To help you start your PSP collection, we've created this special bundle, which includes the games Wipeout Pure, Twisted Metal, NBA, Ape Escape, and World Soccer Tour in addition to the Sony PSP value pack which comes with the AC adapter, battery pack, 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, earbud headphones with remote control, soft case, hand strap, Spider-Man 2 movie, and of course the PSP system.
The era of no-compromises handheld gaming has arrived. Get ready for immersive, 3D gaming on a console that is poised to change the way we think about portable devices. With wireless internet, video and digital music playback, and incredible data storage and connectivity options, the Sony PSP--or PlayStation Portable--is a complete solution for the mobile digital lifestyle. Sony has hit the mark by combining both horsepower and groundbreaking features into a package that weighs just a hair more than half a pound.
Design
The PSP's exceptional performance comes from a 333 MHz processor that dwarfs the speed of competing handheld consoles. Add this polygon-pushing muscle to 4 MB of fast DRAM and 32 MB of embedded RAM, and you've got a device with graphics rendering capabilities close to that of the PlayStation2. And because no game is complete without audio, the PSP is generously appointed with built-in stereo speakers, as well Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound capability. Sony has also pulled out all the stops with the PSP display. The bright, 4.3-inch LCD sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixel resolution--plenty of real estate for heavy gaming action and widescreen-format movies. All of this is powered by a removable, and rechargeable, lithium-ion battery.
Screen machine: The 4.3-inch display sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixel resolution. Movies and games on the go have never been more gorgeous. |
From a controls perspective, the PSP is made for gaming. If you're familiar with a PlayStation controller, you'll be a pro at the PSP's controls in no time. Directional buttons, as well as an analog stick are provided. Meanwhile, the familiar left and right shoulder buttons, as well as triangle, circle, cross and square buttons are integrated into the device's slim case. Finally, home, select, and start buttons give you quick access and control over the PSP's important functions.
To have and to hold: The PSP's easy-to-master controls are cleverly integrated into the device's slim profile. |
Supported Media
At the heart of the PSP is a new, proprietary media format known as the Universal Media Disc, or UMD. Each UMD can hold 1.8 GB of data, enough room for rich and complex games. UMDs, which are housed in a protective cover, slide into the rear of the PSP. Sony has declared the UMD an open format for developers and media content owners, so movies, music and other media are on the horizon from third parties. Sony has also signed on many popular game developers for the platform, so a deep library of titles is on tap.
While the UMD is great for read-only media such as games and movies, Sony solves the problem of data storage with the addition of a Memory Stick Duo slot. With Memory Stick Duo media, you can store your saved games, downloaded online content, personal video and audio files, and more. When you want access to these files from your PC, simply use the PSP's USB 2.0 port to turn the device into a fast portable media drive. Then, drag and drop files such as your photos, MP3s, and videos onto the PSP, just as you would any other removable storage device. The PSP ships with a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, and additional media with higher storage capacities are available.
Major media: Sony's PSP-compatible Universal Media Disc (UMD) can hold 1.8 GB of data. |
Connectivity
The PSP blows away the competition in the connectivity department. Indeed, the PSP's ability to connect to the internet, and to other PSPs and USB-based peripherals, is a real advantage. At the top of the list is Wifi connectivity, or IEEE 801.11b. Use this wireless internet standard to connect to other gamers around the world for hot multiplayer action--all from your couch, or your local Wifi hotspot. As mentioned, the PSP's USB 2.0 port is great for PC connectivity, but it also opens the PSP up for a whole range of future peripherals. Sony has plans for the PSP in other ways, too; the unit's infrared port speaks of remote control capabilities in the near future.
A Digital Companion
If you haven't already guessed, Sony has positioned the PSP to be much more than a gaming device. Out of the box, the device is ready to serve as a portable video player and photo viewer. By using the new H.264 MPEG-4 video standard, Sony obviously has its eyes on making the PSP a robust video device with support for feature length movies and more. In addition, the PSP offers a great way to transport and share your photos in JPEG format. And let's not forget the music. Load up your favorite MP3-encoded songs onto a Memory Stick Duo and you've got a portable audio powerhouse. The device also supports Sony's ATRAC audio codec, so you can play songs acquired from Sony's Connect Online Music Store. Sony even ships a nifty pair of earbuds--complete with an inline remote control-- with the PSP.
What's in the Box
PSP device, AC adapter, battery pack, 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, earbud headphones with remote control, soft case and hand strap.
1 An Amazing Feat of Hardware Design
I originally wasn't planning to write a review for the PSP, but after reading the other Kid's Review, a terrible, biased, completely banged out in half a second with all the grammatical skills of a semi-paralyzed orangutang piece of work if ever there was one, I just had to offer my opinion. If anything, I hope to convince you that not all kids are completely mindless internet slaves.
Wow, that was a weird way to start. Maybe I should just talk about the PSP. The PSP is, simply put, and amazing feat of engineering. Just one look at the tech specs, and then another look at how small the unit is, and your jaw will hit the floor. It's just that awesome.
The beautiful screen takes up the bulk of the front, providing beautiful graphics no matter whether you're viewing a game, a movie, or content from you memory stick. The sound works well, and the controls are very well designed and placed. Just to take a moment to laugh at Mr. Nintendo Fan who reviewed earlier, "Where's your analog nub, Mr. Dual Screen?"
When you get inside the machine, it runs fast (although loading times can be upwards of 10 seconds and startup around 30), and the software itself can run movie files, sound files, and picture files, so that files on your home computer that you copy onto a memory stick and place in your PSP, it will run. If you want to (and have a larger memory stick than 32 MB), you can even have TV episodes for viewing on the go. There are also companies releasing commercial movies on UMD, the PSP's media format, but if you don't want to buy a UMD copy for viewing on the go, you could buy a large memory stick, rip the video from the DVD with your computer, and copy the file to the memory stick so that the PSP can view it that way. I'm not sure, but I think that this viewing format even extends the battery life, as the PSP doesn't have to run a motor to spin the disc.
Battery power is actually something you should consider when purchasing a PSP. It varies depending on many factors, such as: are you running a game, movie, or music, is Wi-Fi turned on, is it a processor taxing game, is the disc motor spinning, etc. There are many charts available showing how long the battery can run in different conditions, and as it varies wildly, you might want to consider buying a second battery pack. The PSP can be recharged while playing, though, so a car adapter for the power cable would be useful for long trips and possible another preripheral, such as the carrying cases that include large batteries for charging the PSP while it's carried.
Software itself is a little slim for the PSP at the moment, although there have been many quality titles in the launch lineup. Perhaps waiting a little longer for some of the big names to hit the PSP might be in order for some of the less-rabid consumers.
Well, I've covered all of the pressing points on the PSP, I believe. It hasn't been a very well structured review, but I leave you with this: whether now or later, get one of these. Get a PSP. They're cool.
Happy gaming!
2 I love my PSP.
I had a Game Boy Advance which collected dust. I decided to trade it in for a PSP. I am glad I did. I bring it with me everywhere. Any free moment I have I play it. I have solved Tony Hawk Underground 2 Remix, I have played Lumines and love it, and I have Wipeout Pure which is loads of fun. I am waiting for Grand Theft Auto PSP.
3 This blows away DS in every category
Before I start, I want to say that I am not a Sony fanboy. I have Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance SP. I was going to buy a DS because the 2 screens looked cool as hell. But once I heard about PSP, I held my money to see how it was. When Sony released the specifications on PSP, I immediately knew that I was going to get PSP. If anyone has played DS, and then played PSP, the screen quality itself will make you want to buy it. It's just incredible. If you watched Spider-Man 2 on it, it looks just as good as a DVD. But the thing that I really liked was all the things it could do.
All DS can do is play games, but PSP can do everything. In addition to games, it plays video, music, picture viewer and go online to play games, wirelessly, and it will only improve in future firmware updates. Sony will release updates that can make it do so much more. In the next update, Sony will release a web browser and much more. This is the ultimate portable entertainment device. The price tag is a little steep, but do what I did and get it completely for free at (...)
This is a great product from Sony and if need things to do on the road, definitely get this. The video looks great, music sounds great, and with web browsing coming very soon, it is the thing to have.
4 Fight against DS
This is a kid's review:
oh COME ON!! this thing has stupid dead pixels!the motor is noisy!what else!I would rather get a ds other than this crappy thing!Hey at least the nintendo ds has a freakin longer battery life!personnaly i like the ds better.the psp does have better graphics,but WHO CARES i like nintendo better becuase they INNOVATE!i dont care about stupid graphics or features!i already have an ipod and portable dvd player!why settle watching a movie on some little ass screen with muffy sound?i care about gameplay.not some fancy graphics!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------A you guys noticed, most of the KIDS (the text above is a kid review) preffers nintendo DS because they had all the gameboy series and it was the only handleds. Then the PSP arrives and blows nintendo, maybe they are going to try to do the DS R(revolution), and sincerley, I can't watch crossed eyed a game, I preffer focusing on 1 screen. First, "Stupid graphics" change a lot in gameplay, because I only had BGA SP with nintendo (I sold it right after I've heard the PSP launch was approaching), I had no fun playing games where it's crappy graphics, secondly, the PSP is silent and it makes a small (I mean really small) noise when it loads (only for loading) something LIKE ANY OTHER COMPUTER OR REAL HANDLED. And It's cheap to say that the PSP sucks when you don't even have it because everything that was said was wrong except for better graphics. And I have no dead pixels and there is no "muffy sound" When you whatch at the PSP and the DS, the first think you think about the DS is: "Men, the screen could habe been way bigger, look at all this waisted place!", then left and right there's nothing except speakers which could have been samller (in fact, the speakers are smaller than they appear, I think nintendo didn't want to work harder on a bigger screen), when you see the PSP:"Men, this thing has a huge screen!" sony made the best job possible for the biggest screen possible. In the end, the question about, am I going to buy a DS or a PSP, it's almost the same question has hesitating between a Nintendo64 and a PS1/2. I'll go for PS1/2 for the graphics, gameplay............ This small system has incredible power, of course, it's more complicated since you can connect via usb to a computer and do all the transfer, play online...... kids won't understand this so they rather buy a DS which is simple to use. And you get DVD quality movies. If you can turn a portable DVD player, a music player, gaming system........ into one machine, then it's worth to buy it. Remember that SONY lost aproximatly
60$ per system because they lowered the price to tie a bit with nintendo's price. And you guys know nintendo, there is always something new, you can't have the newest platform for more than a year, then another one comes out. SONY made only 3, PS1, PS2, PSP. Sincerly, when you compare gameboy color and gameboy advance, the graphics are the SAME except the GBA screen is bigger, there is a difference between PS1 and PS2 graphics. And the UMDs (universal media disks) holds about 14 times the ammount of digital memory than the DS cartidges (UMD: 1.8GB, DS cartdiges: 8 gigabits)
Hope I helped you make the right decision LOL, good luck.
5 crappiest thing ever
oh COME ON!! this thing has stupid dead pixels!the motor is noisy!what else!I would rather get a ds other than this crappy thing!Hey at least the nintendo ds has a freakin longer battery life!personnaly i like the ds better.the psp does have better graphics,but WHO CARES i like nintendo better becuase they INNOVATE!i dont care about stupid graphics or features!i already have an ipod and portable dvd player!why settle watching a movie on some little ass screen with muffy sound?i care about gameplay.not some fancy graphics!
6 Best New Technology From Sony.
I think this System is cool because what Sony is trying to do is that they are trying to prove to Nintendo that they are trying to make something alot better. With The PSP you can play Movies on this, You can play Games on it. You can play Music on this, and even save photos. Sony's been working on this for awhile because they've been going through alot of trouble with this New system. Ask for Nintendo I think they should get themselves Sued for there so called Nintendo DS Marketing because The DS is no good I mean the Gameplay isn't that good, And their new games for the DS aren't that good at all. So anyway I don't what Nintendo is thinking but There New System is no good and I would go for Sony's System The PSP instead of The DS.
7 THE PSP IS GREAT FOR ALL AGES AT LEAST FOR 11 YEAR OLDS
I OWN A PSP AND THE GAME TWISTED METAL AND I'V ALREADY UNLOCKED EVERY CAR AND BEAT THE GAME WITH EVERYONE AND (...) BUT I MIGHT OF USED A COUPLE CHEATS BUT JUST LITTLE ONES. ANY WAY WHAT IM SAYING IS THE PSP IS A GREAT SYSTEM AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER GAME SYSTEMS SELL THEM TO GET THIS.AND FOR ALL YOU WONDERING WHAT MY NAME IS (...)
