Review - Sony PSP

I'm fairly certain there are folks at Nintendo feelingsimply connecting the PSP to your PC with a 5-pin
some serious self-loathing right about now. You see,USB cord will let you drag files from your hard drive
back in the mid-90's Nintendo contracted Sony toonto the PSP's Memory Stick. Pictures and music are
develop a CD-ROM drive for the Super Nintendo. Asfairly straightforward, while video is less so, requiring
the project progressed, a number of factors (one ofyou to convert it to .mp4 format and set up a
them being the spectacular failure of the Sega CDseparate folder on the Memory Stick.Picture viewing
and its' followup the 32X) led Nintendo to can theis a breeze. The PSP interface is set up in a horizontal
project. Sony was left holding the bag, with aheirarchy displaying each function; you simply
CD-based gaming system but no one to sell itnavigate left or right to choose the application and
to.Making proverbial lemonade from lemons, Sonythen vertically to choose the source. Selecting
turned around and produced what is perhaps the'Pictures' and then 'Memory Stick' will let you browse
most successful game console in history, the Sonywhatever images you have stored on your Memory
Playstation. The result? For the first time in history,Stick. Since the PSP uses standard Memory Stick Duo
Nintendo took second place in the video gameformat chips, if you have a digital camera that uses
console market, while fellow rival Sega got out of theMS Duo sticks, you can simply slap the stick from
console business altogether.One segment of theyour digican into the PSP and browse to your heart's
gaming market Nintendo still has a stranglehold on,content. The PSP allows you to zoom in or out and
however, is the handheld sector. Beginning with thepan the photos in any direction using the nub.Music is
original Gameboy, the name Nintendo has been ajust as easy...you just drag your ATRAC (ech!) or
veritable synonym for handheld gaming. This.mp3 (yay!) music files onto the Memory Stick, and
dominant streak has held sway through severalthen navigate to them the same way you did the
subsequent iterations of the Gameboy. Some havephotos. One thing the PSP is not, however, is an
claimed Nintendo's dual screen DS handheld systemiPod...you have to set up folders for each group of
to be a revolutionary step forward in portabletunes you want, though you can assign tracks to
gaming. Others have decried it as gimmicky.song groups and play them back at will. That said,
Whichever side you fall on, there's no doubt Nintendothe PSP's music playback functionality is great. The
execs are fingering their collars as Sony prepares toPSP comes with a decent set of earbuds and a
rain on their parade with their new Playstationremote extension allowing you to control the PSP's
Portable - aka the PSP.Comparing the two systems,music functions without having to dig the unit out of
I'd say there's a real chance Nintendo may finallyyour pocket. More importantly, it sounds great. If you
have a serious challenger to the portable gamingknow how to edit .wmu playlists, you can even
throne. Most assuredly, Nintendo will claim that theyassign thumbnail images to the tracks which will
are pursuing a different demographic than Sony (readappear when you play back the tune on your
'kids'), and to their credit the pre-teen crowd willPSP.Videos are the biggest pain in the arse, mainly
probably favor the DS over the PSP. But for anyonebecause you have to do the most fiddling. Luckily,
over the age of 12, the PSP is definitely a serioushomebrew PSP programmers have already jumped
contender for your pocket change.Okay, so enoughto action, and there are already a number of
Nintendo-bashing. Review the damn thing already.Thefreeware apps available online which will let you drag
first impression one gets from the PSP (once you've'n drop video onto your PSP with little or no
ravenously clawed your way through the packaging)trouble.The biggest drawback to all this media fun is
is just how sleek the system is. From a purelythe fact that the PSP ships with a measly 32mb
aesthetic standpoint, the PSP is one seriously sexyMemory Stick. By the time you start messing around
piece of cutting-edge tech. The system's faceplate iswith music and video files, you'll be sorely aching for
fashioned of one glassy piece, interrupted only bya big 'ole 1GB Memory Stick.So okay, I'm sure you're
the protrusion of the various buttons. The backside iswondering whether or not any of the horror stories
just as nice, with the UMD disc door featuring ayou've heard about the PSP are true. One of the
prominent PSP logo inside a silver metal ring set flushbigger points of contention that's hounded the PSP is
against the backplate. The two shoulder buttons arethe dreaded 'dead pixels' issue. Reports have
clear plastic, and the perimeter edge is accented incirculated widely that a number of PSP units have
silver giving the whole thing a very streamlinedbeen plagued by 'dead pixels', pixels which are either
look.Of course, looks are one thing, but how does itpermanently light or dark, depending on how they're
actually play? I'm happy to report that the PSPstuck. My unit does indeed have a handful of these
delivers very well in this regard. For a portabledreaded dead pixels, but seriously...I think you'd have
system, weight is an important factor, as it is byto be a real anal-retentive type for it to be
nature handheld. The PSP is fairly lightweight,considered truly bothersome. I'm certain that a
especially considering all the hi-tech goodnesshandful of PSP's have some serious issues, and Sony
crammed into it's slim chassis. In fact, it weighs justhas agreed to repair or replace these units at no
about the same as the Nintendo DS, if you need thecost. However, seeing the problem first-hand, I can
comparison. You could easily play this thing for hourshonestly say that it doesn't seem to be that big an
straight without feeling weighed down.One thing thatissue. In fact, over the last week or so, some of the
takes a little getting used to is the somewhat'dead pixels' seem to have disappeared, leaving only
cramped form-factor. While the PSP's controls maytwo barely noticeable spots. The other standout
be perfect for Japanese gamers, most Westernersproblem with the PSP's screen is that it is a veritable
will find that having a go with the PSP will involve amagnet for smudges and fingerprints. Sony
short learning curve while hunting for a comfortablethoughtfully includes a microfiber cleaning cloth with
grip. Really, though, it's no worse than any handheldthe unit, and believe me, you'll get a lot of use out of
system before it, and there's no denying that Sonyit. If this really bothers you, be aware that for less
designed the PSP with ergonomics in mind. The backthan $5 you can buy a number of PSP 'skins' which
of the PSP has a very subtle curvature on each side,protect the screen from smudges or (gasp!)
