PlayStation Portable Core (PSP 1000) Reviews

• One year after launch and we're still talking about "potential" ...

  
  By ADKA2MJQQCMTO on 2006-04-20
  Well, it's a year later and the PSP still hasn't really taken off. Unless there's some major changes, I could never recommend anyone buy this and it's centered around two MAJOR issues that still haven't been addressed: cost and game library.
  
  The PSP's expensive ... really ... really ... expensive.
  
  1. You'll need between two-hundred (the core pack) to two hundred fifty dollars (the value pack) for the PSP itself. I'd recommend the core system. The only substantial difference between the two bundles is the value pack comes with a 32 MB memory card. Anyone who downloads mp3's will already know, a 32 MB card is small to the point of being virtually worthless.
  
  2. A decent capacity memory card is a must-have. Don't make the mistake of cheaping out and buying a small one, do it once and do it right. All those mp3's, pictures and game-saves add up fast and having them all saved across several smaller cards is a pain (not to mention easy to lose). Give yourself about a hundred bucks and get a big one. I'm thinking 1 Gig kinda big.
  
  3. To pick up a newer game and a movie you're going to have to punk-down another seventy to a hundred dollars.
  
  This is the point where I just talked myself out of the sale. I'm pushing about three hundred seventy dollars, and that's on the conservative side! I can get an X-Box 360 for that kind of money. I can get an awesome iPod for a hundred dollars less and have (potentially) 60 Gigs of space.
  
  It's a year later and the game selection, outside of MAYBE a half-dozen really great games, is awfully average. The UMD movie feature is nice, but the movies seem to average about TEN DOLLARS more in cost then their DVD counterparts, with half of the content (it's usually just the feature, no extras).
  
  As powerful as the system is, and as cool as it could be, it's just too expensive. Knock the price down a hundred bucks, and it immediately becomes a much better buy. At three-hundred fifty dollars, minimum, though, it's just too much to ask ...
  
  

• Great alternative to PMP (Portable movie player) that cost $400+

  
  By A3BWFAK5D3SI09 on 2006-04-18
  I bought this mostly for video and haven't even boughten a game yet, although I do plan too.
  It came with the 2.5 firmware so home brewers are out of luck; I updated to the latest 2.6 and there were only two note worthy features that most people wouldn't care about. WMA playback and the ability to add RSS feeds (need wireless router for either one to work).
  
  Video:
  I was impressed with the video player. It has all the controls you need if you hit triangle and your most used controls assigned to the X - O - Start - Shoulder buttons
  The clarity was very good for a 400 mb file from a hour and a half movie. I use PSP video 9 because it is free and has all the features that others have. The only draw back is that you have to download DVD decrypter or DVD shrink and set some settings in order to get a DVD to the psp.
  AVC is a new MP4 format and it was better quality and is what I recommend. Just make sure you put it in the right folder or it won't play on your psp. There are guides out to help just Google "PSP video 9 tutorial" and you will have detailed help.
  
  Web:
  The web was very slow and wouldn't even load some websites (TV guide didn't). The way I fixed these issues was by going in the Web browsers options and shutting the cache off. The speed then got faster but still not cable speed.
  
  Games:
  Although I haven't boughten a game for it yet I have played on someone else's PSP. It had better graphics then the Playstation 1 but took a long time to load. Also most games are beaten after 4 hours of play. I suggest reading reviews for PSP games to find how long it took to beat a game.
  
  Music:
  If you are debating between this and an iPod for music playback then GET THE IPOD. I have an iPod nano and it has so many more features and will load up with iTunes. The sound quality is better too.
  There weren't any way to categorize your music except by putting the music in folder, the problem is that you could only go one folder deep. Other then that there wasn't a way you could sort by artist, album, song, or etc then the way you loaded it on.
  It did have shuffle and repeat which is very important. No equalizers though.
  
  Updates:
  Sony announced some new firmware that is to come that will allow macromedia flash to play and video rss feeds. Also coming is a GPS locater, keyboard and a camera add-on should be sold this year.
  
  Overall:
  I'm glad with it when I think I could have boughten a Portable movie player and paid a lot more. The only thing is that you have to buy a memory stick to even play video on the PSP and it doesn't hold as much as a PMP with 20 gigs.
  I bought a 1 gig for $50 from newegg, but if you buy locally expect to pay $100+. A 1 gig holds two movies or 500 songs.
  
  

• It was a great system while it lasted-- BEWARE!!!!

  
  By A2ZGZPGV02W3QF on 2006-11-09
  We bought this system 45 days ago- what a great game system- while it lasted!!! BEWARE- this system is already having problems- games freezing while playing, power shutting off in middle of game, power on- screen stays black, sometimes won't even turn on. Called Sony- all they will do is send a REFURBISHED system in its place- this is only 45 days old!!! They said this is their stated warranty- they do not repair them. It seems to be a very fragile system. I have ready many online reviews of people having the same problems. Very Very disappointed with this product and Sony for offering such a poor warranty and for not standing by their products! Shame on you Sony!
  
  

• Very Pleased With My PSP System

  
  By A2BEU7GPGNIG44 on 2006-09-01
  If you want a PSP, the core system should be sufficient. There is a $249 valube pack but the core system is a good purchase for this reason. The value pack comes with a 32 meg memory stick which isn't much space. At the same token, you pretty much need a memory stick to do anything with the PSP, so if you purchase the PSP, buy a memory stick at the same time or in the very near future. I purchased a 1 gig memory disc for around $50.
  
  The PSP is very easy to use from the beginning and this is my first handheld system. I will admit I was playing a game (Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories), and the instruction book said use the analog stick and I couldn't find the analog stick. It's flat on the PSP console, I actually thought it was a speaker.
  
  The sound on the PSP is quite good, you can hear quite well even without headphones. However, I will say that you can use any headphones you already have and it will fit in the console, I use the same headphones I use with my iPod.
  
  How well you enjoy your PSP depends on what you plan to use it for. If you want to do the all in one (pictures, movies, games, music, Internet) you may have different feelings or frustrations with various components.
  
  I bought my PSP for gaming and I'm very pleased with it. The PSP comes with a huge instruction booklet that I haven't had to read too in depth yet because if you understand basic computer/gaming operations you can get the PSP up and going. The screens are nice. It's a slightly heavy system but seems very durable.
  
  

• PSP...

  
  By on 2006-11-09
  The PSP has a significant amount of features... you probably know that. So I'll cut to the important parts. The PSP is an excellent gaming machine. It's look and design is very nice, sharp, and sleek. The large plasma-like screen and the PSP engine manage to bring us vivid, sharp, PS2 like graphics. And as I said before, there are multimedia capabilities, however they are not pushed to their full potential. To store snything you will need a memory stick duo. Although the prices have dropped they are still expensive, especially if you want a large sized memory stick. UMD movies are also expensive, so don't buy this for movies alone. Here is how I rate it:
  
  Graphics: 10/10
  The graphics are absolutely mind blowing. For a handheld system, it doen't get any better than this. The frame rate of most games is excellent, and sharp, sleek character models are plenty in every game.
  
  Design: 8.5/10
  The look and the design of the PSP is great, however the absence of a second analogue stick makes SOME games are a LITTLE hard to play. However PSP games manage some other kind of control, so this isn't a big downside. Also, screen protecters are a must. The PSP is very, very susceptible to smudges and scratches.
  