8 Great Product, Needs some refining
I own a Nintendo DS, Gameboy SP, and now a PSP. I love all three and find that each has advantages over the other. The PSP is a good idea, but needs some refining. It took three different systems before I could get one without dead pixels. Regardless of what Sony prints in the instruction book (disclamer about dead pixels being normal)it is not normal for dead pixels, or ones that remain green, red, etc. I own may products that are LCD and none, and I mean NONE has this disclamer, or pixel problems. This needs to be fixed in future systems that are in this price range. Getting past that the graphics are GREAT without question. It is easy to loose hours of time playing a game, or watching a movie.
This system is very, very easy to damage, so I would recomend that older players invest in it, or it be used under supervision to prevent damage.
For me it was a good investment in fun and entertainment that I use everry day to relax after work.
(...)
9 too many bs reviews
dont get me wrong the psp is a great system, but it can definitely rub some people the wrong way.
PROS
+great and i mean great graphics
+beautiful lcd screen
+bonus media options though not necessary
+looks great as a unit
CONS
-expensive, not only the unit but the games as well
-HUGE defect rate (exchanged 4 before demanding my money back)
-is a smudge/scratch magnet
-not durable for a portable (i know all you "mature kids" out there take care of your system but everyone makes mistakes)
now for all the people who claim that durable handhelds are for kids... i was not aware that adults prefer flimsy systems. as for dead pixels, the psp offers the highest dead pixel ratio of any lcd known to man and i dont know how psp owners are finding ways to deny this. well the bottom line is buy the psp for great handheld graphical performance and if you dont mind spending hundreds on a unit with a high defect rate... if you're a thrill seaker like me its fun to argue with clerks when attempting to return for a perfect system.
10 psp
the second best handheld i have ever purdchaesd. although i use this more than my nintendo ds, it is only becasue of music but gamewise i will still have to say the ds is better. the psp only appeals to me for music/movies/photos and two games which are ridge racres and fianl fantasy vii criss core and the movie final fantasy vii avent children, but that doesnt count as a game so dont fcall me retarded or something when i listed three things. so anyways that is the reason why i bought the psp. it has great graphics big screen and a nice overall handheld.
11 THE PSP IS COOL SO IS THE DS
I think the PSP is a great system and so is the ds but the psp screen can get damaged but hey im only 11 and my PSP is in perfect condition I also have a DS its great but i dont think its as good as the DS but they are both good handhelds and remember im only 11 and my PSP and DS are in perfect condition cause its not only for adults its for kids to ;)
12 Is it better than DS?
I have to admit--the first time I saw the DS last fall, I was pretty impressed. The dual screens and touch screen were innovative features. I wanted to buy one, but then I decided to wait to see what Sony had to offer in the Spring. Boy was I glad I waited!
The Sony PSP blows away the DS in every category; and it takes a lot for me to say that--I've had Gameboy, Color and Advanced SP, so I've been loyal to Nintendo Portable Gaming for over a decade. I had to switch this time, though.
The screen size, graphics, and versatility are unmatched in a portable gaming system. Where else can you get a handheld device with PS2 graphics, mp3 audio capabality, movie viewer, and photo viewer?! You can't. You can get the PSP for free, though; just go here http://tinyurl.com/5hlg8. The game lineup looks great (imagine GTA in the palm of your hand?), with new titles coming out very frequently. Take my advice: ditch the DS and go for the PSP--you won't regret it!
13 PSP vs DS debate
No doubt. When you look at this forum, you are interested in Sony PSP. You will likely come across many negative opinions about the system mainly from those diehard nintendo fans who actually never have the chance to try on PSP in the first place. I therefore like to clarify a few misconceptions.
1. PSP beats DS in graphic and sound quality, no matter how you look at it. The screen is bigger as well.
2. Nintendo does have the potential to upgrade to PDA or similar, not just for games only, but the software and hardware is not out yet. Likely, Nintendo will produce a new handheld system rather than developing DS. So, what you get with DS is solely for games only.
3. If games are what you are interested only, stay with PS2 or XBOX. Or, wait until XBOX 360 or PS3 come out. Watching video games on a big screen television is way better than looking at the handheld.
4. PSP costs way more than DS, but the value per dollar you spent is much better with PSP. Someone argue that you can listen to better music with an iPod ,and use a portable computer to play games, watch video and show pictures, and therefore no need to get a PSP. This is a mentally retarded statement. iPod and a portable computer are not cheap and the short battery life in a portable computer will not allow you to do anything much. Besides, you will have a lot to carry. The PSP is able to carry all these functions in one small device. It is meant to be used on the road, not at home while you can watch a DVD movie on the big screen television.
5. Short half life in PSP about 2.5 to 3 hours. Yes, DS can last up to 12 hours. Unfortunately LCD screen eats power to provide better graphic. If you can afford to spend several hours a day playing with your DS, you dont need a handheld. May as well stay at home with a real console.
6. Easier breakable. No, PSP is not as strongly built as DS. It should not be treated as a toy and be thrown around. Do you ever drop your portable dvd player and expect it to survive?
7. Easily scretched screen. DS screen is much more resistant but you should still get a screen protector. You did the same with your palm pilot, right?
8. Dead pixels. It will happen. Some say that the units sold in North America had the LCD screen made by Samsung in China. Those that sold in Japen had the screen made by Sharp in Japan and therefore have less chance of getting dead pixels. I cannot confirm the information. Return it for an exchange if the dead pixels are obvious. Someone quoted me an return ratio of 2 per 200. Again, I cannot confirm thts information.
9. Games. Some argue that PSP have better games. Others disagree. The truth is that no game will please all and everyone's opinion is different. There are many Mario or Zelda lovers. They have absolutely no appeal to me.
10. If you still want a DS, go ahead. Don't get the Gameboy Advance. It is a system of the past. Nintendo is planning a new system call Gameboy Revolution. Wait for it. Your daily life can continue as usual without any handheld system.
11. Sony PSP is not the only device on earth that has all these functions. Gizmondo can do the same thing. The world has moved toward. It is unlikely that you will ever see another new handheld system developed just for games only. Even Nintendo will not do it for its next handheld. This is a fact that you have to accept. For those who feel that these handheld should stay with games only, you are way behind of everyone.
Finally my opinion. If you feel that Sony PSP is simply too expansive and out of your reach. Just wait. The price will eventually come down or there may be a better system. If money is not an issue, then get it. I browsed through many forums on PSP and I have not encountered one comment to say that they regret buying the unit. They do complain about certain issues mentioned above but they don't regret.
14 Best gaming system arround
I have played all other game systems and there is nothing like this one! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to play games, listen to music and watch movies! What could be better! Need not forget the awsome screen that Sony has incorporated! Buy a PSP as soon as possible! You will definately not regret it!
15 This rocks i knough im 13, but i know what im talking about
PSP is very good compared to the ds(my brother used to have), the ds is fun but after a while it get a little old, but it is much easier to use. The PSP is awsome, but to get videos and some of the music is kinda tough. The music is easy to gte, but if you dont have and MP3 or MP3 coverter your screwed. Itunes works great and i recomend a 512mb memory card for the music. But to get videos it is kind of though you need eather a sony camara were you but in your memory card or a special video converter which you can get for free like i did.
I really recomend the PSP and the game wipe out pure cuz you can go online if your at a starbuck or close to one. well u should get one
16 Helpful review. Shedding more light on people's complaints
When I was considering buying a psp I read all the reviews, and noticed that many people were having problems with dead pixels. After long debate I decided to get one thinking it surely wasn't that big of a problem. I have been through three of them now, and finally the fourth one I bought didn't have any dead pixels. Now I'm not knocking the psp, because I am very impressed with it. It is very cool and I think people should get one, but wait til Sony works out the pixel problem. As for people complaining about the price, they haven't stopped to think what this thing is capable of. It's basicaly a portable playstation 2 ($150), a mp3 player ($40), a portable dvd player ($80), and a video and picture viewer. Add that up and its more than $250, so if you think the price is too high stop complaining and don't buy one. The prices aren't likely to go down anytime soon because there is not nothing that will challenge it for awhile. Nintendo just came out with the DS, but it doesn't touch it even if it did nintendo is for mostly little kids anyway. The screen is perfect size any bigger and it would be portable anymore. As for finger prints, yes it does attract fingerprints, but smooth surfaces do. Thats a no brainer just don't sit on the couch eatting chips while playing it. It has good game play and load time is pretty quick. The clarity of the screen is very impressive also. I think its very cool, but wait unil Sony gets the pixel situation fixed.
17 A portable gaming machine, no more please.
First of all, I do like the "game" system, the games are good the graphics are very nice and so on...
On the other hand, I have to agree with some intellingent reviews out there. What makes a portable gaming system good is just that, the gaming capabilities. That is why the Gameboy has been the must successfull gaming divice ever. It is a machine to play games, no more, no less.
The PSP is good at that (I repeat that I like it), but using the extra marketing hype (play MP3, Movies, etc), do not make it deserve, automatically like some kids think, 5 stars.
I listen MP3's with a player designed for that and then it is great.
I watch movies on a DVD player, which is just for that. (perhaps would use my laptop on a plane, but that is an exception)
And off course, I use my PS1, PS2, PSP, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo, Supernintendo, GameCube, Dreamcast, XBox and even my atari 2600 and intellivision for playing GAMES, cause I bought them for that, "to play games". (Yes I have all of these systems).
I have never ever used them for anything else, since the ones that can play movies are not better than a DVD player, and the one that plays MP3s (PSP) is not better than my ipod (or should I?)
The PSP therefore deseves the full 4 stars for being such a good gaming machine, but never because it can do all other things.
If Sony and Nintendo (and MS for that matter) keep it simple and make gaming systems, then we surely will enjoy games much more. Let's let their engineers concentrate on Gaming Systems.
I cannot give it 5 stars not cause I don't think it doesn't deserve them but becuase I know there are going to be much better "games" taylored specialy for this device that may cause my review to raise the stars to 5.
All an all, I still prefer the Gameboy advance. Yes, the graphics are not that good, but the gameplay, for the must part is way much better at this moment.
Don't fall for the marketing hype and by the system for its gaming capabilites, the rest is just unnecessary crap.
Cheers.
18 get it without paying, yeah right
If you believe you can get a Sony PSP from some fly-by-night website, you should call up the Golden Gate Bridge District in San Francisco. They've got a bridge they're willing to sell you!
Oh, and don't forget the word "gullible" isn't in the dictionary.
19 As usual
As usual, Amazon can't resist bilking its customers. Instead of simply selling PSP as an individual item, it "bundles" it with a bunch of unwanted extra stuff in order to inflate the price well above what "regular" stores charge for it.
20 PSP V.S. Nintendo DS
I dont understand all of these people dissing the PSP and talking so highly of the Nintendo DS. The PSP can do tons more things than the Nintendo DS and here are some of them. 1. Games, the PSP game selection is much better than the Ds even if the PSP is new, some the game that are already out include NBA 2005, NBA Steet, Atv offroad fury, NFL steet, Nedd for speed undergroud, tony halks underground 2, and the list goes on the with more great grames. Also Grand Theft Auto, Midnight Club 3, and Madden 2006, are all set to come out this year. Next the PSP's graficts are extramly good, almost as good as the PS2! At the same time the DS suffers with grafics wrose than a N64 (Which means thier terriable. There are even more amazing things the PSP such as watching movies veiwing Pictures and listing to Mp3's.To some it all up the PSP is the Greatest Hadheld system by far.
21 Great System Buy PSP Not Ds
PSP is one of the bbest portable systems. It greatly supresses the DS and the sh*t they call games. The PSP is much better with a great selection of great games. It has the most usefullness due to its MP3 and data power. However i find the UMD movie is a little dumb but it shows potential of becoming a great portable movie system. One other thing is that the people who give the PSP a bad rating usaully never bought the PSP and wants to give the PSP a bad Name. The DS is just bad though. It is two GBA SP forged together with a touch screen. The PSP is much better system. The games I recommand would be Lumines, Ridge Racer or Wipeout. If you like sports i would recommand MLB. By The PSP and Not the DS. The DS is a disgrace to portable systems with its weak games and low use other than games.
