Want to run Linux on the PlayStation 3 but can't be bothered with the hassle of installing it? Then head over to online auction site eBay where one of Sony's next-generation consoles is on offer pre-loaded with Fedora Core 5 Linux.

The console on offer is a 60GB machine, the seller says. He claims the hardware's hard drive not only has the open source operating system installed but is also ready to run courtesy of a seller-installed bootloader tool. "It is the full [Fedora] install including dozens of games, word processing, firefox, and much much more," the seller notes.

According to a video posted by the seller, the machine will happily dual-boot into Linux or the PS3's native operating system, so the winning bidder isn't going to lose the ability play PS3 games and Blu-ray Disc content.

You can check out the auction here. As yet, no one's bid for the beast. The seller wants at least $800 but is willing to settle for a one-off payment of $5,000.

In October, Terra Soft Solutions announced it would offer a version of its Yellow Dog Linux distribution for the PS3. ®