  Games: 9/10
  Finally, some good games come out for the PSP. The games look and play great. These games include ACE COMBAT, DAXTER, TEKKEN, GTA: LIBERTY CITY STORIES, GTA: VICE CITY STORIES, MEDAL OF HONOR, SYPHON FILTER, CALL OF DUTY, NEED FOR SPEED, LOCOROCO, KILLZONE, BURNOUT, RIDGE RACER, ATV, METAL GEAR SOLID, and many, many more. Of course, there should be no comparing the PSP and NDS beacuse they both have PROS and CONS.
  
  Features: 8/10
  Video, music, photos all courtesy of an expensive memory stick. But it's worth it. However, it's a little tricky getting video onto the unit, you have to convert it into some kind of format so the PSP can read it.
  
  Pros.
  Great games
  Great graphics
  A sleek design
  A big screen
  Music, photos, videos, games, a multimedia powerhouse!
  
  Cons.
  No second analogue stick
  Low battery life
  Hard to get videos onto the unit
  No built in memory
  Expensive memory sticks
  
  Overall: 8.5/10
  The PSP is an excellent leap for handheld devices, however the PSP does have it's fair share of shortcomings.
  
  
• Nah, 3.5 stars overall is more like it.
  By A283NP8NG7X11F on 2006-08-20
  I didn't want a PSP really, when I think about it more. It was more of a "something to get somewhere down the road" type of thing. Since it came out early last year, the game lineup still doesn't look that good. As far as I can see, there are maybe 9 games worth buying for it so far, and that's being nice. But the PSP isn't quite a Gameboy Advance or DS competitor in terms of games- that's pretty obvious. No, the PSP is a portable media device, as it can deal with movies, pictures, mp3s, the internet and more. That's where its true selling point lies. But what it comes down to is, are you going to use it to its full extent? That's exactly why I'm having limited fun with my PSP- I don't use it enough. Sure, tons of people go on about HomeBrew and emulated games, but you have to go through the downgrading process, and some PSPs -CAN NOT- be downgraded if they have a certain number stamped on the inside of the UMD slot. Mine is one of those, which would explain a lot of my lack of enthusiasm here. But that's exactly what it depends on in order for you to get the most out of the system. If you're looking into that sort of thing, then look around for a used PSP, check for the number, then go from there. Otherwise, be warned that the games aren't exactly thrilling, but remember that there's always the use of storing your pictures, music and movies. That's gotta increase the life of it, right?
  
  It's hard to review a system like this, when it's not exactly a game system primarily. But let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. The PSP is a gorgeous system. It's sleek, smooth, and easy to hold. And do I even need to mention the screen? The high-def screen on this baby is better than most peoples' tvs at the moment. If that's not a slap in the face, I don't know what is. Many games will look beautiful on the PSP because of this as well. The only problems you'll face is that it scratches very easily, like any handheld, and the dreaded dead pixel factor. When I got my first PSP as a present a few months back, there were at least 4 dead pixels that I could see. Yes, they're just pixels, not being that big, but it's still annoying to get a new product and see this. Then, I traded that same one in for the sweet Japanese white one, and noticed one single dead pixel. So, there's a good chance you'll have at least one when you buy a PSP. If not, then congratulations. Regarding the comfort of holding the system, it's not bad at all, regardless of your hand size. My hands are above-average length, and I have no problem holding it or using the buttons or anything, so I don't see what the complaints are in this category. The buttons though on the US model are a bit...down. Literally. When I bought my white PSP today, and the sales guy took it out of the box for me to inspect everything first, we both noticed that the white one's buttons were much higher than the black one's. As in, they're raised. The default PSP buttons are just barely above the surface, as is the d-pad. I'd have to recommend getting the white one if you can just to have better buttons. There has also been a history of some buttons becoming stuck under the surface, so watch out for that as well. The analog nub is a bit uncomfortable, I admit, as it's more stiff than the ps2's analog stick(s). It's mostly due to the size I'd assume. But you get used to it. I still don't like how Sony's yet to snap out of their bad d-pad habit. Why can't they make a full d-pad instead of the damn broken one they keep putting out? It makes doing special moves in 2D fighters like Street Fighter and Guilty Gear a real pain. Though Guilty Gear found a way around that...still. Finally, there's a brightness feature for the PSP, which can range between 3 and 4 levels (some games allow that). The lowest level is bright enough, but the highest is VERY bright. Compared to the new DS Lite's highest setting though, I don't know which one's brighter. Like it matters though.
  
  So how about the games? We'll get that out of the way since it's the quickest one to deal with. Frankly, there isn't much. As I mentioned, there are maybe 10 great games at most, to me at least. The PSP has some nice fighters like Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max and you can import two Guilty Gear games (what I consider the finest 2D fighter ever made). There are some good action games like WWE Smackdown vs Raw, Syphon Filter, Daxter, and an upcoming Ratchet and Clank game. Of course, there are various sports titles as well, and some racing ones. There's not much in the niche department though. I think Me and My Katamari and Lumines are about it for the really "unique" games. Next, the UMD Movie format for the PSP. Well, many companies have already pulled out, and I haven't seen a UMD Movie section at any stores around here in about 3 weeks now, so it's pretty much done. Though, at this rate, I'm sure you can buy a bunch for a fairly low price. Just remember that the US PSP can only play US UMD Movies, and the Japanese PSP can only play Japanese UMD Movies (they've got some great dirty ones if I do say so myself). I personally didn't care for this option, as they're only really useful if you travel a lot, or have an upcoming long road trip. Other than that, why bother when you can get the same movies on dvd for the same price, with more special features, and can watch them on a bigger screen with better audio? The mp3 player feature on the PSP is fairly decent. Some files can't be read, which frustrates me to no end, having to find the same song in a different format, but it works, and that's all that matters. However, I agree with the people that comment saying that getting a straight-up mp3 player like an iPod is a better option. The PSP requires memory sticks to save data, which cost a bit to get the better ones. By the time you spend money on a PSP with a good memory stick, you could've bought maybe two iPod Nanos. But, you can save many other things on the memory stick, like pictures. The picture feature is neat, and you can set your PSP's background image to anything you have saved. Upload pictures from your digital camera, or what you find online *nudge nudge*. Speaking of online, you can access the internet with the PSP as well. The web browser isn't exactly the best, but again, it gets the job done. The Firmware is always getting updated, so be patient, and eventually, it'll be up to par with a computer from...1998 maybe. Like the movie feature, I'd say the PSP's internet portion is mostly for if you're away from your home computer, or need to check something quickly. It uses wi-fi technology, so you can probably get a connection almost anywhere.
  
  Before closing, I have to address the obligatory comparison to the Nintendo DS. But why? They're completely different systems! The DS is strictly for games, unless you mod it and do the internet thing, or want to wait for the official one or the tv turner coming out sometime down the road. I'm not a Sony or Nintendo fanboy, but I don't like either system over the other. The DS seems like too much of a gimmick with the whole "LOOK! YOU CAN TOUCH THE SCREEN! AND THERE'S TWO OF THEM NOW!". Just look at how many games had the word "touch", or have a hidden "DS" in the title like Resident Evil Deadly Silence, Guilty Gear Dust Strikers and several others. Gee Nintendo, how crafty of you. The PSP however, is more media-oriented than games. What it mostly has are ports of older titles, but can hold its own with its various other features. The one thing it really got screwed over on though, is how fragile it is compared to the DS. The DS, you can drop from standing-height, and chances are, that it'll be completely fine. The PSP? One drop from standing-height, and you're going to notice problems. I dropped my old one once, and the UMD slot wasn't the same again. And I dare not think of dropping it on its screen. Ugh.
  