22 I Think The PSP Sucks!
I think this System Sucks Because here are 3 Things I have to say about this system!
1. It's Too Expensive!
2. It's like the PS2 (Like when you can play Movies, Music, and Games for both PS2 and PS1)
3. It Breaks automatically in a few weeks.
Go for the Nintendo DS Instead of this stupid piece of Crap System.
23 What's It Like?
When the PSP first came out, I was going about my merry way in Best Buy checking out the latest PC games. Then this salesman from Best Buy approached me and asked me if i wanted to try the PSP. I own two PCs, a GC, a PS2, and an Xbox. After about an hour, I bought the PSP and here's why:
1)Graphics: Good graphics. Good resolution. A bit sensitive to too much light. When playing in the daytime with the sun up, you might have issues seeing what's on the screen. Too much light creates an odd reflection that kills the image on the screen, and what you see is your face. Some slowdowns when too much activity going on in-game. Otherwise, the graphics is way better than any handheld i've played.
2)Weight: The PSP is quite heavy for a portable. It weighs close to...hmmm..a discman and a half. It will put some strain on your wrists and your fingers. The weight adds some stress to how you hold the PSP, thus creating some discomfort on the fingers and palm.
3)Battery Life: as many have said it only lasts 2.5 hours. not true. my PSP lasts for about 4 hours just playing Ridge Racer. Be careful when booting down the PSP, sleep mode will make you think the PSP is completely turned off. When turning off the PSP make sure to push and hold the power switch for at least 4 seconds to shut off the power completely. Pushing it for a second will take you on sleep mode only.
4)Price: for $250.00 I think it's worth it. You get all the perks for a device...movies, mp3, wi-fi, usb. it's ok
5)Format: UMD is a sony format. Nobody else does UMD. Sony is famous for writing their own formats for their gadgets. the MiniDisc uses Atrac3 format. So it is with UMD...which by the way PSP I think supports Atrac3.
6)Overall: Good system, sleek, and durable. I dropped my PSP and it still works. One advice: always put the PSP in it's soft case (comes with the value pack) if you're not using the device.
24 PSP "Great Machine"
In reply to the earlier review the person said they could watch dvds on there tv, play music on there ipod, and surf the web and look at photos on there laptop.
TV=$250
Ipod=$250
Laptop=$1,000
you make the decision $1500 for those or $250 for an all in one
25 What is the obsession with the "all-in-one"?
I remember a day when we bought electronics that did one thing exceptionally well.
No more. Most products now have to have other worthless gimicks or "features" to entice people to buy them. PSP can play movies and music and photos, go on the internet (with the appropriate hack) and other amazing things other than just playing games. Well I listen to music on my ipod, can surf the web and look at pictures on my laptop and watch movies at home off my dvd player on my 25" screen TV instead of a tiny ass 4.3 inch LCD, hell even my laptop can play dvds if I absolutely need it. And I don't have to drop $400 for a bundle.
What is the deal with needing to be constantly entertained every minute of everyday?
26 Don't buy anything other than the Sony PSP.
From all the forums I looked, there are always those annoying comments telling people to buy Nintendo DS instead. These have nothing to do with what the forum is intended. Therefore, I like to make a post to clarify a few misleading points.
1. You cannot compare PSP to a DS. Besides games, PSP can play movies, music, video, photo imaging, etc, not just games.
2. Sony PSP is not the only machine that do all these functions. Gizmondo can do the same. What it means is that the industry has moved forward to a portable multimedia player, not just games. DS is a technology of the past.
3. There is a lot of talk about future development for DS. However, nothing new is on the market. Likely, Nintendo would be wise to produce a new portable machine rather than dwelling on the DS.
4. Price is definitely an issue for PSP. However, if the price for a PSP is same as Nintendo DS, there will be no more competition. There will be only one portable system left - that is Sony PSP.
5. Battery life is a criticism. Don't forget. PSP is also a movie player. If you buy a portable DVD player, the best battery life you get is 4 hours for a 7 inches screen.
6. Graphics. This depends on the game programs and the hardward. The Nintendo fans are looking at the programs alone, forgetting that PSP hardware can do a lot more. There is no comparison between the two. PSP is way better.
7. Screen. Yes, the PSP sceen can be scratched. That is why you like to buy a cheap screen cover to protect it. It is not a big deal. You should do the same with your Nintendo DS or palm pilot anyway. In addition, PSP is NOT a toy. You dont drop and throw your portable DVD players around. Why do you want to do the same thing with PSP? DS, on the other hand, will always remain a toy.
8. Games. Nintendo fans say that they have more game titles for their systems. But, why do you want to buy a PSP just for games? If you spend several hours daily to play games, may as well have a XBOX or PS2 hooked up to your big screen TV rather than looking at your tiny portable. Nintendo game cube sucks and is not worth considering. For those who do spend hours looking at your portable device, you are mentally ill with addiction and your eyes will be sore everyday.
Finally, my opinion about PSP. I think that price is on the high side especially if you need a higher memory stick and all the accessories (ie. case, car adapter, UMB boxes, etc.) However, I enjoy it and do not regret about buying. Other than those mentioned above, I do not find any other problems. There is a concern about bad pixels. This problem is way overblown, considering the number of PSP on the market worldwide. Unless they are obvious, most peole do not even recognize them. If you insist in a perfect machine, then wait. The technology is advancing. There will be better machine in the future whether it is from Sony, Nintendo or others. Sony may be able to make the screen prefect for evey PSP. Who knows? The price of PSP will drop when a new generation or better machine comes out. To me, PSP is the best gadget on the market. If it does not exist, I would not consider other systems. They are just not worth buying.
27 The psp rocks my dirty socks
The psp is awesome. Although it has some competition with the DS I think that survey says that more game buyers go for the psp instead of the Ds. The PSp has much more cooler features than the two screen nintendo portable. I have to go with the psp. Can you see movies, listen to muics, and play games at the same time on the ds? I don't think so. So there. I have to go with the psp. The DS isn't all that good. ANother reason why the psp is way better than the DS is that I found 5 websites all saying that the psp will soon have a online gaming system. Nintendo has failed to put an online gaming system on the gamecube which sucks. Although the Nintendo has some cool games the psp has cooler games. The DS has double-screens so what. The psp has an awesome wide screen and defenatly has more buttons. The PSP is the coolest portable to come this year.
It should receive hundreds of awards. And better news from me. I found out in three websites that this PSP is type A. "Type A".
Think About that. THere are going to be more types of PSP's coming out soon which is awesome. The PSP couldn't get any better.
28 PSP stands for pretty stupid portable
get the ds please do not waste your money on this thing ok.sony cannot have nintendo games like,mario,sonic,metroid prime,the legened of zelda,and all the other best videogames ever made to be played!!!!!!DONT BUY THE PSP THE SCREEN WILL GET SCRATCHED RIGHT AWAY!!!DS HAS SOMETHING THAT CLOSES AND PROTECTS THE SCREEN PLUS,THE DS IS GOING TO HAVE LOADABLE PDA SOFEWARE SO THE DS CAN BE A PDA TOO!!!!I WAS LOOKING ON SITES AND YOU WONT BELIEVE HOW MUCH GAMES FOR THE DS ARE COMING OUT AND THERE ALL GOOD.DONT BUY THE PSP!!!!!!!!!
29 the best "entertainment" handheld just yet!!
The PSP is the best "entertainment" handheld just yet because it offers not just games, but also other features that we young adults/teenagers like, such as photo viewer(if you have a sony digital camera with memory stick DUO, it would be a nice edition) dvd playback (several dvds for PSP are available at sony.com so there should be plenty at the end of the year) and mp3 playback. Some people think that mp3 playback is useless due to limited memory space, but atrac3 plus technology will compress much mp3's into even smaller data so you can put it more and play more!! (1 GB will hold approx. 760 songs) This is an entertainment device that would outrank pocket pcs which costs double the price of psp just to get very good one.
30 Innovation?
now, this is not much of a review for the psp. In fact I don't own one. My only comment is the "kids" review on the first page claiming that the Nintendo DS looks as a cardboard box. I know that this is an opinion and everything, but sure the psp looks sleek. I totally agree. It has good games too. But looks do not make a system. would someone please tell me what is innovative about the psp?! don't tell me good looks-that does not apply to the gamelpay. Innovation is key in this new step of gaming and the psp runs dry.
31 Another note on my behalf...
I see that my previous review has stirred some activity amongst certain reviewers. I will say that at this point I do like the PSP more; it is better and I am getting it. HOWEVER: the retaliations to my previous review only prove some of my remarks to be true. One child remarked how a rude person said that the current generation of children does not have sufficient intelligence. First of all, I never said that; clearly a sign of their poor self-esteem. Also, what do they mean by "sufficient intelligence"? Sufficient for what? Existing, living, etc? You can't have "sufficient" intelligence as compared to being capable of doing...nothing! Another reviewer, who labeled their's something along the lines of "Another Idiotic Kid Rant" made me realize how right I was. There was improper use of the word "there," as it was spelt "their," and overall the person seemed like another idiotic child posting another idiotic rant. However, the PSP is a nice system; great games and graphics and all that.
32 Hmm, I see this as a challenge...
Just so this is semi-related, the PSP is a great system. Buy it, play it, love it. Now let me get to the fun part...
Well, this kid thinks he's a genius huh? Well I just can't help myself from pointing out the obvious: YOUR NOT! Here's his original posting.
-review concerning kids spelling, April 28, 2005
- A Kid's Review
-
-I have just happened to read a review about how kids can't spell and they should shut up. They were even rude enough to say that the new generation of kids does not have sufficient intelligence. For one I am not some stupid idiot who does not know how to spell. By reading this review I bet none of you will be able to find one single error of spelling in my review so whoever thinks kids are stupid and are not intelligent I think I just proved you wrong!! Concerning the psp, the psp is the best portable gaming system ever built. You can't ever compare the psp's beautiful design to the utter poor craftsmanship put into the ds. In fact if you compare both side by side the ds would look like a cardboard box compared to the psp's gorgeous design. So don't go out there wasting your money for that ugly ds, go buy a psp and trust me it will be worth everything you paid down to the last penny.
Well let's look at this sentence by sentence, shall we? (or rather, incorrect sentence by sentence)
1. I have just happened to read a review about how kids can't spell and they should shut up. --==-- This sentence does NOT sound right. Maybe you should have thought about it and said, "I just read a review concerning the incorrect grammar usage of kids. Said review pointed out that these kids should "shut up" (if that's what he said).
2. They were even rude enough to say that the new generation of kids does not have sufficient intelligence. --==-- ...does not have sufficient intelligence. Hmm, this seems awkward. Change it.
3. For one I am not some stupid idiot who does not know how to spell. --==-- Well, you might be able to look in a dictionary, but can you make proper use of the English language? Haha!
4. By reading this review I bet none of you will be able to find one single error of spelling in my review so whoever thinks kids are stupid and are not intelligent I think I just proved you wrong!! --==-- Well, my dear friend, you have just proven YOURSELF wrong. This is a run-on sentence. Think about that one. (I'll let the double !! go because people do that sometimes.)
5. Concerning the psp, the psp is the best portable gaming system ever built. --==-- In regard to the PSP, it is the best portable gaming system ever built. Not a big deal.
6. You can't ever compare the psp's beautiful design to the utter poor craftsmanship put into the ds. --==-- You're correct, because I can't even understand "You can't ever."
7. In fact if you compare both side by side the ds would look like a cardboard box compared to the psp's gorgeous design. --==-- The DS looks like a coardbox when compared to the gorgeous design of the PSP.
8. So don't go out there wasting your money for that ugly ds, go buy a psp and trust me it will be worth everything you paid down to the last penny. --==-- Run-on sentence. You know, if you hadn't challenged the fact that most kid's reviews use poor grammar, I probably wouldn't have pointed out your several mistakes. Here's a lesson to you. Don't bolster yourself when you don't even check to make sure you're right.
I know some people are going to respond to this, possibly point out some mistake that I myself made, but that doesn't really matter to me. I think I got my point across.
Buy the PSP. Battery life is decent. Looks great. Not too heavy. Great games. Great System. Awesome.
