating purchasers are E v i l .

Actually ned, this is worse as they mean it's a security issue for them, not the owner. This is more like activating a remote lock on the hood so that only they can open it from now on to do repairs or install new parts etc.

It's funny really. Saying it is a security issue is a bit like a car manufacturer coming along, welding up the doors on your car, and then saying that they could let burglars in....