  Depending on your own personal preferences, it's up to you alone to decide if you'd want the PSP over the DS. What it comes down to is if you look to use it for more than just games. If not, then go for the DS. But if you want just one device that can do many things, the PSP is your best bet right now, since Nintendo only just recently hopped on the wi-fi boat, still doesn't have the internet browser and tv tuner in the US, and has about the same number of must-have titles as the PSP. While I'm not 100% satisfied with my PSP, I can at least appreciate it for everything it can do. I was about to trade it in for an iPod, in all honesty, but gave it another shot, and am trying to use it to its full extent. What did it come down for me? DIRTY JAPANESE MOVIES. THEY WIN IN THE END.
  
  
• Buyer Beware,may not give you everthing you want.
  By A13H7Q4JVK6DTV on 2006-04-22
  I just brought this system about a week ago and it's amazingly great but only if you have the right amount of cash as well as computer to go with it, I say this for many reasons because when I bought my It needed a larger memory card that will cost you at least 60 dollars and then if you don't have wireless internet then you can't go on the internet with it and if you really want to put things in it such as music,photos ,and video you need a cable that connects the system to your computer and what makes it worst is that your computer may not reconize it and then you can try to fix the problem but it really is hopeless I even contacted the company and they didn't even care and also said it was hopeless and should get a different computer. Overall I could'nt take it anymore and return the system for my money back and brought something else , so IM TRYING TO WARN YOU DO NOT BUY THIS SYSTEM UNLESS YOU HAVE THE CASH AND THE RIGHT COMPUTER OR I PROMISE YOU 'LL REGRET IT. LIKE I DO TODAY.
  
  
  
• Forget about the negative hype
  By A1YKACTCCNF6P4 on 2006-12-01
  I did a lot of research before buying my PSP, and most of it was pretty negative-- bad game selection, needs more features, hard to use, etc. Then I took a look at the dates of those reviews, and most of them were within a month of the system's launch. The system, as it currently ships, is great (unless you're all about running buggy "homebrew" software or "open source is the only way" Linux). Other than the games, which are fine-- puzzle, strategy, FPS, RPG, old-school, you name it, the system can play movies or music and browse the internet. The games I own load up quickly and run well.
  
  The system itself is really slick looking, too-- invest in a good screen protector to make sure your LCD doesn't get nicked up (I use the Hori brand cover and it works very well).
  
  I haven't bought any UMD movies to date-- I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for the same movie twice. You do have to do the leg work and download some third-party software to transfer your DVDs onto memory sticks, but the results are completely satisfying. I can get 2 or 3 full-length movies onto a 2 gig memory stick (watch the sales, they regularly go for $30) and still have room for game saves and assorted junk. Best of all, battery life is nice and long when you watch a movie off of the stick, since there's no spinning disk motor to eat up the charge. The screen is small but beautiful, even giving a nice clear picture on fast-moving action scenes.
  
  The web browser is perfectly adequate to the kinds of surfing I do on the go (news and e-mail mostly). Typing is admittedly a beast, but websites pull up nice and fast. Sony is supposed to be adding shockwave support soon, also.
  
  All in all, you might actually be happier with a DS lite if all you want to do is play games-- however, if you think you'd get a lot of use out of a multifunction device like this, small enough to fit into anyone's coat pocket or purse, seriously consider getting one of these fun little gizmos.
  
  
• Huge Disappointment
  By A1BTAE6FDSUSW7 on 2006-07-15
  Let me begin by saying that I really wanted to like the PSP. The good news is that the screen is beautiful. . .that's all the good news. Now for the BAD news, and it's pretty bad. I have 20/20 vision, and I had to squint to see what I was doing half of the time in most of the games I bought when I got the PSP. The only one that was remotely enjoyable in this respect was the Gottlieb Pinball Collection (a fantastic collection, by the way). The controls are extremely awkward to navigate. They claim it's like holding a PlayStation controller, but it's not even close. Don't believe this hype. My hands would cramp after 10 minutes of play, and then continue to ache for a few minutes after I put the thing down. The joystick is the worst offender. My thumb was killing me after playing X-men Legends for a while. The WiFi connectivity is a big joke. The interface for surfing the web is frustrating at best and mind-bogglingly non-intuitive at worst. It's like the guys at Sony took their interface design cues from Microsoft (eeuch). Now THIS is the capper that really ticked me off. In order to save my game I had to purchase a memory stick! Those things are expensive! So now I'm already in the hole almost $400. The Nintendo DS is such a better machine. You don't have to buy separate memory sticks, the screen is beautiful, the games rock. Buy a Nintendo, save a bundle of money and tell Sony what you think of this crappy piece of machinery called the PSP. One more thing: I was going to rent a movie to watch on the PSP, but Blockbuster was charging $6 to rent a UMD movie! What in the world is Sony thinking? If this is supposed to make the PlayStation 3 attractive, it's not working. I wouldn't touch the PS3 with a ten-foot pole after my experience with the PSP.
  
  
• Sony PSP-The BEST portable game system..??
  By ABTXVIP8EBHCT on 2007-05-01
  I bought this system about 2 weeks ago. About 6 months ago, I was looking to buy a portable game system because I travel several times a year and needed something to entertain me during long plane rides. So it came down to either a Nintendo DS or a Sony PSP. I ended up getting the Nintendo DS because it was cheaper and there were a few DS games that I wanted. A coworker showed me his PSP about 2.5 weeks ago and was showing me a movie he downloaded onto it. He then told me that they went down in price about 30 dollars so I went and looked at one. About 4 days later, I decided to buy it.
  
  And I was THRILLED when I played a game on it the first time. The graphics are absolutely amazing. Imagine playing a game on your PS2 and it's exactly like that. I couldn't believe how great the graphics were but understood that maybe the game I was playing (GTA: Liberty City Stories) had good graphics but other games would not. So I bought a second game (Thrillville). The results were the same. I was/am ecstatic! I don't mean to compare the DS to the PSP because I understand that they're two completely different systems but going from a DS to a PSP was a GREAT improvement. The buttons were a little difficult to use at first (the analog stick is highly sensitive) but I eventually got the hang of it. I love that there are more options on the PSP. The "home" screen lets you see previously saved games and other options.
  
  The sound is great. You have the ability to use headphones if you wish (which is great if I want to play a game or watch a movie and don't want to bug anyone else). The buttons to access the sound aren't hard to get to. It's easy to hold onto. However, you can purchase "grips" so that you have extra support. The outside of the screen can be a problem. It seems to collect dust and fingerprints even when I'm careful so maybe purchasing screen covers would be a good idea. Another problem I have is that the battery doesn't last as long as I wanted to. When I play at home, I always have it plugged in. However, if I'm watching a movie, I'd like to know that the battery isn't going to shut off in the middle of the movie. The grips I bought come with its own battery that allows a maximum of 4 extra hours of battery life so if that is a problem, purchasing the grips is a good solution.
  