33 MUST HAVE FOR ALL VIDEO GAME PLAYERS
I would say that I have a good bit of experience on all video game consoles, owning an XBOX, Playstation 2, and now the Playstation Portable. I had a Gameboy SP, which I sold to get the Nintendo DS, which I then sold to get the PSP. When reviews say that the PSP has PS2 quality graphics that is a very accurate statement. The DS does not even compare to this system in my opinion. If you stay up to date on reviews, you will already know that this is a must have item. Graphics are outstanding, sound quality is great, every game that I've played (I currently own 5 games) has outstanding game play. The game play is typically shorter than the console games, because the UMD disks only hold 1.4 GB. If you have the money, this is hands down a better pick than the DS or the SP. I can't specify enough how much better the PSP is.
34 review concerning kids spelling
I have just happened to read a review about how kids can't spell and they should shut up. They were even rude enough to say that the new generation of kids does not have sufficient intelligence. For one I am not some stupid idiot who does not know how to spell. By reading this review I bet none of you will be able to find one single error of spelling in my review so whoever thinks kids are stupid and are not intelligent I think I just proved you wrong!! Concerning the psp, the psp is the best portable gaming system ever built. You can't ever compare the psp's beautiful design to the utter poor craftsmanship put into the ds. In fact if you compare both side by side the ds would look like a cardboard box compared to the psp's gorgeous design. So don't go out there wasting your money for that ugly ds, go buy a psp and trust me it will be worth everything you paid down to the last penny.
35 4 and 3/4 stars
I first saw the PSP at a game store before it was released. The guy there showed me Wipeout Pure, probably the best-looking PSP game to date (4-27-05). He tried to convince me to order one, and then he told me to wipe my drool of the floor. I had to have one. I got it about a week ago, and I am loving it! The graphics are breathtaking, and as for gameplay-YESSS!! *pumps fist*
After about an hour of surfing around on the web looking for instructions on how to put movies or music on to the thing, I finally learned how to do it with ease. By the way, a great place to learn everything about the PSP is at gamespot.com.
Cons are very few. I do have three dead pixels on the screen, which about the size of a speck of dust. I have asked around, and most people don't have any, so I guess that's just chance. Also, it's a little on the pricey side, at 250 clams, plus 40 or 50 for each game. Then again, all video game systems were expensive when they first came out (Wasn't the PS2 over three hundred?). And the memory card it comes with is very small, only big enough for a few songs or a 2-minute video. Be prepared to shell out 60 washingtons for a good-sized one.
If you like videogames, you'll love the PSP.
P.S.: Please rate this review!!
36 P.S.P. : Portable Sylish Phun(FUN)
I know that PSP stands for PlayStation Portable, but it's more than that. First of all it's portable. It comes with a leash, so you can take it for a walk. It's a little big for most pockets, but if you wear loose cargo pants like me, then it's not a problem to put in a pocket or even a coat pocket. It's totally Stylish and Sexy. I like to just look at it even when it's turned off. The background color changes every month(this month it's pink. It doesn't match with what I'm wearing, but the heck). It's also FUN. The 1st shipments came with the full lengh movie Spiderman 2 and a demo disc(sorry no games came with it)Spiderman 2 is sharp and clear and as good a quality as dvd.The demo disc has demos of some upcoming movies, current psp games, and some cool music videos. For those thinking about getting a PSP I recommend that you buy a screen protector, since the screen can easily get scratched. Don't worry so much about the dead pixels. I have a dead pixel on my PSP and I hardly notice it's there unless I focus on it too much. It's not even a bother.If it bothers you then I recommend purchasing a warrenty. Anyways, nuff said, just buy one, or two. Give one to a friend or family member or me. otay bye!
37 The walkman revolution revitalized.
Touted as the next Walkman, the Playstation Portable (PSP) brings a new face to portable electronic devices. The PSP comes with a brilliant 4.3 in. LCD that is amazingly clear. I can assure you that the cost of this little gem is less than what it costs Sony to manufacture them. Compare the PSP with any handheld device and you'll see what I mean. Pitted against a Pocket PC, one with the same functionality and 333mhz processor could easily cost double the ticket price for the PSP. This strategy is common among consoles, when the xbox was first released Microsoft realized a loss on every unit sold. But these losses are all made up on the back end by revenue from games and movies.
At this time of release, the PSP only has a handful of game and movie titles available. Of which I've only tried Ridge Runner and Untold Legends. One being a first person track racing game and other a role playing type fantasy game. The graphics are spectacular and you can definitely tell the evolution in technology with all the options of what can be done in these newer games in comparison to the old game boy advance and other portable gaming devices. No longer are the portable games stripped down, they are all full featured games that are the equivalent of those on full sized consoles and PC's.
UMD media is the format used for movies and games on the PSP. Its like a miniature DVD, capable of holding a full game or a movie. UMD's have a storage capacity of 1.8 gigabytes, which is a pretty sizable amount considering CD's only hold 650-700 megabytes. But a full sized DVD can pack in 4.6 gigabytes of data, so this means they have to compress the movies down to fit on 1.8 gigs. Obviously on a 4.3 inch screen you wont notice a loss in picture quality. The other removable storage available is the Memory Stick PRO DUO. I have read of some people buying the adapter meant for a Cellular phone, plugging it into the MemoryStick port on the PSP and getting it to read other formats of MemorySticks!
Built into the PSP is full capability of connecting to a Wireless Access Point. You can assign static IP address or have it pull one down from your Wireless 802.11b/g router. I did notice that it isnt able to connect using WPA-PSK, only WEP (wired equivalent privacy) or WAP's configured in permiscuous mode with no security. Aside from that, anyone in the same range as your WAP can join in with their PSP playing the same game or you can join over the internet. Another thing that is unknown to many is that the PSP is capable of browsing the web! Its sort of a hidden feature of one of the games and you sort of got to do some hacking to get it to work but it is possible. Meaning that eventually they could probably release some kind of mainstream browsing software for the PSP. This opens up all kinds of possibilities, especially if it is able to support JAVA. Customized applications, business apps, or whatever you can be hit over the internet.
With the built in USB port, the possibility of having a mouse and keyboard along with unlimited options on external devices exist. The only thing that I don't see is external video output. Maybe one of the ports is capable of transfering what is displayed on the built in screen, but if one exists I'm not aware of it. I would love to be incorrect on this. From the looks of it, the PSP has a ton of room for expansion accessories. This little gem packs in a lot of value, definitely worth every nickel!
38 Cool like whoa!
The PSP is the best thing that ever happened to me. I got the DS for my birthday last year and was pleased. But when i got the PSP it lit up my life, like no other. like the title says it is cool like whoa. the games are excellent, the movies are great, and the control is amazing. buy the PSP, you will be pleased, for sure.
39 Very Cool!!!!
I am reveiw #411 so there is not much to reallt say that has not already been said. If you are on the fence about getting a PSP this may help. I read all of the bad things everybody is saying and almost did not get one. The PSP is a must have for anybody into gaming. The graphics are incredible for a hand held. I picked up Lumines and Ridge Racer and the games look amazing. Yeah, I have 1 dead pixel that everyone is freaking out about. It is no big deal and you can't see it when playing the games. I bought a 2 year warranty for $39 so I am not worried about it breaking. I think that the people who are giving the PSP a 1 star rating do not actually own one and have not played it at all. I am very happy that I made the decision to get a PSP!!!!
40 dont you just hate it when people go "psp sucks" or DS sucks
NOTE: I have just one thing too say that might not realy relate to this review, If you look at most of the reviews for any console, isnt it soo annoying to see one side of a group going XBOX sucks, and another saying Ps2 is better, etc. I think what im saying is that why would anyone go up and say something like PsP sucks and Ds is better, i dont think anyone realizes that each console has its own pro's and con's. But then again their are ignorant people who dont understand these things so anyways thats just what i have too say for that.
The psp is a really good system, (coming from some one who owns a ds)i dont own one but my friend owns one and i can play with it any time. I really like the fact that it supports playing movies, picture viewing, and playing music, games etc. I dont like the fact that you have to buy the expensive memory sticks which go around 60-90. That is if you want a decent one. First off the movies is an excellent touch, because i get soo bored sometimes with just playing games that i need another form of entertainment, the music... well its not really needed for those of us who own mp3 players or cd players, but still nice. Last is the picture viewing, i think this is good for jus looking at hahahaha.. anyways.
41 a few WARNINGS before you buy
Dang.. it surpassed my expectation when I actually held it in my hands; it doesn't feel like a gaming device but more of a sophisticated electronic gadget.
I'll just get to the point here.
Having a memory stick in the Value Pack was nice (memory stick is large enough for saving gaming data, however, far too short for carrying any substantial music, picture, movie files with 32MB memory stick they provide), however, I believe rest of stuff like remote, carrying case, and soft cloth are not good enough to match with top of the line gaming device: PSP
My problem with remote is that it is made out of this cheap plastic-like and it doesn't really go with PSP. It may look good on the picture but can't get rid of that cheap feeling when you actually hold it in your hand. This frustrates me because I know SONY can do better with remote; look at their MD players with remote - they are small, some are screen lighted and it brings out the MD player even more. But with PSP, it's just a way of cutting the cost and maximizing the profit; and I believe that SONY deliberately included this half-baked remote because they know that consumers will buy PSP anyway.
My next complaint is the carrying case. You will realize sooner or later that you need to keep your PSP inside when not in use because PSP is a very fragile, delicate gadget. Thing with this carrying case is that it will prevent from scratches but not from any substantial force or pressure. It means you need to get another PSP carrying case, something that can protect your precious PSP from dropping, being mistreated by children, or any substantial force. I realized the flaw of the included carrying case and bought a screen protector and a carrying case right away. Again, it seemed to me that SONY included useless stuff to keep up with that 249.99 price tag when the system was released in Japan with lesser price tag(not to mention that SONY released just a PSP without any accessories).
My last complaint is that soft cloth, which comes with the system to clean any dust, marks on the screen, is flawed if you don't use them with caution. If you feel the soft cloth, then you will notice that one side is softer than the other. If you clean PSP screen with not-so-soft side of the cloth with some force, IT WILL CREATES SCRATCHES; yes, my PSP, unfortunately, got some scratches from doing so (although scratches become invisible once you light up the system, however, it still HURTS)
and this thick manual book, which comes with the system, only talks about how to clean PSP screen with the soft cloth; doesn't mention anything about it being capable of creating scratches.
Well, I know you will get one no matter what if you are reading this review; and IT DEFINITELY IS WORTH YOUR MONEY FOR SURE.
FINAL WARNING is that make sure you get a SCREEN PROTECTOR because no matter how hard you try you will get few scratches here and there. PSP screen is unbelievably VULNERABLE TO SCRATCHES; I WARNED YOU.
Well, I can't wait how this protable monster will shape the portable gaming industry while competing with Nintendo and how Nintendo will fight back to secure their throne.
Enjoy
42 Wow this rules, the ds SUX !!!!!!
i saw a review that said the psp sux and that sony should be sued for making it , this makes me want to puke because the ds is the biggest wate of technology and a gigantic waste of money , and the concept of duel screens is just plain ridiculous and the touch screen has to be the dumbest thing ever , besides the graphics don't match up to psps or even nintendo 64 !! so why do people say ds is better when its just two gameboys(two screens / the price of 2 gameboys) and cant play movies music or download stuff from the computer without stupid bulky attachmenats , now im not trying to tick anyone off but the ds is a waste and will most likely break in a matter of minutes, the psp is durable and can play 3-d games that rival that of the ps2 and is a whole new generation of handheld and it is only right that it should take the place of one of the most succesful systems ever made ,the screen blew me away when i opened the box and i just can't put it down its absolutely amazing i'd recomend the PSP to anyone looking for a good investment , its worth the money even though its 100 more than the ds just think which one has better graphics , besides the button placement on the psp is extremely comfortable . BUY THIS !!!!!
43 psp suuuuuuuuuckss i tell you
you all bettter shot up becausi have a psp the screen is nice but not cooler than ds becuse the two screen is awesome you use the touch screen when playing yoshi touch and go you could draw bridges or any thing trust me i have a psp and sold it 4 200 dollar the next two weeks and remember to buy a ds go to this web site to find more about ds www.nintendods.com also you could comand your game to go anywhere by microphone.
