Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7439 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2006-05-15
• Platform: Sony PSP

Manufacturer's Description
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.

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.

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.

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.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Brilliant, well worth the money!
I bought a white PSP yesterday, and i am so pleased with it! Originally i had a black one, because i hadn't liked the white, but due to a fault i had to return it. Im glad I did, because i definitely prefer the white!!

The graphics were reported to be the same as the PS2. I can't say they are, but they are very close, and for a handheld, excellent. The controls are easy to use, although a word of advice- don't use the PSP without regular breaks, as I know someone who suffered a repetitive strain injury.

The different features available are brilliant, and the internet connection is easy to set up, as long as you have a wireless router. If not, then you should be able to use it in an internet cafe.

There is also a gameshare feature which allows you to (believe it or not) share the game you're playing with another, nearby, PSP.

Play your videos, music, photos and games on one machine!

Overall i am extremely pleased with this product and i think you will be too. A brilliant way to pass journey time.

Best colour of the PSP (PlayStation Portable)? White of course!
Now, when the PSP frst came out on September 1, 2005, I had my doubts about it as I was still feeling retro, what with my PSOne and PlayStation 2 console. I didn't know what a PSP was. Then the most tiniest gem glittered in the handheld videogaming market: Sure, it was the PSP but now it was coloured white. This, as you know left me with the most difficult dilemma a true Sony PlayStation fan could make. Should I go with the black PSP in order to contrast it with my PlayStation 2 or should I go all-out and get the white PSP? Well, of course, I decided to go all-out.

When my sixteenth birthday arrived, I unwrapped a package, which was small in size but big in prospect and what I saw made my heart leap. I saw a wrist strap, a battery pack, a 32Mb Memory Stick, a pouch and a console and I thought, "This is it! The PSP!" Since then, I have got several games with it including 'Dragon Ball Z Shin Buokai' 1 and 2, 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend' 'Pro Evolution Soccer 5' 'Puruit Force' 'Peter Jackson's king Kong' and 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' along with two demo discs: 'LocoRoco' and the official PSP Demo disc, which came with it. Now it was time to start my UMD collection. 'Ice Age 2: The Meltdown' came first. When my seventeenth birthday dawned, three more UMDs were given to me: 'Men In Black', 'Fantastic Four' and 'James Bond 007: Casino Royale'. I had got a whole mountain of accesories for the PSP as well.

And so, in conclusion, I'd just like to say, if you're a boy and you want to get a PSP, go for either the black or the white. (Personally, I think that white suits it). If you're a girl, however, then by all means go for the pink. Anyway, my point is go for the PSP but don't be too picky about the colour or games to play,just get it and be satisfied. Oh, and by the way, if you register your PSP with Sony Computer Entertainment, you'll recieve a UMD game case with the capability of holding up to five UMDs and two Memory sticks.

Its not without its major flaws.....
As far as handhelds go, it looks incredible, the graphics are excellent and its packed with features. You can watch movies, listen to music, surf the internet, read RSS feeds, download demos and many other things. It really is a portable entertainment centre.

However there are several awful flaws with it.... the two main ones....

One is the DPad - its fine for most games, but diagonals on it are *very* hard to hit, this is especially evident in fighers such as Street Fighter, you cant jump diagonally and although in the PSP version they try and compensate for teh controls its still evident that the DPad is very poor.

Second is the screen. Its beautiful from every angle, crisp and high resolution, however the response time is terrible. What that means in real terms is there is a tremendous amout of bluring/trailing going on when anything is moving fast on screen, especially dark colours. If you try Grand Theft Auto when Tony is wearing his black suit it almost looks like he has six arms when running - its really that bad. Its less of a problem in bright games (Loco Rocco for example looks fantastic) but its definately a MAJOR flaw. Dispite what Ive heard people say they have not fixed it in newer editions. (Ive had 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 black editions and a 2.6 white edition - all 4 have the same issue)

To be perfectly honest, I do love the console, and the future is very bright for it, but currently the DS is a million miles better. No blur on the screen, a larger selection of "fun" games and much more solid construction.

In my opinion buy a DS, if you have money left over, get a PSP.