  Now onto the bonuses. Not only does the PSP play video games, but it also plays movies and mp3s. When I'd have to fly somewhere and wanted to bring some sort of entertainment, I usually brought my mp3 player, a portable game system, and good headphones so that I could watch the tv that the airplane supplied. With the PSP, I only need one system to entertain me. Although I haven't tried putting songs or movies onto my PSP, I've seen other people play movies and songs and the sound and video quality are superb. Obviously the screen isn't that big so only one person can watch movies but that's not a big deal. Also, the UMD movies that you can buy for the PSP are NOT expensive. I was surprised to see a movie that came out maybe 2 weeks ago was only $20 (for the UMD at least). Not too bad at all! There's also a good selection of movies to choose from.
  
  As far as accessories that you may need/want to buy, there are plenty of gadgets to choose from. One thing you probably would eventually need down the road is a memory stick. I suggest buying one that's not specifically made for the PSP because it'll be cheaper (I bought a lexar one for $30 cheaper than the sony one). Sony also sells cases, storage for games, headphones, travel kits, and I've even seen something that allows you to strap the PSP to the back of a car's headrest so that you can watch a movie in the car.
  
  Bottom line.. If you want a system that isn't almost specifically made for kids, go with the PSP. If you want the ability to listen to music and watch movies also, go with the PSP. If you like the idea that the games for PSP are almost all made for adults/older children, go with the PSP. The system itself isn't too expensive considering all the things it does. The games aren't expensive at all. The movies you can buy for the PSP aren't expensive at all. And the accessories aren't expensive at all. Just look at the graphics and you'll be hooked.
  
  
• Great Hardware Weak Software
  By A2VA9FSLMBEDXR on 2006-12-01
  This is a very disappointing system. Looking at the specs, it is a great piece of hardware. As of yet, there has not been any good games for this handheld. Only watered down PS2 games are avalible.
  
  The DS lite is a better value. Many fun titles,and a better price. It also has a slightly brighter screen.
  
  Don't get suckered into buying this machine. Not worth the money. It will be nothing more than an expensive paper weight.
  
  
• The PSP is awesome~
  By A13HLDA940G118 on 2007-06-07
  I know a lot of people knock the PSP, but the fact remains that it's an excellent handheld gaming system with lots of extras. Many of it's 'faults' that others point out here can also be leveled at every other portable gaming device out there, most certainly including the PSP's direct competitor, Nintendo's DS system.
  Now that Sony has cut the price of new PSP's down to $169, how can you complain?
  It's the most powerful handheld system ever & there's a bunch of great games out for it now & hundreds more on the way. Many of these games are epic in scale & offer tons of replay value.
  There's also hundreds of great movies to watch, anytime/anyplace. Many of the games & movies can be had for $10 - $15.
  The storage problem has been resolved with 4GB memory sticks available,plus you can link your PSP with your PC/laptop & the PS3.
  The LCD screen is just awesome. Most portable game system's screens suck, but not this one. The audio also pumps (better with headphones) & again blows away what's being offered with other handhelds.
  It can handle music & surfing the net quite fine too, thanks to recent system updates, although I don't use these features that often.
  The biggest problem I have with the system is the lack of a second analog stick. Some games would benefit greatly if it had it, but it's hardly a deal breaker; Most games control fine, with the PSP's button setup similar to the PS1/PS2/PS3 controllers we all know & love.
  All in all, if you want to take handheld gaming to the next level & enjoy console quality gaming on the go,plus the ability to watch DVD quality movies, listening to music, free online gaming & more, the PSP is a great buy.
  
  
  
• Worth the money.
  By on 2006-05-12
  If anyone is looking for a "Portable Entertainment System" than look no further than the PSP,It has many features,its main one being its games in which there is a growing number of,Its other features are music,movies,Net connection and updates.Here i will just explain them:
  
  Games:As i said the PSP has a small variety at the moment,however Sony has anounced at E3 that they are planning about 26 new games,one of them is Metal Gear Solid:Portable Ops.
  Any game you play will have the graphics of PS2(Bloody brill graphics considdering its a handheld) and great audio.
  9/10.
  
  Music:
  It may not be the best quality of music but its OK considdering its only one of the features the PSP has.
  7/10
  
  Movies:
  OK,you better not be buying a PSP whatever you do just for its UMD movies,they use up battery life not many of them and they are more expensive than a DVD player.But if get a PSP and want to watch an available movie,I would suggest renting it and also charching your PSP before watching it.But the PSP does display them OK,so i`ll give it that.
  7/10
  
  Net stuff:
  Yes thats one of the best features PSP has,you can connect up to the internet not to mention play Online games against other PSP users.For a handheld,the Online stuff is great so its GREAT overall.
  9/10.
  
  Updates:
  Well for the last year,we could say Sony have been neglecting its support to the PSP,But at E3 Sony did promise to give in more support.Things they update include the colour of the wall-paper,which is monthly and new versions of filmware to come out soon(Filmware is required for some of PSP`s newer games).
  8.8/10.
  
  I got my PSP for 170 Quid with one game(Need For Speed:Most Wanted).And i think it was worth it,although i may not have as much WiFi as most people seeing as only two of myy friends own PSP`s.
  
  If you live the PSP to the fullest(like me) than you will see why the PSP is mostly worth the money you pay.Most people,the ones who only mess around with the features,neglect it or use it too much causing the battery to run out will say the PSP was a rip-off.You have gotto remember that PSP is MORE than just a handheld console,even if its main compartment is games.
  
  But some of the improvements i would like to see are more games and better updates,But i think that is on the way as Sony said so at E3 this year.
  
  So all is all,i reccomend this to both kids and adults,boys or girls as its simply great.
  
  g,bye.
  
  Kayne Benson,U.K.
  
  
• OMG!!!!!!!!
  By A1YBEIDTO8T8TQ on 2006-05-27
  This have to be the greatest system since the iPod first came out. I LOVE MY PSP. I take it with me wherever I go. It's become my constant companion. Whats great about it is, not only can you play games, but with the addition of a larger Memory Stick Duo, you can also use it as an mp3 player, photo viewer, internet connection, and video player! If you thinking about getting a PSP, DONT THINK, GO AND BUY ONE, there great. I suggest getting the core packege, it comes with the PSP system, battery, and AC adaptor, and its cheaper than the value pack which is not really worth buying. Because the only main difference is the value pack comes with a 32mb memory stick and if you want to do more than play game (and trust me you do), you'll need a much bigger memory stick. SO GO AND GET ONE, YOU"LL LOVE IT.
  
  Must haves to buy along with your PSP:
  
  1. a bigger memory stick, i suggest a 512mb or 1gig memory stick ($50-$70)
  2. Logitech Hard Case, to protect your PSP ($20)
  3. USB Chord, for connecting your PSP to your computer. (BTW, PSPs not only work with PCs but Macs with OSX as well) ($10)
  
  
• A Year Later and We're Still Waiting For It to Take Off
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2006-06-24
  Technology wise, the PSP is a wonder to behold. It's fantastic in that it can play movies, MP3s and go online, but for the hardcore gamer, this system misses the most important aspects: A great library of games. Is the PSP good? Certainly it is, but can it stack up for gamers in terms of what's important? That can be questionable.
  