44 DS SUCKS PSP ROCKS
The title says it all, PSP is one of the best game systems to come out, PSP graphics are better than a PS1 and the DS graphics barely match N64. (Yes, i have played DS so you can all shutup). Plus, the PSP games are so much better then DS. Like, would you rather play spider-man 2 for the DS (another 2D side-scroller with jacked up GBA graphics) or spider-man 2 for the PSP (3D game with graphics as good as PS2). personally, I'd choose PSP. The only thing good about the DS is the touch screen but if you put the two DS screens together, they still arents the size of the PSP screen. I get so annoyed when people say, "sony handhelds suck cause theyve never made a handheld before". Well i've got news for you, sony has been making electronics before nintendo was born. But back to the PSP.... The graphics are (again) amazing. I'm always astounded every time i turn it on. The movies are better than most portable DVD players. i havent really checked out the music and photos yet but im sure they're good too. I always play tony hawks underground 2 remix, just to let you know, it has all the levels of PS2 and more!! This is a dream come true for all gamers, every time i show it to someone its like they already know what to do. Jaw drops and says "wow thats awesome!!" So if you have a choice between DS and PSP, definetaly go with the PSP.
45 wow, if only...
hmmm, the psp. I could compare it to a person that takes steroids. really strong, but unstable and not very durable when it comes to some things. Like battery life, and if you drop this thing too many times, it's not gonna work. Not a very good PORTABLE system if you ask me. If anything happens to this thing after it's waranty, you have a (...) paper weight. I know I won't change any minds, but think. Is it really worth all the trouble?
46 I think Sony should get sued for this Marketing!
I think Sony Should get (...) for this Marketing Because of Their So Called New Handheld System The Playstation Portable I mean If People have been saying the PSP is Not all that good then Don't buy it then. I mean despite the other Reviewers Saying that It Breaks after a few Days I think this System Sucks. I think I will save my Money on The Nintendo DS instead of This Stupid Piece of Junk System.
47 PSP
William Napier
English 1010
Professor Priest
April 24, 2005
Technology In The Real World
Sony came out with Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) Value Pack, comes with a charger and three games. America is becoming more advanced each year. I remember when the first Playstation come out and everyone thought that it was the best, because the graphics were so real and it was very adventuress for the gamers in the world. I will be talking about the first playstation and the newest ones like PS2 and the latest one the Sony playstation Portable (PSP) is a very expensive item. But for the real gamers and the people who have the extra time to use this and enjoy it and get there moneys worth.
In the mid 90's, Sony came out with the playstation. At that time this was the best thing out and it was really becoming a popular item and the technology was getting more advanced and the games looked real. You could live the story of your favorite movie are childhood video game. The PS was a very expensive game system of that time and Sony only got more advanced.
Then Sony came out with Playstation2 (PS2) and this was one of the most advanced game systems out there, keeping up with the technology of the computer and even the graphics were some what similar. But this even came with a DVD player and you could listen to your own CD's, it was shaped very crazy and stood straight up. Then they come out with the XBOX this was a more advanced system but did not have that many games like the PS2 games that were even chipper that the every highly priced XBOX games.
The newest item that Sony has made for its gamers is the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) it is a very small Playstation and it look like a very advanced Gameboy. It is handheld and has a very small screen that is just perfect for a Middle age child. The price run about $399.99 if you look around you might be able to get it chipper and it comes with a couple of games and a charger. This is a very advanced item and it is getting very popular very fast and every that like gaming and has the extra money to buy this PSP should get one.
I believe that soon there will be a game system that you will be able to wear a body suite that will put you inside the game and even a more advanced system then that. There is so much technology in the world that maybe one day there will be flying cars and many other crazy things. But the way things are going right now with everything getting portable like the PSP, the newest handheld system out their and it looks so real when you play it. The Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) is the hottest thing out their that is handheld and you can almost take it anywhere I really don't know that much about this item, but it is very interesting.
48 Incredible
This device is a combination between a PS2, portable DVD player, IPod, and a Sidekick. This hardware is amazing. Allow me to go through the amazing multimedia features.
Games: Early, but still unbelievable. There were 20+ launch titles and over 30 titles as I write this. Over 80 this year. The frame rate is smooth meaning that the picture does not freeze a for split-second between different motions. Great lineup for a sports games. Good, but not great lineup for other gamers.
Here are some great titles either out now or coming this year.
Sports:
MVP Baseball
NFL Street 2 Unleashed
NFL Madden 2006
NBA Street Showdown
Gretsky NHL 2006
NBA 2005
FIFA 2005
Puzzle:
Mercury
Lummines
Racing:
Wipeout Pure
Need For Speed Underground Rivals
Ridge Racer
Gran Turismo Mobile
ATV Offroad Furry
Shooting/Action:
Twisted Metal: Head On
Grand Theft Auto
Movies: The quality is better than a portable DVD player. Movie selection is not good now, there only five movies. The price is not so terriffic either, it is the same price as a regular DVD. However the plasma type PSP screen essentially gives you a plasma screen in your pocket. Buy a few for a plane ride. Here are some movies that may keep you entertained.
XXX
Spiderman 2
Hellboy
Pirates of the Carribean
Boogeyman
You can also take your USB cable and convert movies on those expensive memory cards. Movies take up more memory than music does. About 2.5 times more MB per second.
Music: Basically buy a USB cable for $15 and put as much music as you want. However, you will want to buy another memory card. I'd reccommend a 128 MB memory card for about $33. This holds about 40 songs. Do not buy this device for music. However a 128 MB MP3 player is $60.
Photo: With your USB cable (yes the same one) and put photos or slideshows on the PSP. The quality is great.
Internet: Yes internet! Let me explain how to get this. Someone found that you can put a web browser on Wipeout: Pure. Create your online account. Just change your DNS number to 67.171.70.72 and go to download on Wipeout: Pure. Wait about 10 seconds and you have a web browser as long as you stay in your router's range.
Here are the pros and cons of the PSP:
Pros:
Graphics
Screen
Size
Multimedia capibiliteis
Definition of movies
Music sound
Battery life
Controls
Definition of pictures
Included headphones with built-in remote control
Cons:
Price of Everything
Internet a bit slow
49 really good but expensive
the PSP is really cool but it is really expensivebut i think its worth it
50 THE BEST HANDHELD SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I love it it is so cool and I love the umd format it is the best buy one you will love it yet not that durable overall 5 stars hands down I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!.
51 so coooool
i just got my psp this morning cause today is my birthday...so far it has been sooooo cooooool.i cant wait till more games and movies come out for it =]
52 This handheld is horrible ...
What a disappointment. The Nintendo DS is something of a joke and now the PSP comes out and it's worse. The console's setup is simply ugly. When you glance at it, it looks fine, but why must there be buttons up and down the system -- with features that could just as easily be on a menu screen? And why is the system so fragile? And, lastly, why doesn't it work? I inserted a disc into the first PSP I bought and the machine spit it out, shattering the disc. I exchanged the game and the PSP, went home and experienced the DREADED dead pixels. With two broken PSPs, I decided to cut my losses (since I can't return the game) and return the system. The PSP did have potential, but it turned out all wrong. If Sony wanted it to work as an iPod, they should have included a bigger memory card. Does anyone feel like paying another $150.00 for memory, after paying $250.00 for a console? If Sony wanted to make a portable system, they should have gone with cartridges or flash memory (something the Nintendo DS got right). If they wanted it to play movies (the most unneeded feature ever seen in a portable GAMING system) -- they should gotten out of the gaming business and went into selling portable DVD players (bigger screens, better picture and they play the DVDs you already own). The proprietary game and movie discs -- which are grossly overpriced (the movies have no extras, the games are $20.00 more than DS or GBA games) -- burn the batteries out FAST. I played for just over 2 and a half hours when the batteries died (the pixels were dead from the beginning). Sony -- when are you going to get some quality control folks at HQ?!? A quarter of the PS2's first released were broken (including the first one I bought). The PSP is deja vu all over again. I'd like to say the Nintendo DS is a nice alternative, but with its HORRIBLE ergonomics (holding it with your left hand while trying to use the stylus with your right becomes painful after a few minutes) and lack of decent games, I just can't. Right now, I'd say hold off on both systems and stick to the Gameboy Advance. If you feel you MUST own a new handheld, I'd take the DS over the PSP, being that they both pretty much suck, but at least the DS is durable and isn't broken out of the box (and is $100.00 cheaper and $20.00 less per game title). Plus, the stylus on the DS makes for incredibly fun gameplay (when done right, which it rarely is) -- if you can handle the pain you'll be feeling in your hands and arms, after a few minutes. For comfort, I would have to give the PSP a higher rating than I'd give the DS. It wasn't bad to hold onto. If it actually worked and had some decent titles, it may even be a keeper. As things are, I'd say wait until November, when the new GameBoy comes out (rumor has it it will be able to play GameCube games directly) and pick one up. If you're still set on buying a PSP, I'd wait a few more months, until Sony gets them working properly. By that point, the price will have also dropped (I'm guessing they'll be $149.99 to compete with the next GameBoy's $99.99 price tag in November).
53 Nintendo DS Or Playstation Portable your choice.
To me I think the Nintendo DS is a better System instead of the PSP because The DS has more battery Life than the PSP. Despite that I've been looking at other Reviews like every time when someone buys the PSP it automatically Breaks in 1 or 2 weeks so my big favor is Buy The Nintendo DS instead of This stupid piece of crack System.
54 Fun but definitely early still
The one thing I don't get is why Amazon is selling this for $399!?! The value pack officially retails for $249. I picked mine up at a local Best Buy along with a copy of Spider-man 2 game and a 2 year service warranty through Best Buy and it totaled up to about $360. So maybe they're charging that amount because they can.
As far as the system goes, it is everything people say it is. There's about 20 games out now and they are launch games. Some are fun but since it's early, don't expect the breadth of games you can find in the PS2 library. It'll take a good 6-9 months for things to get rolling. So I would consider this a definite early adopter buy. The ability to off your movies to the memory stick is great though you'll need to find larger capacity cards to play anything decently sized on it.
So if you're like me and own practically every console out there, then definitely think about getting this one sooner than later. If you're a casual type of gamer, you may just want to wait a few more months for things to really take off.
55 How come people are so extreme?
PSP and Nintendo DS are both great handheld systems (I personally own both). However, looking at all these "extreme" reviews, I can't help but need to write one of my own and say what I wanna say.
Honestly, both systems are not perfect. If you're a mature and experienced gamer, you should agree with this.
DS doesn't have too much manufacture defects, but its processing power and screens just cannot compare with the PSP. However, DS does offer very unique gaming experience (the responsive touch screen and built-in microphone are quite impressive). DS's battery life is much longer than that of PSP and that's an essential quality for a handheld system (don't tell me you play your handheld system at home while you have PS2, GC, X-box and PC sitting in front of you). Nintendo DS is comparatively hard to break, in addition the folding feature allows "free" screen protection. It is much cheaper than the PSP yet the DS really really need more games! Finally, the chatting feature is fairly nice. It kind of feels like ICQ or MSM.
Now on PSP side, I can tell you the screen quality is a blast!! It is unbelievably awesome and totally kick the crap out of NDS. But one problem is the dead pixels (blind spots). With today's technology, SONY should never allow such kind of shameful problem to show up. The media that PSP uses are definitely high tech. The UMD and memory cards almost (but not quite) make the PSP functions like a computer. All those other functions (play movie and music ...) are way nice for a handheld system. But one might ask, why would I pay more money to bug a UMD and watch the movie on a little screen; and I have an i-pod/CD player so what's the point of the music playing function on PSP? Let's go back to the positives, the shape and appearance of PSP is too sexy. It definitely looks better than NDS. The games on PSP are generally much better than the ones on NDS, and a lot of real attractive and awesome games are coming!! The battery is a real problem. What if I'm gonna fly 10 hours and would like to play my PSP for at least 6 hours. Well, sorry! I can only play the PSP for about 3 hours, then switch to my NDS for the rest of my flight.
Anyway, a lot of people will disagree with this review. But I know those who really know games will agree with me - or at least not oppose me.
56 SONY PSP the greatest handheld of 2005
Are you tired of that electrical umbilical cord hopelessly trapping you inside your home and introverted lifestyle forever? Well no worry friends the good people at the Sony Corporation have found an electrifying way to liberate us from our ball and chain power supplies with the new PSP. It is a good thing too I was growing tired of lugging around my television, TiVo, DVD player, Xbox, Gamecube, Playstation 2, and my computer. In all seriousness, as you know, these are HOME electronics, but why even think about going outside? It is scary there are bears outside. Well because the time has come for everybody to breather in some fresh air for a change and if you are anything like me (have a lifestyle that includes venturing outside, you like electronics, and you too have been consumed by the hypnotic consumerist technological hype) this digital pacifier might be your key to going outdoors. So sit back in a comfy computer chair and maybe get a cool drink, because I am about to tell you about the greatest thing that may ever fit within your hands.
