Linux runs on the PS3 virtualised, so the hardware isn't exactly open. Sony control what bits of the hardware you really get to see or access through Linux by giving you a controlled representation of what hardware is available, as opposed to what's really there. You do at least get good access to Cell and the SPEs.
That's not to say performance is bad either (think Parallels running Windows speed.) Video is unfortunately unaccelerated as you mentioned, and it's probably the biggest drawback.
On Folding@Home, you could always read up about it. Cell can't do all the calculations the PC does or at least can't do them very fast. FLOPS numbers are actually derived based on how quickly the client completes working units. Since the PS3 doesn't do all the possible working units (it only does the ones it's really good at) the FLOPS numbers are weighted in the PS3s favour. The PC numbers may look worse than they are because Folding will run on real low end PCs, and any interruptions to the processing (ie. actually using your PC) will make the FLOPS from the PC be lower than they actually are. Since Folding doesn't give peak results, and the PS3 processes less types of work units than the PC, the benchmark comparison between the two, even WITHIN just Folding isn't fair.
I'm not going to bother arguing anything else with you, since I've provided enough links with what I've said for anyone else to make fair judgement on it. If you think for example Kotaku has some magic way to spin hardware sales numbers directly from other sources, I doubt any of the other multiple sources I can find agreeing with me are going to change your mind.
I have a Wii, but I'm not opposed to actually owning either of the other systems, even if I'm rather skeptical of the hype. If one of them ends up having the bulk of the good games, I'll go with that.
That's not to say performance is bad either (think Parallels running Windows speed.) Video is unfortunately unaccelerated as you mentioned, and it's probably the biggest drawback.
On Folding@Home, you could always read up about it. Cell can't do all the calculations the PC does or at least can't do them very fast. FLOPS numbers are actually derived based on how quickly the client completes working units. Since the PS3 doesn't do all the possible working units (it only does the ones it's really good at) the FLOPS numbers are weighted in the PS3s favour. The PC numbers may look worse than they are because Folding will run on real low end PCs, and any interruptions to the processing (ie. actually using your PC) will make the FLOPS from the PC be lower than they actually are. Since Folding doesn't give peak results, and the PS3 processes less types of work units than the PC, the benchmark comparison between the two, even WITHIN just Folding isn't fair.
I'm not going to bother arguing anything else with you, since I've provided enough links with what I've said for anyone else to make fair judgement on it. If you think for example Kotaku has some magic way to spin hardware sales numbers directly from other sources, I doubt any of the other multiple sources I can find agreeing with me are going to change your mind.
I have a Wii, but I'm not opposed to actually owning either of the other systems, even if I'm rather skeptical of the hype. If one of them ends up having the bulk of the good games, I'll go with that.