  Let's take a look at what the PSP can do, shall we? The most obvious thing, of course, is the screen itself. The horizontal layout works much better than the vertical layout in the handheld market. People with big hands have it easier with a horizontal layout than a vertical. In a way, it feels like holding a PS2 controller. The only major difference is there's a screen in the middle. The great thing about that screen is the quality is fantastic. Images show up clear and colorful. Not only do these images show up very well, but the screen is widescreen.
  
  The Widescreen is perfect for viewing movies on your PSP. Say you don't want a portable DVD player, you can use your PSP instead, and it works just as well as a portable DVD player. Long road trip? You can view a UMD movie on the way.
  
  Even better with the PSP's technology is how the games look. They're powerful. Almost like carrying around a PS2 in your pocket. It isn't quite as powerful as a PS2, but it is certainly more powerful than the Nintendo DS in that regard. You also don't have to keep your eye on two screens at a time, which some might find to be a plus for the PSP.
  
  The PSP can also play MP3s. This is really nice for those who don't have an MP3 Player or an iPod or something like that. You can plug in your head phones and trump around with your PSP as if it were some kind of CD Player or iPod.
  
  Yet, with all this stuff, the PSP is still not up to snub with the Nintendo DS. This shouldn't be. It's more technologically advanced than the DS! It's like carrying around an entire entertainment center in your pocket. Yet it's still got some of the same problems it's had for a year.
  
  For one thing--as so many have pointed out--to get started with the PSP cost a lot of money. First you've got to buy the system itself (200-250 bucks), then you've got to get a decent memory stick (which a decent one cost 100 bucks) then you need a game to get started (50 dollars). This is speaking to the hardcore gamers, of course. To get things off the ground for your PSP it will cost you more than three hundred dollars.
  
  The PSP's UMD format isn't as fantastic as a DVD either. It's sad to say, but it isn't. UMD's don't sell very well anyway, and most major studios are considering putting a halt to producing for the UMD format. They just don't sell as well as DVD's. This might actually be because people also want special features which a UMD doesn't have. UMD's also cost more money. You might find a DVD on sale... but a UMD? Always thirty dollars when you go to the video store. No discount because the movie is a bestseller. Even worse, the PSP battery doesn't last that long anyway. So even if you take it on a road trip, you'll need a car charger in order to keep watching your movie (if it's a long movie). A decent portable DVD player actually cost less than the PSP itself.
  
  As much as I like the ability for the system to play MP3s, I've already got an MP3 player, and I don't want to go through the hassle of transfering all my music. Not only that, but the PSP doesn't play songs while you play your game. If the PSP did that, I might be a little more excited about it's MP3 player capabilities. Also, you can't organize it the way you want. The MP3 player doesn't sort the music by artist, album, song or anything like that.
  
  What hurts the PSP the most, however, is it's mediocre library of games. Any self-respecting gamer will buy a PSP more for the games than the bells and whistles. Gaming is all about the games, no matter what anyone says. If you've been gaming since before they became entertainment centers, it doesn't have to be said. The PSP strikes out in the gaming department. Most of its games are either on the PS2 (Tomb Raider Legends) or they're ports and re-releases (Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X). There are few good original titles (Daxter comes to mind), and even some of the original titles might not hold up entirely. GTA: Liberty City stories, for example, was ported to the PS2, and it's cheaper on that system. If anyone were to try and convince you to get a PSP, they certainly wouldn't be able to do it if they're in it for the games. Most of the games on the PSP also have horrible load times. The games look really good, but there just aren't enough to go around. I'd rather play a good quality game than one that just "looks cool."
  
  When I buy a system, I'm not concerned about the bells and whistles. I don't travel a lot, I've already got 8 DVD players (if you include my gaming systems and computers), and music up the wazoo. So my reason for getting a PSP was only for the games. Yet the library is severely limited. As one reviewer perfectly put it, "One year after launch and we're still talking about potential."
  
  The PSP is a brilliant system, yet for what it's worth, the exspenses to start off and it's lack of games will make your average gamer want to wait a while. A price drop would help; better games would be another fine asset. Until then, I wouldn't suggest a PSP just yet. The system is fantastic, but at the moment: not worthwhile.
  
  
• I like my PSP, a lot
  By A5JLAU2ARJ0BO on 2006-09-08
  I'm a dedicated DS player, as I love those quirky Nintendo titles (Nintendogs, Phoenix Wright, to name a couple), but I also like my PSP a lot. I was one of the "early adapters" of the PSP when it came out, buying one at a Sony Style store in Vegas the day the PSP came out. I bought half a dozen games on Amazon, played through 2 of them, and sold 3 of them online. I was quite let down by the games, to be honest. They were okay, but nothing that gave you the hushed (or not so hushed) shivering excitement when you laid your hands on that shiny new PS2 a few years back.
  
  So my PSP languished in the drawer for a few months, until I bought a 1GB card and figured out how to load DVD movies. Then Sony came out with the 2.0 upgrade which turned on the web browsing funcionality. Since then, I've been using my PSP more as a multimedia center than game machine. I'm still waiting for some really cool games to come out, as I believe the PSP's gaming potentials have not been properly or anywhere near adequately taken advantage of. But nowadays I can quickly convert a movie to play on the PSP. I have a long commute each work day -- close to 4 hours round-trip -- so I find it gratifying to have a portable movie machine with me, especially as my 2-pound Sharp Actius MM20 laptop doesn't have a built-in DVD drive and doesn't have much disk space left. The PSP is also small and light enough to carry anywhere -- although, to be fair, you might want to get a spare battery if you plan to use it for more than 4 hours on medium brightness.
  
  My PSP had one dead pixel (white, in corner). A second unit I bought as a gift was free of dead pixels, lucky for the gift receipient. I agree with the guys/gals who opine that the Core Pack is a better value. Nothing in the Value Pack is worth the extra $50. So go for the Core.
  
  Should you get a PSP? If you have $200 to spare and have already gone over the DS-or-not hump, go for it. It's a great little versatile machine that's fun to have, regardless of how you use it. (Ladies, it makes a nice, cool-looking makeup mirror, too!) I know people who use it for wi-fi in downtown parks or at Starbucks most of the time. I also know of someone who downloads dirty stuff for on-the-go enjoyment; he's absolutely in love with this little gadget, I tell you that. However you choose to use it, the PSP gives you that flexibility, that freedom. Of course it's not cheap, but who says freedom comes cheap? :)
  
  
• NICE!!!!!!!!
  By on 2006-11-05
  The PSP is the most advanced handheld gaming system I have so far. The graphics and the games are good.The only problem I have with the thing is the loading time it takes to play games such as Syphon Filter and MidNight Club 3. And by the way,screw who ever gave the PSP 1 star!
  
  P.S Don't drop the PSP! I had to buy another one after breaking my first one by dropping it!
  
  
• PSP SUCKS!
  By A26ECNTTMGL087 on 2007-06-15
  PSP Sucks! It is too fragile and the warranty is awful. I had two of them, they are fun while they last. The sceen cracked. It ruins the whole system and they do not cover this in the warranty. They (Sony) say that it is due to impact. Well, the first one cracked while resting in a car, the second one while playing. Both of them were ruined within less than 6 months. They offered to send me a refurbish one for $89 plus S&H. What a deal!
  
  
• A thing of beauty is a joy forever
  By A2JRDFIGWTX50J on 2006-05-09
  Somebody rightly said "A thing of beauty lasts forever". That holds good for this awesome little piece of technological marvel.
  