The Sony PlayStation Portable even with its name reminds you of it latest and greatest predecessor the Playstation 2. To bare the PS name is great itself, but what is more amazing is succeeding the much larger PS2 in almost every capability. The amount of potential stored within such a small portable is simply remarkable. The functions of the PSP are as follows: wireless connectivity and soon internet ready, awe-inspiring data storage and connectivity options, exquisite video and digital music playback, and of course the ability to play new and re-released PLayStation games. With all of these dazzling media endeavors, a price of $249.99 where other similar devices ranging around the five hundred and up range, and exhilarating hardware specifications it appears to be the guiding artificial light to a whole new outdoor life.
The Playstation Portable is like a free flying bird puffing its beautiful feathers through the wind by means of its tremendous muscle and outstanding design. Simply put the PSP constantly flexes hardware muscles through its first-rate performance. The hardware used in the PSP rivals today's high end performance PDAs. Accommodating outstanding hardware such as the IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi), fast data transfer with USB 2.0 (mini-B), an infrared port, UMD drive, built-in stereo speakers, 4.3 inch screen LCD with an outrageous 16.77 million colors display (that is the same color output as the Apple 30 inch High Definition Cinema display), 32MB of main memory, 4MB of embedded DRAM, and a Monstrous 333MHz CPU. But what does all that jargon mean for those who are not technologically superior? Well it does not really matter, because it does not take a genius to see how great of a product it is. Whether you understand this evolution of portable gamming hardware or not the PSP is surely paving the way for portable technological advancements.
The first benchmark of handheld gaming was the Nintendo DS, the rival of the PSP, which seemed to be the weapon of choice for gamers for a short time. Unfortunately SONY released the PSP and it completely overwhelmed the capabilities of the DS. Sadly they also overwhelmed the price of DS as well. There is no question about it that the PSP surpasses the DS in everyway possible, but Nintendo still has the heart and soul of its original game titles. So unless you are in love with Mario I see no reason for anyone to by a Nintendo DS now that the PSP has come out.
Technically exhilarating hardware specifications, dazzling graphics and functions are the quality capabilities that keep consumers buying the Sony PSP. By stomping the competition and constantly releasing new software and hardware the PlayStation Portable proves it is here to stay. For 2005 if you are looking for the best of the best in portable gaming look no further than Sony PSP. I think the band At The Drive-In sums it up the best saying "It takes the weight out of living Let these walkers trip on Endless proof."
57 "An Idiotic Kid Rant"
According to another member, all people who like this system and are kids, "don't know how to use the english langauge" and "are idiotic and annoying". Well, I have an "intelligent" comment to deal with the PSP. This system is a technological advancement in handheld entertainment only matched by the original Gameboy. It did everything right. For PS2 gamers, the controls are easy and familiar, for non-PS2 gamers, their easy to pick up. Most of the beginning games show what the PSP is capable of. It is great sounding, great looking, and great playing. It far surpasses the DS and shows it. From its sleek images to its sleek layout, this system is simply beautiful and continues the Sony legacy of good programming. The UMDs are a genius setup. The fact it has a home page of where you can open videos, MP3s, and Music Videos is wonderful. You can download different files on the memory sticks (you'll need a decent stick, not the one included) and store them on the PSP. The bundle pack is wonderful. The case, the leather strap, the movie, the memory stick, the demo disc, and the battery pack are all superb. All in all, this system is a revolution and I hope game creators realize this. Well, there it is, another "idiotic kid review". Thank you and I hope you find this helpful.
58 New play toy for adults.
The graphics are spectacular! The playability is awesome. This is the new portable play toy for adults who wants everything. Forget Nintendo DS (probably best for kids anyway) and Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. This is the it thing and this one kicks some behind over all the portable game systems out there.
59 A Note on my behalf
I would like to state that first of all, for the alleged "kid reviewers" who rant and rant like imbeciles- you are annoying. For all of these different game systems kid reviews materialize constantly screaming all these opinions with horrible spelling and whatnot. (I am only thirteen years old by the way- I happen to properly use the English language) Anyway, I give the PSP a one star rating only because I prefer the Nintendo DS. I have seen the PSP, I have played it, and I will say that it's fine and dandy, but I like Nintendo more. Consider this- (oh and I'm not a "Nintendo fanboy") I've played Nintendo games since as far back as I can remember. Nintendo has always been a great video game company in my eyes- they have classic games such as Zelda and Mario, etc. Yes, the PSP has better graphics, yes it has multimedia capabilities, but I have this to say about that- I have a DVD player, I have an iPod, and basically- I don't need multimedia capabilities; I just want a gaming system that I can enjoy. Now, consider this as well- this is Sony's first portable handheld system, yet this is Nintendo's sixth handheld gaming system; quite simply, they're more experienced in this field and have dominated this section of the market for an unprecedented amount of years. That's why I prefer a Nintendo DS- I only wrote this review to see what those "kid reviewers" mght say out of sheer stupidity to my simple logic. That's all.
60 Way better than the DS!!!!!!!!!
The psp has way better graphics.
50 times more features than the crapppy DS.
There are no good games on DS
There are no bloody violent games on DS(PSP has GTA)
All the DS has are stupid rainbow realted mario games.
The only OK thing about the DS is the price and the touch screen.
I would rather have a very nice 4.3in 16:9 aspect ratio screen made by sony rather than 2 poorly made screens by nintendo.
Battery life is a little skimpy for the PSP but how often do u play where there is no soucre to charge your psp.
What person would play while walking through the streets.
The PSP will soon be able to go online.(soon as in 4-6 months)
The PSP already has a tv tuner being sold in japan.
The PSP is a mp3 player.
The PSP is a PORTABLE MEDIA CENTER like the 20 gb one by creative(500$ :O)
If you buy the PSP i promise you will not regret it!!!
61 sick of bad riviews
for one I am sick of all the idiots writing bad riviews on the psp becouse they never actually seen one in there freakin lives!!!!!!!!!!!! example one riview said you should go buy the ds and that the only thing that is good about the psp is its camera!!!!!!!! it has no stinkin camera!! that goes to show you I finally one ds fanboy made a mistake and showed that every single nintendo fanboy writing bad riviws on the psp has probobly not seen one or played one!!!!!!!!! now about the psp this machine is absalutly fantastic once you open the box you will be absalutly dazzled with its beutiful disign! once you turn it on you will notice the amazing graphics that this handheld has. BUY THE PSP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
62 The absolute best in handheld gaming!!!
The Sony PSP is by FAR better than that Nintendo DS. Seriously! The PSP is completely flawless, and is so sexy! The DS is rather bulky, and I wouldn't want to carry one of those around everywhere; it really does take up a lot of space in a bag. The slim look of the PSP is a joy just to hold! I've been a HUGE nintendo fan for years, but the DS just disappoints me. I've never liked Sony near as much as Nintendo. Now my feelings are reversed. Sony is the best! PSP is one 'hot gadget.' The analog stick is probably the best thing on the handheld, it's perfect! Well Done Sony!!!
63 Sorry! But DS wins!
I have to say the DS is better. Although, it has better graphics and a camera, that's all good about the PSP!
64 Some people don`t know
The first time i read a review here for the psp they say a lot of things that aren`t true at all and i didn`t want to purchase a game system with that low rates but don`t worry i`m here to say that the game is goin to be the gameboy killer. The system is incredible and the battery time is 5 hours of playtime the load time are fast is the better game system out there right now and the nintendo ds .... is goin to have a hard time trying to know what the hell hit them just like the days when the playstation hit the nintendo 64 and they never recover from that hit.
65 The DS v.s. The PSP: Both arguments and who wins
I will now judge both systems on a variety of categories:
GRAPHICS: The PSP has the DS beat here. However, the DS does look pretty neat in bringing back old Nintendo 64 games.
DURABILITY: The DS is a definite winner here, with a construction designed to take moderate amounts of all kinds of punishment. The PSP is so easy to break, they should stick a warning on the box.
As for game software, the DS game cards also trump the PSP CDs. The Game cards are small and easy to carry, are small, and can be put in and taken out easily. Compare that to the PSP's CDs, which scratch and crack easily, and in some situations, actualyy take up more space. Also, Because the PSP is so fragile, you have to watch how the CDs are installed.
BUTTONS: The DS wins here. I'd actually rather use the DS touch screen rather than the PSP's stub for a control stick, although the DS needs an analog stick sooner or later.
FEATURES: The PSP, unlike the DS, can do anything. But then, are you really buying a game system, or an elaborate cell phone that can't make phone calls?
MULTIPLAYER: In close-range wireless play, both systems are equal. However, with free online Wi-Fi play, the DS offers better online than PSP's money-draining online service.
BATTERY: The DS lasts far longer, no matter what the situation.
GAMES LINE-UP: More for the PSP, but they're all the same. However, if you count all the GBA games the DS can play, the the DS has more. Also, the DS offers more variety. Take your pick.
ORIGINALITY: The DS uses a touch screen, has chat, and of course, the two screens. That's something no other system has ever done (unless you count the GameCube, which can connect to the GBA for some games for two screens.) PSP just copies the PS2's example and goes for features, but all those have already been done by other systems.
SOUND: The DS has two stereo speakers by the top screen, and can also use headphones and Surround Sound. All the PSP has is two little slits near the bottom. Odd for a system that's also designed to play music.
COLORS: Both systems have only one color at the moment (DS comes in silver and PSP comes in black), but turquoise, black, pink, and white DS units are already selling in Japan.
THE FINAL VERDICT: Sorry, Sony. Nintendo did games first, and did them right. Long live the DS!
66 So much better than DS
I fell into the DS hype in November. I purchased it, I enjoy it, but where are the games? The PSP had many sports games, which are the type of games I like. The price of the games are a lot but worth it. Let me explain why. PSP UMDs hold up to 1.8 GIGS. Lets just say you buy a game for $50. That is about $28 a GIG. A DS game is about $35 and can hold 1.1 GIGs. That is over $30 a GIG. This is not even mentioning the improved graphics and all the advantedges of PSP. The PSP console itself is priced less than what it is worth, so that is a nice price. They get their money back with you buying games and memory. The movies look stunning. You can also put movies of your own on a memory card and watch. DS also has this too, which brings me to my next point, battery life. PSP has a stronger battery than DS. On PSP movies can last 3 1/2 hours. On DS they last a little less than three. This is not mentioning that the PSP battery has to power a higher powered screen.
I have done much research on games. If you like sports games, like me, you might want to consider this list of games coming out by summer.
1.) NBA Street Showdown
2.) Wipeout Pure
3.) NFL Street 2 Unleashed
4.) Need For Speed Underground Rivals
5.) Grand Theft Auto
6.) MLB 2006
7.) Midnight Club III DUB Edition
8.) Tony Hawk Underground 2 Remix
9.) Spiderman 2
67 I Love My PSP! Pick one of these bad boys up! Read Why:
Where to begin, well, the design and look of this device, absolutely gorgeous, buttons well placed, original playstation style buttons, something we're all use to by now ;]
The Display: wow, for a device this small, the 16:9 lcd looks huge for this device, it plays movies at a quality you've never experienced on a screen so small, it's a new experience for games, nice and bright, i own 2 lcd monitors, a nintendo ds, and 2 digital cams, and the psp's lcd is far more gorgeous then all of them, the pixels are so tiny on the psp compared to my other lcd devices it gives it a much clearer picture
The Games: wow, wipeout pure, simply an amazing game and truly stunning graphics for a handheld, far beyond what we've ever seen before, if your a fan of the old wipeout games for playstation, this one is far better, and if your not, its a racing game you'll learn to love!, twisted metal head-on, another amazing game, any fan of twisted metal is going to love this on the psp, the graphics are amazing, the multiplayer is what makes this game!, if you have a wireless router in your house, u can play twisted metal over the internet vs others around the country, a first for a handheld. lumines, wow, this game is VERY addicting and fun, tetris i get bored of after a while, this, im playing 45 minutes straight without dying, getting better and better every round, music is amazing, definitely the best strategy game for psp right now, thats all i own right now, and i am truly impressed, i choose these games over any nintendo DS game anytime, and i am a nintendo ds owner as well, psp's got more launch titles then DS has in total titles, psp not only has the quantity, but the quality as well, get yourself this device before there all gone!
