The PSP (PlayStation Portable) system is the first truly integrated portable entertainment system designed to handle multiple applications – music, video, photo, Internet, and wireless connectivity, with games as its key feature. The PSP system features an unmatched library of entertainment content, combining more than 135 games and more than 430 feature films, TV programs, and videos on UMD from major studios and record labels, as well as downloadable content from the Internet.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars My first PSP!
My first PSP!I don’t know what everyone is B******* about.I don’t see any scan lines.Hhhhmmmm……fingerprint magnet?YES!The audio isn’t the loudest but works out okay for me.Other than that I am loving the PSP!
3 Stars Not Much Better Than A Nintendo DS
As a portable game system this suffers the same problems as the Nintendo DS regarding dumb games. It offers lots of remakes and ports. The games feel very watered down and with the single analog stick the games don’t give you much control depending on genre. It is however a great portable multimedia platform. Sony makes quality products in that area. I’d rather drag around a laptop than this for everything video game related.
5 Stars Scan lines create NO problem—for me at least
This is amazing. So much better than the 2000. It has gotten some small cosmetic changes (like having curvier edges, oval PS, START, & SELECT buttons, and different logos), which makes it look much better than any other PSP out there. Seriously, if you want a PSP, get this one. Scan lines are hardly noticeable.
1 Star Brighter screen…..wow
I just read threw the improvements this console has over PSP 2000….and it’s a brighter screeen….thats it. Is there any reason for anyone to buy this? It’s a PSP 2000 with a brighter screen. The hundreds of games comment on the PSP is true but good luck finding them, DS has way more better games, not just games made 5-10 years ago just being re-released on PSP. Sony is not a good company anymore anyway, they are worse then Apple for raping their users for every penney. DS/DSI is killing PSP, espessially if all Sony can add to a PSP 2000 is a brighter screen and call it 3000…lame.
5 Stars It comes close to portable gaming perfection
We’ve been a PS3 household ever since the 60GB version came about so, with two pre-teens in the house, we were ripe for a PSP adoption. We actually bought the Ratchet & Clank Pack for a few dollars more because one of my kids was a fan of the game.
The Core Pack includes the following:
- The PSP 3000 itself in shiny black (a fingerprint magnet)
- Manual, promos, registration card, etc.
Given the PSP’s built-in Wi-Fi and its PS3 integration you can do quite a few things out of the box if you have Wi-Fi or a PS3 but, for a better gaming experience you are going to need a memory stick and, of course, some games. Our bundle came with a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card but we are planning to store a few movies when taking it on the road so we ordered an 8GB. Movies take about 0.5GB. We can still use the 1GB that came with the bundle in a camera.
First impressions:
I was surprised of how good and versatile and elegant this little console can be. It has most of the PS3 buttons, including one analog joystick, the display is large and bright, the resolution is good (480×272), and it responds quickly to controls. It appears to be solidly built. Unlike prior models, this one comes with a built-in microphone while the sound output can be either through the internal speakers headphones (not included). After charging the battery, my kid was up and running and happy in no time. But, let me proceed with a more structured discussion.
Stand alone operation (disconnected):
The PSP 3000 will play games or movies delivered on UMD discs or off a Memory Stick card. In addition, it will display photos and play music stored on the Memory card.
Networking and Internet connectivity:
The built-in Wi-Fi allows the PSP 3000 to access the Playstation Netowork and Playstation Store directly. Off the box, there is an Internet browser, a Search (the Internet) function, several Internet Radio applications and the ability to use the PSP as a Skype phone for as long as one has a Skype account and the PSP happens to be within the range of a Wi-Fi hotspot.
PS3 Integration:
After the PSP is paired with the PS3, the PS3 can ‘push’ video, photos, music and even PSP games downloaded from the Playstation Store when connected through a USB wire. When wireless, the PSP can basically take over the PS3 – actually display the PS3′s own screen and display photos stored on the PS3, play music stored on the PS3. Movie play is not supported.
Interestingly, when playing music, it’s possible to play it on the PSP’s on speakers/headphones or have the PS3 play it itself, the PSP therefore acting as a remote control device.
I suspect that additional capabilities exist that I am not aware of yet.
PC integration:
Through a USB connection, the PC will see the PSP’s memory card as an attached drive. This will allow for music, photo or movie files to be transferred directly to the PSP.
Room for improvement:
The PSP 3000 comes very close to being the perfect portable game-playing (and more) machine, at least in the Sony universe. Perfection would be achieved if the ‘keyboard’ interface were improved – it’s awful now – if it had touch screen capabilities and if file transfers from the PS3 were possible wirelessly. Also on the wish list, I hope that there were more legal ‘digital copy’ movies available for the PSP.
Rating:
It’s a 4.5 stars plus, rounded up to 5.