  The moment you open the box, the widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) stares at you. The PSP does not come with a game. I immediately rushed to a store to buy a game "Need for speed". The graphics are amazing and the game itself is thrilling. The widescreen adds beauty to the games as the racetracks look more original in widescreen.
  
  I have downloaded my home videos shot using Sony HC-42 camcorder. The camcorder shoots in wideangle (16:9). Hence the videos look great on the Sony PSP.
  
  [...]
  
  The controls on the PSP are bit funny. For example, to accelerate your car you need to press the down arrow and to brake you need to press the up arrow. Isn't that unconventinal? But I got used to it very soon as my race car was not moving at all when all others sped by!!!
  
  Sony is known for making proprietary items to mint money. They have created this UMD Disc whereas they could have easily supported mini-DVD instead. Don't spend your money on UMD disks. Instead buy a memory stick with good capacity and download games to the stick rather than using the UMD.
  
  PSP is great for viewing photos. But please remember to resize your photos to less than 10% of their original size (if you use a 5 MP or higher camera). This will save valuable space on your memory stick and also display the photos faster on the PSP. If you don't resize them, it takes more than 10 seconds for the system to render the image on screen.
  
  Connecting to internet is not fun. The text editor is very hard to use. Please don't have much expectations on this feature. This feature may be useful if you are playing games with another internet partner but not for anything else.
  
  Please do buy a screen protector as you don't want to spoil this beatiful screen. Even a minor scratch may show up and spoil the fun.
  
  The battery has excellent life (nearly 5 hours) before you need a recharge.
  
  Go ahead and buy the PSP. You won't regret the purchase. I would surely recommend this product for you.
  
  
• I love my PSP
  By A2YNRQMFXIB79H on 2006-05-25
  I commute into work every morning on the light rail in Portland Oregon. I bought myself a PSP earlier this past spring with the intension of watching my TiVo on it while I'm on the train. So every night, I let the TiVo download to my PC and it's kind of like a PSPcasting.
  
  All of my Season Pass shows like Lost, My name is Earl, ER, Desperate Housewives, Numbers and all of my favorite shows I don't have time for I'm now watching on my PSP. I have a 2 gig memory card that is automatically loaded with my tv programs while I'm asleep and when I wake up in the morning I just pick up my PSP from the dock and go.
  
  I also play video games on it, its great for that too. But I'm watching way more TV on it then playing games.
  
  With out a doubt this is my favorite toy that I've purchase all year long, although it only half over, I don't think I'll be purchasing anything else that comes close to how much I enjoy this thing.
  
  
• Almost Perfect!
  By A22TL53EPV6LII on 2006-06-10
  I have had this system for 9 months now and it's still working perfectly. So far I own 4 games and 6 UMD movies. This system is perfect because you can listen to music, watch movies, play videogames, look at pictures, go on the internet, watch TV, etc. But for the internet and TV you'll need a 2.5 upgrade which you'll eventually get.
  
  As for the games, there aren't many out right now and some I'm not even interested in playing, but I believe (and hope) that later this year there'll be more. The graphics are probably the best I've ever seen on a handheld system and the movies are perfectly clear. On my PSP I have 3 dead pixels but while you're playing or watching a movie, you'll hardly recognize them.
  
  As for the cons, this system is easily breakable and I mean if you drop it on concrete floor, it'll most likely break. So be really careful with it. As for the screen, it must be cleaned alot or you'll start seeing scratches which can make it look ugly.
  
  Overall, the PSP is worth your money and time and it's a system for everyone. But on second thought, I would rather wait for all the good games to come out and maybe even new colors for the PSP.
  
  Hope I was helpful enough!
  
  
• The PSP is quite amazing.
  By A2PDLW9YJVD26D on 2006-12-04
  This portable gaming system is amazing! The screen is so big. The video quality is amazing. Also, not to mention, the graphics for the games are quite cool as well. I also found the Wi-Fi very useful. A lot of restatunts, colleges, book stores, and other places have free Wi-Fi. The game sharing option was a very good idea. Only one person has to have the UMD game disc, and another person in the same room can play against you, without a disc. It just uses the internal memory. I suggest buying a 1GB or 2GB Memory stick. I have a 2GB San Disk memory card, and I have 1 and 1/2 hours of video on there, and there is still about 1GB to spare. So buy this, if you have the $200.00 to spend. All the good, there is one bad part. The battery life. It only last 3-4 1/2 hours. Buy a spare battery. Thats about it....
  
  
• Fun! Plus Helps Pass Time...
  By A18J2I7XWPQ732 on 2006-12-06
  Being a resident of New York City, there's the daily routine of the long commute to and from work. Some people like to kill time by reading. I am the type that likes excitement. RSS + Games + Videos + Music = PSP ! There are so many things you can do with this. I can download RSS news feeds in the morning and read them while going to work. I can watch news videos or even listen to music. And nothing else can help kill time than games! This is like your own little personal entertainment system! The graphics are great even for something at this size (4.5 in. diagonal). I highly recommend it.
  
  
• Sony PSP - I'm in portable gaming, movie, music heaven!
  By AHYQOXK8TT2Z8 on 2006-05-08
  Wait ... I was new to the MP3 world a few years back when I bought my Rio S30S 64mb- in fact I still have it and use it! And BACK THEN, I was ALSO very computer incompetent and electronically out-of-date! When I wanted to buy something the salesperson always gave his-her best case scenario, in which case I ended up paying too much money for a lame product- - lies lies lies! Hello internet and the world of On-Line Product Reviews!! I love it!
  
  And now that you have an insight to my lack of electronic experience, I can tell you that I never owned anything PlayStation before. After my Rio player, I decided to get wet with an N64. Oh yeah!! My friends and I were obsessed with endless gambling on the 4Player Mario Kart! Every night was an N64 session of mayhem and chaotic drinking! Used to be so much fun... awww but they're all married now. I needed something for my lonesome self and this seemed to be the gadget.
  
  SPECS: Ummm, isn't this a USER Review?
  USER FRIENDLINESS: I was a little worried about operating the keypad and afraid of screwing something up.. badly- but boy was I wrong. This thing is so easy to operate; I learned it with ease.
  
  GAMING FEATURES: I bought the PSP for Gaming Portability 1st, Movies 2nd, MP3 Player 3rd, WiFi connection 4th, and Picture Viewing last (of course not 4pic storage-too many flash cards to worry about). If you consider those features in that order, you really don't have anything major to complain about because the games have state of the art graphics and speed. On the contrary, for True Gamers, there ARE many complaints on the subject of inserting the game in the unit; that takes about 30 to 40 seconds. Whatever! Go buy a portable..... that's what I thought- there's nothing else that offers as much as the PSP... so don't nitpik! The games are so realistic! Wow, I got myself wound up a bit there... sorry... anywayyy
  
  MOVIES: Each UMD is a bit expensive but the video resolution quality is unmatched. In any case, U really don't need to stress over UMD prices because you can play MPEG4 videos on this device too, really simple. The PSP comes with parental control passwords? Why is that so needed? Obviously for younger children. But hey guess what, in the horrible case that someone heists ur PSP, they won't be able to watch movies or make any changes because they don't have the password to your PSP-- U won't read that in any other review!
  