The Movies: well i only have spiderman2 that it came with, comparing it to the dvd, the quality is stunning, but you will have to plug in headphones of external speakers to get good sound for your movies though. my only on visually quality of movies, is i could barely read the credits at the end as they were too small!
The Music: well its got ups and downs, get this device for gaming though, not for the built in mp3 support. the memory cards for this device are very pricey at the moment, but they play fine, with the use of headphones of external speakers of course, id stick with the ipod for music.
Other Cool Features: web browser built into wipeout pure, if you search around u can find plenty of info on it and how to use it, but its got a fully functional html web browser, there is also an IRC client that somebody created that is powered by the web browsers capabilities. very cool
Other Stuff I Like: one thing i like about the psp that no other portable console has, is the ability to update the software on the device over the internet, so if sony wants to add some new features they can easily do so! if any bugs are found they can always release an update to fix whatevers wrong, basicly, the device will never get old, cuz they can always add new features and fix problems people may encounter ;]
The Price: $250, aight yea its pricey for the average consumer, but sony is still losing money for every one they sell, they make there money on the games, if you can spit up the cash id say go for it, you WONT be disappointed, or there are alternatives to getting one cheaper or at no cost at all, just hit up pspsarefree.cjb.net its how i got mine, click the big psp and do what it asks, its legit i have mine to prove it, use that $250 you saved and buy wipeout pure, twisted metal head-on, and lumines, the 3 best games for this device!
Conclusion: overall i think sony did a wonderful job with there first portable console. it produced graphics visually stunning, never experienced before on a handheld. its more then just a gaming device, it plays movies and music well too, although i would buy this device exclusively for gaming.
68 Not Worth It
After long weeks working and long weeks trying to find some good in this machine, I fail to see how my time was well-spent. Perhaps had I done a bit more research, I could have stayed away from this purchase altogether.
One of my largest complaints is the screen... With all the money I freaking spent on this thing, you think the least they could do is include a touchscreen... No. Sony had to go and screw themselves by using a .very. fragile screen, which didn't last long in my .pocket. before it started to gradualyl develop .dead pixels. Okay, yes, this irked me significantly, but wait, there's more.
I was overjoyed at the thought that each disk for the PSP could hold 1.8GB... That much on a minidisk. Sony, however, for some reason unbeknownst to myself, had to use the PC-incompatible UMD format for their disks... Which, might I add, are .impossible. to format yourself. This is when I really started to get ticked. Bad screen? Weird disks that I can't put my own movies/music on? Oh and then there's more.
With the mega-capacitated disks, you would think Sony would have the brains to put some actual memory in the PSP. It's safe to expect that from the people who invented the PSX with its startling 40GB of space, right? Wrong. They had to screw me again. As a serious player, 32MB is .not. what I need. They expect me to pay more money for separate memory sticks, none of which will hold even the memory for a movie, might I add.
That was the final straw. Sony had screwed me for the last time. After today, I will never buy another Sony gaming system. They can cheat the loads of money out of other people's pockets, but My hands are in mine.
Save your money. Buy a DS. Support a .true. gaming company. Over and out.
69 PSP is great but the bundle I bought there was no game inclu
They couldv'e included a game but no! The price was to much! I bought it anyway and spent $330.13 ouch!..I have only 2 games so far and I have yet to buy the ridiclously high priced memory cards!... Thanx alot Greedy SCEA!...Its definitely the Future of HandHelds!..But a bit to pricey!...But we shall see E3-2005 coming up Nintendo's has some new PSP like device to be shown at E3--..Watchout SCEA..LOL...
70 "Value" pack?!?!.. well if you got one free..
The Amazon "so you'd like to..." guides (under friends and features) contain a few good ways to get one of these free (and for that price they are worth it), but at $250 I'll be waiting a while before I pay for one. Here's why:
1. Cost:
At $200 the PSP isn't a bad value since it is a significant piece of hardware. The problem is that is a lot more than consumers have been asked to pay for a portable system before. It will need to develop a high end (aka non-kiddie) portable market in order to thrive. Sony was able to do this with the PS/PS2, but if it doesn't happen you will be left with an expensive MP3/MPG player.
2. Value:
The PSP is worth the $200 cost if you are in the market for a portable Game/MP3/Video player. Currently though you can only buy it as a "value" pack which adds to the cost while in return giving you items you will want to upgrade soon. Taken together it adds up to $100 more than the Nintendo DS which has games that are just as enjoyable (if not more so), that are both much more plentiful (thanks to Gameboy Advance game support), and cheaper. If you are not looking for MP3/MPG support that $100 probably isn't worth it, and if you are the small 32MB memory card and cheap earbuds in the value pack will be all the more insulting.
3. The Nintendo factor:
Nobody has been able to challenge Nintendo in portable gaming, period. Despite having very impressive hardware and the backing of a big names in gaming products such as the Sega Game Gear, Atari Lynx, and NEC's Turbo Express to name a few were never able to develop a market for themselves. All of them had problems offering better hardware for more money as the PSP does. The PSP has the best shot of all of them to take some market away from Nintendo, but has to prove it in order to justify such a significant added cost over the Nintendo DS.
71 Power, Beauty in a Game Handheld
As many of the other reviews have indicated, the first thing you notice is how amazingly beautiful the screen is. Even the PSP itself is pure beauty. However, as you start playing your games, you start noticing that its beauty has been smeared with fingerprints. Hardly noticable once you are playing (unless you are playing a "dark" game). The power of this machine is amazing. Graphics are great and sound is fantastic. I owned a DS and thought I loved it (see my DS review). But when I laid hands on the PSP (my brother got one) I had to buy it. I don't want to deal with 2 handhelds, so I sold my DS to my cousin for the PSP. I do not and will not regret my decision. DS is a cool inovative machine. However, all that goes out the window when you experience the truly amazing technology in the PSP. I own Ridge Racer and MLB 2006 and both are keeping me busy with joy. If you are true to yourself and enjoy games, visuals, sound, you can't go wrong with the PSP. Its the Major leagues of portable video gaming. If you like to stay in the minors go with the DS. I for one, have graduated to the majors. I tip my hat to the folks over at Sony. Ladies and Gents, this is one handheld war Nintendo will not win.
72 This is amazing
This is soooo coool! I've learned so much already! It's a lot of fun. I've tried to break but i can't! its child proof! even my dogs chew on it! spend ur money, NOW!
(...)
73 Please, if you cannot afford it...
...then don't feel obligated to buy it. If you're mad that Sony released this system then you're just envious. If you've played with one then you're either in two groups. One group is frustrated that they can't afford one right now (please think about saving up for one if you can manage your money maturely). The other group are the ones who have the money specifically for this system. Both groups (who have played it and have had first hand experience, mind you, and not just spouting off hearsay) can't deny the quality of the product. It definitely is worth the price. I have these games:
Twisted Metal Head On
Ridge Racer
Lumines
Wipeout Pure
Great games to start with if you're not into traditional sports games. That out of the way I'll just copy and paste a review I did earlier.
1.) Huge assed screen. 3 levels of brightness when on battery power. 4 when plugged into the wall and the 4th is really bright.
2.) Didn't have any dead pixels on my PSP. I must be one of the lucky ones or not part of the vocal minority.
3.) Solid build. At first you wonder at how they got all that stuff into such a tiny package, but then you notice how solid it is.
4.) Removeable battery pack. Which means it's not built in. Yes! Replaceable.
5.) Speakers are two pairs of holes at the two lower corners of the screen. The ones on the bottom are the speakers and the ones on the face are, I guess, the subwoofers? Not that the sound is all that loud (nice sound, but really quiet). It's about the half way mark on a Game Boy Advance SP. The GBASP is louder but tinnier.
6.) Wireless that I have yet to use functionally. My wireless router sucks or its antennas suck. But I can connect to the internet successfully according to the network update manager. (Update: I have played Twisted Metal Head On online and it is good. Remember Mario Kart? Great party game. This too.)
7.) Analog stick/pad is about what you'd expect. Plays great in Ridge Racer.
8.) The UMD technology must be based on the MiniDisc tech since when you open the slot it looks like you're opening a MiniDisc slot. Of course the capacity is different and the way it works may be different, but I'm talking about the space where you put your disc in.
8a.) The disc door must be made of metal because whenever I touch it it feels cold. Hmmm.
9.) No analog buttons. Oh well. And no L3 button under the analog stick (so don't go mashing the stick down in frustration). One set of shoulder buttons. Full face buttons as on PSX and PS2 (except for R3).
10.) USB connection which I have yet to test out. (Update: Just as they say, it shows up as a removable drive in both WinXP and Mac OS X. Very easy to use. But your Memory Stick is the only thing accessable. Maybe they're making a mini keyboard for the PSP?)
11.) The Memory Stick door feels flimsy when opened. Might break off in the future? Not even hinged but attached with a piece of rubber/soft plastic.
12.) First time I've had to deal with a Home button on a handheld or any system. It's... strange yet natural. This button just takes you out of the game and back into the PSP's file and settings management screen.
13.) This is the most mature handheld I've ever used. It doesn't feel like a kid's toy. Of course that will be an attractive selling point to kids. ;)
14.) Buttons are clear like the Xbox's. All of the buttons. Even the D-Pad and shoulder buttons. But not the analog stick of course.
15.) You can turn wireless fuctions off with a flick of the switch. That's good when the etiquette of an establishment is that you not have any wireless devices.
16.) Infrared port? That's what it is, but how many people will be using that when they already have wireless WIFI. I guess you could come up with a remote control program that would control your TV?
17.) I was hoping that they'd come out with that Gran Turismo white version that they showed at the various conventions.
18.) Graphics are unbelieveable. They say between a PSOne and PS2, but I'd say closer to a PS2 with some elements that put it on some levels with Xbox. Seriously! You laugh in jest? Have you played a PSP yet? You should.
19.) Logotype on the system (other than the button symbols) like the Sony logo and other things like "Power", "Hold" and the Memory Stick and Wireless logos are printed right on the clear plastic face. These will undoubtedly (with where they are) rub off in the future. Why they couldn't print them under the clear plastic is beyond me. Seems more logical.
20.) Sound, when plugging in the earbuds or headphones, is great. And I swear that I heard (in the Twisted Metal intro) simulated surround sound. Could have been my imagination.
20a.) My iPod Shuffle's earbuds actually sound better than the pack-in earbuds. So I'm using those now.
21.) Video looks great. No artifacts to be seen that you'd expect with compression.
22.) Wow, I did not know that on the lowest setting ATRAC sounds great... :shock: 66kbps is like 160kbps MP3 or 128kbps AAC. And it takes up so little space... but I like iTunes... :( I might reconsider my allegeance. Sony's SonicStage/Connect Music Store looks similar to iTunes anyway in its ease of use... but I like my iPod Shuffle... And Memory Sticks are so expensive... :( My head hurts...
23.) Twisted Metal Head On, BABY!! Online Multiplayer, BABY!! I'm not very good at it as some are but the online rooms are really fun. And I'm not saying this assuming everybody is paying a subscription for it and automatically knows that, because there IS NO SUBSCRIPTION FEE. I'm still waiting on people to get on Ridge Racer. :( I like that game. How is it that it's not liked by other people?
And beware of a lot of fake reviews here. I see a lot of people posting how much PSP sucks compared to the DS and vice versa when, if you've played with either for any length of time, you'd know that they're just saying that to ->somehow<- sabotage the public reviews section or sales of PSP. It's ridiculous. Trust in-depth reviews, not ones that lack substance like many of the 1 star reviews here. If your PSP "shatters" your game discs (highly doubtful if you've seen a game disc) then that's probably a very isolated incident and doesn't need to be mentioned to other people since most likely they won't experience the same thing and such claims just serve to spread F.U.D. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. If your screen scratches, then get a screen protector. Protectors that have been made for years for several devices with LCD screens. Skins work well for the glossy finish around the buttons. DecalGirl sells lots of kick ass skins (learn to use Google).
74 Do NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF FRAGILE JUNK!!!
THE PSP IS WAY TO FRAGILE AND WILL BREAK EASILY, SO Y SPEND LIKE $$$46583 ON IT FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A DS AND IT IS NOT EVEN A LITTLE FRAGILE. SO OVERALL THE PSP COST 2 MUCH. I COULD GET AN XBOX AND A GAME FOR EVEN LESS THEN THE PRICE OF ONE PSP!!!!