creating a natural shallow channel for placing one'sscratches.The second biggest concern about the PSP
fingertips...it's a small detail, but it counts.Sony smartlyhas been the battery life. So far, in my experience,
modeled the PSP's controls on the PS2's Dualshockthe power supply is adequate for what the PSP is...a
controllers, minus two of the front triggers and theportable gaming system. With average use, you
right control stick. Replacing the left stick is an analogshould expect to get between 4-5 hours of use
'nub', which works much better than it sounds. Ratherbetween recharges. I generally use the PSP to while
than tilt on an axis, the nub moves gently in aaway lunch breaks or spare moments in the evening
horizontal direction, giving you the same control as awhen I've got nothing better to do, and I have yet
stick but without the height a stick would require. It'sto encounter a situation when I've been left with a
actually a small bit of genius, and works great infully discharged PSP. If you really expect to put some
action.As you've probably heard, the PSP's main sellingtime into the PSP, you will probably want to get into
point is its' 4.3-inch hi-def screen. While 4.3 inchesthe habit of carrying around the included 5v power
doesn't sound like much on paper, the PSP's screensupply or invest in a secondary power source (Pelican
really must be seen to be appreciated. Both gamescurrently sells a 'power brick' which will recharge your
and feature films look absolutely fantastic, and sincePSP twice on a single charge for a mere $10). Other
the screen is formatted to a 16:9 ratio bothreports, from UMD's ejecting from the unit when its'
applications can be appreciated in full widescreen,twisted, to poorly fabricated 'square' buttons, have
high-definition glory. Watching Spiderman 2 (whichreally been overblown. I'm sure you can find faults
was included in the first million units sold in the US) iswith the system, but overall, it's very well
a remarkable experience; when I first booted it up, Imanufactured and should withstand years of use
laughed at the game store manager and proclaimedprovided you take care of it.A minor issue of mine
'It looks better than my television!'. And sure enough,lies with the UMD movie lineup. While I'm all for
it does. The screen is bright and crisp, and you mayenjoying fan-favorite fare like Hellboy and Kill Bill, I
find yourself picking details out of the image that youwonder if film studios will truly embrace the format.
might not have noticed the first time around.OfWill we ever be able to enjoy Citizen Kane or the
course, movies are one thing, but the PSP is primarilyworks of Jean Cocteau on the PSP? I think not.
a game platform. You wouldn't think so, but gamesConsidering the highly proprietary nature of the UMD
benefit from the PSP's hi-def screen moreso thanformat, I can't imagine the studios taking a risk on
films. Watching something like Wipeout Pure in motionless bankable material for consideration for UMD
is amazing; not only is the image in razor-sharprelease. I suppose those of us who enjoy the
hi-definition, it's also widescreen, allowing a larger viewoccasional foreign or classic film will have to resort to
of the playfield than ever before. Again, you'd think astoring flicks on the Memory Stick. Oh well...least
4.3-inch screen wouldn't capable of very much, but itcommon denominator, I suppose...Film snobbery aside,
just isn't so. Without a doubt, the PSP's screen is onethe PSP is truly a remarkable piece of engineering.
of the greatest single innovations the handheldWhen the PSP's specs were first unveiled a mere
gaming world has ever seen.Powering the PSP is atwo years ago, it was widely believed that Sony's
single 333mhz processor, which may not sound toohandheld system was vaporware in the making, and
impressive up front, but visually, the PSP stacks upthat the final product couldn't possibly deliver.
favorably with it's bigger sibling, the PS2. All theAmazingly, they have. Nearly every point on Sony's
flourishes you've come to expect from the full-sizeambitious list is intact. With numerous hardware and
gaming platforms, sharp textures, lens flares, hi-polysoftware improvements on the way (digital camera
models, can be found on a device roughly the size ofattachments, installed web browser and chat clients,
a scientific calculator. Pick up Ridge Racer, perhapsPSP MMORPG's), Sony has crafted the first true
the most visually impressive title in the PSP's launchchallenger to the handheld gaming throne...and
lineup, and you won't miss the PS2 iterations one bit.suddenly it feels like 1995 all over again.Alex Mayo is
Ditto for the aforementioned Wipeout Pure, whicha graphic designer of Irish/Filipino descent who grew
actually manages to overtake the PS2's Wipeoutup in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised on comic books,
Fusion by a fair mile...and not merely by virtue of it'spunk rock, and grade-B kung fu movies, which
portability. It's actually a better game...if that doesn'texplains his complete and utter inability to deal with
say anything to you about the power of the PSP,real life in a rational manner. He is reasonably
nothing will.The PSP also lends itself to otherwell-educated (if Art school counts), reasonably
applications, such as viewing photos, watching videos,well-read (if graphic novels and the 'Letters to
and playing music. Though these are definitelyHustler...' columns count), and reasonably well-fed (if
secondary uses for the PSP, they are no less goodSliders from White Castle count).Alex currenty
selling points, as the PSP handles them well enough tosupprorts himself as a freelance graphic designer and
be a serious consideration for anyone looking for aas the helmsman in charge of a popular
secondary media display device. In each instance,Asian-American Pop Culture webzine.