  MP3 PLAYER and HEADPHONES: The included earphones don't sound that great, but Sony has brilliantly manufactured the remote so you can unplug theirs and plug your own into the remote socket. With any other headphones, WOW, the PSP is smooth sounding offering 4sound settings and one OFF setting; plays ATRAC3 and everything else. Transferring music is a breeze since the PSP is recognized as an external hard drive- I hear there are many issues with players that can't do that. Get this- - the guy I bought it from, put 15 hours of his own DJ music on the 1GB card and I was able to COPY it to my comp's hard drive with one click. If you're concerned about a portable MP3 player and find yourself turned off by the weight and size, AGAIN, consider that you're buying this thing for its gaming portability first.
  
  DOWNSIDES: Cost!! But I keep reminding myself of all the powerful features before I go sniveling about my empty bank account. Furthermore, everything stored on this device must be done by way of Flash cards- little if any onboard storage. Yes, photo viewing is off the chart with easy navigation and beautiful resolution, but how many photos can you really store on a flash card?
  You can't hook the PSP up to your TV to watch videos (like the iRiver, Archos, etc), that would have been pimp! What about an external keyboard feature like some Palm devices have- that would have been ULTRA pimp for e-mail responses while on-line browsing at Wi-Fi spots... don't you think?
  The HOLD switch on the PSP unit (not the remote) is very touchy. First, if you're watching a movie and you're in a car or on a plane its imperative to slide the HOLD switch ON because its very easy to bump a button and affect the movie and/or music too. As for the touchiness that I'm talking about, once you go to slide the switch out of the HOLD position, you have to be careful not to accidentally turn the system OFF. Okay, not that big of a deal because you can just simply turn the unit back on. When listening to music or watching a movie, I found its best to put the PSP unit in the HOLD position then use the headphone remote control which will still function for FF/Rev, Pause/Play, Vol + or -. Even though the remote has a HOLD function too, you don't really need it because the remote is not that touchy.
  
  UPGRADES AND ACCESSORIES: My unit came with a 1GB Sony Pro Duo but I needed more storage for my Music and Game saves on one card so I bought a 2GB on e-bay for $48 plus $15 for shipping; the prices on eBay are ridiculously cheap, so go there if you want to buy one. The PSP maintains a solid operating system and Sony is constantly upgrading its firmware so that's a plus. There are scads of accessories out there for the PSP-- Go look! Also, there are a ton of PSP Hack sites that provide reliable tricks, software, and downloads.
  
  OVERVIEW: The unit was a bit pricey at the start and the movies still are, but the price is dwindling every month. The PSP's resolution, gaming portability, and added features place it in a stellar class of its own. With its upgradeability and growing accessory selection, the future of the PSP looks endless at this point; therefore, it's well worth selling your motorcycle, car, or house to buy one.
  Carly.... Gone!
  
  
• Powerful hardware-but at a price.
  By A2UN5UY8Q6YMOF on 2006-07-31
  I've been intrigued by the PSP since it was released last year, but low supply, high price, and lack of games have kept me from biting. Fast forward to present day and the supply is plentiful, the introduction of the core package has reduced the cost to own, and the game library is growing. So I took the plunge and am now offering my early impressions.
  
  First of all, don't bother with the value pack that costs $50 more than the core. Why? 1) The 32 MB memory card the value pack comes with is ridiculously small to the point of almost being useless. 2) The value pack adds headphones, which most won't need since you can simply use a set from another portable gadget. 3) The last addition, a soft case, would be nice but you can buy one for about $10. Get a 1 GB card for about $60 or a 2GB card for about $100 if you even think you might load music, pictures, and video on your PSP. There is even a 4GB out now, but its pricey at over $200.
  
  So how is the PSP as a gaming device? Pretty darn good. I've owned a Gameboy, DS Lite, and now the PSP and the PSP offers the best graphics by far. However, the controls are a bit awkward at times. For example, holding the PSP and using the left and right triggers is tough. Also, the D-pad is not the most responsive and using the analog stick is a challenge. However, the PSP's LCD display is big, bright, and sharp.
  
  Battery life is only about 5 hrs, which is similar to the DS Lite at its highest brightness. But the DS Lite can last as long as 15 or more hrs at lowest brightness. This could be an issue on long overseas flights in which case you may want to buy an extra battery.
  
  I first played SOCOM 3, a third person shooter. I was frustrated by the lack of a right analog stick found on the PS2 and Xbox consoles, but quickly adapted. Next up was Street Fighter Alpha, a fighting game and the sole reason I bought a Super Nintendo console back in the 1990's. The D-pad is not as responsive as I would like, but I still enjoyed the game very much. I also played Hot Shots Golf and have no complaints (portables are perfect for golf games).
  
  If you are looking for primarily a music player, the PSP is probably not for you. It is a bit big (but not overly heavy) to take jogging or biking, not to mention the risk of scratching the screen. I have a 60 GB Ipod that is much better for that. If you want primarily a video player, then I would recommend an Archos AV500. It has a similar sized widescreen with a 100 GB hard drive and acts like a DVR-much easier to record content to than the PSP. Also, the UMD disc format that the PSP uses has not fared well for movies-it is too expensive and studio support is drying up. However, as an overall entertainment device for travel, the PSP can't be beat. In additon to movie, music, and game support, it also has built in Wifi for Internet connection. But all this functionality makes the PSP pricey. If you only want a gaming device, I would strongly consider the DS Lite. Unfortunately for me, the DS Lite's game library was not as appealing as the PSP's. The announcement of Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins for the PSP (this September) provided the final push off the fence. This is a game that single-handedly got me to buy a Sega Genesis and a Gameboy! So if you have the money and like the games, then now is the time to dive in and get a PSP.
  
  
• Good bare bones PSP.
  By A26Q9A006Q91RH on 2006-11-17
  If you want to get a PSP to use it for media, then this is the best thing to go with. Why? Because you save fifty bucks!!! Now that may not sound liike a big deal, but I feel that it's a very good package, and especially if you already have a menory stick (especially if you use Powershot cameras). And besides, the stuff you get in the value pack is not very impressive. The only good thing is the hand strap, and you can just get one seperatly (probally say it's a replacement, that would definitly work). The Case is easily destroyed by the logitech case, and the headphones are just crappy earbuds that don't work well. Headphones, in general, are a whole lot better. Earbuds also increase risk of hearing loss. And the lint cloth is worth jack. And if you want the (and for the record, they still sell value packs, but the entertainment pack is getting more sales) card, get a bigger card, or buy a used 32 MB card for a low price. I lost my first one, and I got a MB card for only 8 bucks. And for the demo disc you get, there's nothing but a bunch of weak videos. At least the Petey Pablo music video has hot girls (and he is a terrible "rapper"
  
  Basically, get this instead of the value pack. The entertainment pack is great, no doubt, but if you do not like Atv Offroad fury or Lords Of Dogtown, then just get this. However, if you do like it and have an iPod (and this cannot replace iPod as far as media. But it does things that iPod cannot), get this. Sony was actually thoughtful because they gave us some things to choose from, but the technophobes may be confused by this. That's okay, and that's where we reviewers come in to help the people we like: the buyers.
  
  
• 199 Buncha Bang for buck
  By A2ACJ55JHHJ3FU on 2007-01-04
  First off, I was in love with my iPod.
  
  I really don't think there is a music player -just a music player- that is better than the iPod. And I do not wish this to be an attack on the iPod, because it is NOT. Refer to this later on in the review....
  