75 IT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS A MUST HAVE !!! IF u have a ds,sell it or trade it for a psp,cauze PSP can play music,game and movies on it,u can also download image & music with wi-fi.(u need a wireless router for internet and a A/B USB cable,which is not included).So forget about the Nintendo ds and get a PSP. (DON'T FORGET THE (+[___]+).)
76 Simple Rules in Life
Never buy first generation Tech products.
Never buy first year models of cars.
Always wait for software versions 2.0
Unfortunately, there is just so much testing that a manufacturer can do. Only we consumers can provide sufficient stress testing to determine product viability. Sony is not the 'bad guy' - their R&D guys were involved in the 'rush to marketplace' syndrome. Wait for PSP 2.0.
77 good system, but not for kids
The PSP has an excellent screen. My hands are medium sized( relative to work out glove medium) It is somewhat difficult to race using the analog stick and the shoulder buttons. So I would say that anyone with small hands would have a difficult time using the psp and thats not taking into the consideration the weight of the unit. It is heavier than other handhelds. First couple things you need to buy when you buy the psp is:
1. screen protector. like those pda screen protectors
2. case for the psp
3. case coverings for the umd games you buy
4. the pelican carrying case that holds the psp, games, buds, charger. etc is nice.
5. a bigger mem stick, if you plan just to save games, 128-256 is fine. if you want to put movies and mp3s, 512-1gb. 1gb recommended if you can find it.
6. usb a-b cord to transfer files to and from the psp.
the pelican starter pack is great since it has most of the things you need to start off. good combo with the psp.
78 PSP IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!
I was an owner of ds but i decided to sell it because i wasnt playing it because of the games out for it. After i sold it i found out about psp and decided to get it. That was the greatest choice ever. psp is insane!!! the draphics are just incredible. I pooped in spiderman 2 the movie and it looked better than my tv. I also picked up copies of Wipeout pure and twisted metal. Thoses games are awesome. The psp graphics are insane and these are only launch games. By the way there are more games from launch for psp than the ds has out now!! also there are 80 games scheduled for psp by the end of july to come out. Its incredible!!! I have owned both the psp and th ds and i have to say that the psp blows the ds away in every catogory!!!! the only problem is that you are goning to need a screen protector as soon as you take the psp out of its box. The screen is incredible but gets fingerprints and scratches easily so put one on. This is the best handheld system ever. Buy one forget about ds get PSP!!!!!
79 price-prohibative but cool, wait for a while
I am a big ps2 fan and could'nt wait for this to come out. The system and it's capabilities are sweet.But,unless you MUST have the latest system NOW, I would wait for the price to come down at least $50(from $250). The software is sparse right now and to get 2 games and a couple of extraneous accesories (like a face cover to protect the gorgeous screen and storage for the discs, etc.)will cost you at least $400!
You can get an xbox or ps2 system for $150 and 2 or 3 games for less.
If you get the so called"value pak"you will recieve-
the PSP of course with a battery pack, ac charger, 30mb memory stick,lanyard,cheap softcase,spiderman 2 movie, a NON-interactive preview disc,wired remote & earbuds and a cleaning cloth
Pros-Large,beautiful crisp screen
versatility potentially awesome
can play movies, games, mp3 and atrac music, display photos
Built-in RF communication and wireless LAN
Cons-over-priced for what you get
battery life just O.K.
not many games to choose from(but should get better)
no movies available yet
spare battery packs not available yet
does not include the software or cable to download music,photos etc. to the PSP from your PC
car charger not included!?
preview disc is non-interactive
seems delicate-buy a hard-shell case
If you must have a portable game system, get the nintendoDS. You can get more for less money.
I don't dislike this system at all, but Sony should at least give you something to do with the system when you get it instead of watch one movie for the high price. Sony should have included a much larger memory stick. To get a 256mb stick will set you back another $50. A car charger and interactive preview disc would be nice too!
Like I said, COOL, but wait.
80 Cool, but you'll have to pay.
This is a pretty neat toy. However, if you really think that someone on the internet is going to give you one for free, you are really stupid.
81 For those of you waivering to buy one-
I don't hate the playstation and love Nintendo, its not like that anymore. Neither are worthwhile, and if you are deciding on getting one of these, then you don't want one.
I used to always play video games, until I needed to buckle down and get serious with my studies. The truth is, these games give you instant gratification. But other things in life are much more important than the PSP or even DS. It's not worth the time or money (believe me its a lot of money spend on these games).
I was hesitant to buy a PSP when I heard of its launch, and at that time I was in a hiatus of playing games. I couldn't decide for the longest time. I realized that I didn't need the PSP then, and it would only be a big distraction. Look at the bigger picture of life before you decide to buy this.
Again, if you can't decide, you probably will be better off without it.
82 Best. Portable. Ever.
This little game machine is absolutely incredible. PS2 quality games on the go! Wipeout Pure is jaw dropping and amazingly fun. My only complaint is the battery life is bit short compared to my gameboy, but I shouldn't complain, I got mine free (...)
83 The Versatile Game Machine!
I have never purchased a hand-held gaming system, (e.g. Gameboy). I have a PC and a Playstation 2 so I thought there wasn't really a need for another system. But the minute I saw the PSP, I knew that was about to change.
First of all the good: The PSP is about the size of a Palm Pilot and the screen takes up most of it. The video is excellent and it's easy to both play games and watch movies on the go. Unless you regularly travel with a laptop with a DVD, this makes a good way to watch movies on long trips. The battery has a pretty long life (5-6 hours) depending on what you're doing. (I was also told you want to let the battery run down before you recharge it for best results.) If you're in a car for an extended trip you'll want to get an auto charger. Games and movies come in a mini-disc format called UMB. They come in casing designed to minimize the possibility of fingerprints or scratching.
But not only can you play movies and games, but you can listen to MP3s and view photos. The PSP uses the Memory Stick Pro Duo which can be used to save MP3s, photos or even MOVIES in MP4 format. (There are guides and free software on the web on how to convert your movies over.) The PSP comes with a paltry 32MB stick, so it's a given you'll want to upgrade. Be forewarned: it's difficult to locate a 512MB or 1GB stick right now! Many places are running out of these larger sizes and the prices can really vary so shop around.
As a major bonus, the PSP has Wi-Fi connection where you can join into games with others in your area hotspot without having to connect the machines physically. For those who like multiplayer, this is going to be huge. Also, using one of the games, someone HAS figured out how to surf the web. Can a browser upgrade be far behind?
The controls are instinctive and easy to use, although the "joystick" button is somewhat cumbersome. The menus are easy to navigate (trivia note: the color of the background changes color each month! There's nothing wrong with your screen...) Form is there as well as function, with a slick, black lacquer-like finish and appealing trim which I predict will attract the older gamers as well as the young. Considering the price, that's a good thing!
The not so good: The audio works fine with appropriate ear wear, but most things are hard to hear otherwise, even with it turned up to the max (this is probably a PLUS for most parents!) This is definitely a PERSONAL player!
The cost of the games is ridiculous considering they cost about the same as the PS2 version ($40-50) even though there's not going to be as much playtime! Most Gameboy games, by contrast, cost $20-30. I can deal with the price of the hardware which isn't cheap, but I hope the games get more realistic. Because the hardware isn't cheap, I don't care for the bundled versions that force you to spend extra $$$ and probably includes games you may not want. The basic setup costs enough. And of course you'll probably end up buying an auto charger, larger memory, USB cable, a better case, etc. The movies are not particularly cheap either, although Amazon does have a good discount as of this writing. If you're at all computer savvy, however, you'll probably be converting and transferring your movies to memory stick.
What this system really needs is some ORIGINAL games. Some only-for-the-PSP type games. There are very few games out right now and most are re-makes of games already out there. The games available are heavily weighted toward sports also. I suspect there's not going to be a lot of variety until the Christmas push.
84 valerie's review
i have owned the psp since the launch date of march 24, i have gone through 5 excahnges and finally have a perfect psp with out dead pixels. the screen on this thing is near hd quality, i own a hd tv and this looks practicly the same. you can also browse the internet using the wipout pure browser hack, or wait until may 1st for the frimware update. the graphics are near ps2 quality now, but the psp is underclocked to save battery life, sony id developing a new battery adn once the new battery is realeased the psp's clock limit of 222 will be pushed up to 333 mhx, thus SURPASING the graphics of the ps2, the incldued wrist strap is a nice atachment and does help the unit feel more sturdy. second shipment psps (with otu spiderman 2) have less defects. overall the psp is good if you can afford it. total cost for me was 330 inclduing a 512 mb memory stick and 2 games, but i ahve a subscription to game fly :-P
i would recomend the psp to any one who wants a portable media center and to any one over 11 years of age, this thing is not something you want to give your 6 year old so that he/she will be quite, the psp's lcd takes up 80% of teh surface area and if it falls a couple of times it breack.
good-
price (it costs mroe tahn 250 to make the psp)
internet
camera assecory coming out
music, and movies
umd movies
bad-
accesories cost $$$ a memory stick goes up 2 900 dolalrs.
dead pixel problem
85 Much better than expected
Don't listen to the negatively picky reviews. This is one great system. Play games (in close to PS2 graphic clarity), listen to MP3's (with a battery life equal to an Ipod. Really.), watch movies in crystal clarity (movies that are being released on the new UMD discs for the same price or LESS than a DVD), pick up an FM transmitter to listen to your music or movies in booming stereo on any home sound system or radio, transfer video files from your computer to the PSP (and vice versa) & share them with your friends (I picked up a 2GB memory disc, so there's PLENTY of storage room), store your digital photos on the memory card and run a slide show, and more. DO NOT buy this for a child. This is very much a teen/adult system. Well worth the bucks, but I don't think you should have to buy 5 games with it. I didn't, and paid $250 & bought 1 game for $39.95 (not at Amazon). Even if you're a die hard Game Boy Advance/DS fan, pick this up. There is definately room for both and you will not be disappointed!
86 The most amazing piece of video game hardward yet released!
The PSP is without a doubt the single most exciting piece of hardward that has yet been released. For the first time, we are able to play games on the go that are equal in terms of graphics and sound to the consoles of the day. In fact, I think the PSP is the most amazing piece of portable tech, period. The ipod's got nothing on the PSP!
Let me break it down.
1. First is the industrial design. It is the sleekest, sexiest, most futuristic design to be found on any media device. It brings me joy everytime I look at it.
2. Then there is that screen. It is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Everything you display on it looks absolutely fantastic. The amount of pixels it has for its size makes for very high resolution. The amount of colors that it can display really is unheard of for a screen of that size. Whether you are looking at pictures, watching video or playing a game, everything looks amazingly crisp, colorful, punchy and highly detailed.
3. Functionality. The amount of different functions that this device is capable of is astounding. You can play games with console quality graphics, watch a UMD movie, watch mp4 video, listen to your mp3 music collection or audiobooks in mp3 format, view your digital pictures, brows the web, or use it as a portable media transfer device. I have used it for all of these things and it works very well doing every one of them.
I really do believe that the PSP will revolutionize portable gaming. I give it my highest recomendation.
87 Waste
you might reconsider buying this PSP. DS IS BETTER. it cant have dead pixels like psp can have. when i got it almost all of the pixels didnt work. piece of garbage. i recommed ds. it cant have dead pixels. psp is worth maybe 100 dollars
88 not worth the 250, but still pretty awesome
it was a decision between this or a nintendo ds. not being a traitor to nintendo or anything. i still own a gamecube + gba with many many titles on both systems. however ds honestly just didnt have any appealing games to me, even the ones that are coming up (except advance wars ds). so psp it was. all i can say is this thing is not worth 250 dollars. its an awesome system, but 2 major things im really worried about. the fact that dead pixals will start to appear overtime, and the fact that its very fragile. im talking 1 step, 1 drop and this thing will cease to function properly. thankfully ur given a free protective case with it. wipeout pure is my first game for this thing and all i can say is it looks very close to ps2 graphics. slightly on the heavy side, and some of the buttons feel like they will get stuck after like 100 pushes =/. hopefully that wont happen. it really is like carrying a ps2 in ur pocket and being able to play it just about anywhere. it really is a playstation, and a playstation isnt one without it's loading times. it't not nearly as bad as people make it sound, though over time it probably will take longer to rea