  But there is something on the market, that has been deadly silent that has all the ability of an iPod, of course it plays music, plays video, and games. And it not all that much bigger than the biggest iPod out there. What? The PSP does all that? I didn't know that either.
  
  Lots of options crammed into this little doo dad. It is also Wireless, Internet ready, headphone jack, USB - there is a button for just about everything. The tiny insides of this little device must be crammed to the brim. Plays Video wonderfully, plays games great. (Loading time is a bit slow, but once loaded no interruptions.... and that is how I would like it, I hate game devices that take time out in the middle of action to catch up... would rather that all be done at the beginning). The movies are a small disk as well as the game disk.... easy to carry around. Small is indeed king here... the device does get a bit heavy after a while, but it OKAY to put it down and come back; but considering how much stuff it does, it should indeed be a tiny bit hefty.
  
  Fact is, it is hard to give a good detailed review of this little device since it does so much, and some of the stuff is LITTLE stuff, like being able to save pics off the net, and use them as your wallpaper... it really is a little computer. I have had it a week and have not found anything that I don't like, and I know I have not found all the stuff there.
  
  It is very good with a battery. 3 hours on the stock battery and you can play Dungeon Seige 2 with another person. 3 hours playing a game ?? Great stuff. And it recharges fast. Within an hour I had my battery recharged. Plus, you can always just plug it in and play, and ignore the battery. Batteries exist out there, that make it a six hour affair playing games. Music uses a lot less battery. When just playing music, you can get 6 hours of playing music. Headphone jacks can be used in the headphone jack, but you can put all sorts of things into this headphone jack, ... like a really, really small FM transmitter that uses no batteries (this also means no annoying cords)... plus about 30 more things that you can get for this headphone jack to be utilized in total utilization.
  
  So, if you wanna shell out about 199 dollars and have a lot more to show for your money than buying a more expensive Video iPod, stop here. Buy this device right now. I no longer use my iPod in my car with an FM transmitter... I use the PSP to do the same thing... and guess what? This device puts out a lot more sound than the iPod.
  
  For the cost involved lets break this down:
  
  Ipod:
  
  1. Video iPod =349 dollars.
  
  PSP:
  
  1. PSP =199.
  
  2. 4 gig memory Chip =85 (on popular auction site, free shipping if you look). (Update, on popular auction site, 4 gig SD duo PSP mem is now 80 dollars, but more importantly, you can get 2 gig ones for $18.99 - just thought the ones who are debating whether or not to get an iPod or a PSP might want this info)
  
  What is the outcome? PSP is not only a more capable machine for those looking for a machine that plays music as well as games and video, it is quite cheaper.
  
  Why review this in comparison contrast to the iPod? The only reason is, I would have liked to have known about this device before I bought a couple of the iPods I had already bought. THE IPOD IS A wonderful music player. But that is really all it is, and the video iPod does not hold a candle to the video on this machine.
  
  Have fun.
  
  
  
  
• DEAD PIXELS
  By A2XG5H57PXRYO9 on 2007-03-08
  The first system I ordered had 5-7 dead pixels, and the replacement wasn't much better. Amazon offered a refund rather than try and replace the system a second time.
  
  Since the PSP is known for being so shoddy when it comes to dead pixels, I would suggest purchasing this system at a Best Buy or Circuit City, with a REPLACEMENT PLAN so you can quickly get your PSP replaced when you find dead pixels! Instead, I'm stuck mailing bad hardware back and forth with Amazon, and I'm a little disappointed that they've given up on replacing the system. But the refund is appreciated, and this just means I have to wait for the refund to go through before I can go to another store for the purchase.
  
  PSP isn't a bad system per se, but it's nowhere near the hardware quality and durability of a Nintendo product...
  
  Oh, and I wouldn't try to contact SONY about this issue, since their manual explicitly states that dead pixels is "natural" and should be "expected". This is complete bull!! A $200+ game system should not have dead pixels! I have a much larger LCD monitor (19 inches) and there are NO dead pixels on it! I see no reason why the smaller PSP should be "naturally" flawed just cause Sony tries to weasel out of any liability!
  
  
• Can't beat Nintendo in the portable market...yet
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2006-06-15
  A year after Sony's launch of their first portable system, the PSP still has an uncertain future. As far as portable systems go, the PSP has tons of features that beat the competition hands down. But for every feature the PSP has, there's baggage to go with it. It's online capability has varying degrees of troubles, and the future of it's capability of playing UMD movies is up in the air as well. Poor sales of UMD movies have left the future of the format in question, even though a majority of the movies look great on the PSP's slick screen. No matter how many features a video game system has however, when it comes down to it, the most important matter are the games, and this is what really hurts the PSP. As of this typing, there is no single killer app for the system, and there's only a handful of games that are worth owning. Daxter, GTA: Liberty City Stories, Twisted Metal: Head On, and Mega Man: Maverick Hunter are the best games for the PSP, with a host of RPG's and lame console conversions as well. Most of these games are hindered by the fact that there's only one analog stick, which makes the camera controls in games like Daxter, GTA, and a few more quite cumbersome. As far as system capabilities and features go, the PSP can't be beat, but it's future is uncertain at best, and it's direct competition, Nintendo's DS, may not have everything the PSP does feature wise, but it has a much, much better library of games. All in all, as of right now, the best thing to do is stick with the DS until the PSP proves that it has staying power and better quality games, but if it's one thing that Sony has proven it can do over the years in the world of video games, it's that they never fail to surprise, so hopefully the best days of the system are ahead.
  
  
• PSP...
  By on 2006-04-25
  The PSP(Playstation portable)is a great platform for children and adults alike. It is a nice system, and has superior graphics compared to the Nintendo DS.
  
  Design: 8.0/10-The overall look of the PSP is great. The controller layout is very similar to the Playstation 2 controller. The buttons are very well spaced out. It looks nice, however it is a little bulky, and heavy.
  
  Games: 9.7/10-The PSP has a wonderful game library. From games like Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories to Lumines, PSP has high quality and highly rated games. A Ratchet and Clank game for the PSP is scheduled for Q1 2007.
  
  Features: 6.0/10-The PSP has Video, Music, and other media capabilities. But the the media isn't as good as expected. First of all, you need big and expensive memory sticks, and it is difficult to get video on the system. The PSP is good for photos, but it is WAY too bulky for a music player.
  
  Durability and performance: 6.9/10-The PSP is durable, but it's performance isn't as good. The loading times of some games are ridiculos, and dead pixels sometimes appear on the screen. The HOME button on mines got a little wrecked.
  
  Overall-7.8/10
  
  Essentials for the PSP:
  
  Memory stick:
  At lest a 256 MB one if you want to make any use of the PSP besides gaming.
  
  Daxter:
  Daxter is a stupendous game and a great choice for starters.
  
  Car charger:
  WARNING: PSP battery life is very low.
  
  The PSP is worth buying. There is no use of comparing this to the DS because they both have downfalls. I would reccomend the PSP to anyone.
  
  
  

• PSP Battery Charger
• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play

• PSP PlayGear Pocket
• Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories
• SanDisk SDMSG-1024 Pro Duo 1 GB Gaming Memory Stick
• PSP Travel Case
• SanDisk 2 GB MemoryStick Pro Duo (SDMSPD-2048-A11, Retail Package)