Deals Now On Psp Slim

Review by J. D. McGyver:

The all new slimmer PSP 3000 comes in with a couple of new upgrades over the 2000 model. Primarily for the Skype functionality, a microphone is onboard along with a reduced glare 4.3″ screen. Its a given that fingerprints will still be a continued issue for the PSP line. Thankfully, the age old problem of ghosting has yet to appear on my new PSP 3000.

One of the sweeter features now is an upgraded (AV) video output support. Owners can now operate their systems with regular (NON HD) TV. I suggest buyers pick up a good composite or component cable. With the usual collection of great games, improved graphics is a major plus.

As with all previous models, control buttons layout are very much like the classic Play Station. One area of concern is that load times for the UMD (Universal Media Disc) seemed to drag a bit. Its a given that purchasing the kit which includes the proprietary MS Duo Card is more cost effective in the end. Its obvious that Sony missed the boat when it went with its own proprietary format instead of the more widely used and less costly SD standard.

Even though Wi-fi capable, the unit is outfitted with possibly the slowest version (802.11b) on the planet. It powers up via a 5 volt ac adapter or USB. Video playback is great as long as you copy your favorites on the memory stick Duo Card. Going any other way is definitely a slow dragged out process. When it comes to television, Sony’s own version of Slingbox allows for free tv viewing.

This PSP won’t get confused with your IPOD anytime soon but music play is generally good. Another added feature is that it will even support music art. If one is going to display photos on the PSP I strongly suggest compressing your files. Photo display can be via slide show or singles.

Of note, the PSP is also a web browser. However, its hit and miss for flash. Streaming internet radio via Shoutcast is a freebie. PSP offers a regular schedule of firmware updates. As with the earlier editions, via a network or the internet the unit can pick up audio, video and photo files that are stored on a PS3. The PSP 3000 comes with the standard 1200 mAh rechargeable battery. Battery life runs almost a full 5 hours whether one is gaming or watching a movie.

Necessary accessories such as the Memory Stick Duo card, protective screen cover, headphones and a carrying case are not included. Not all PSP headphones are compatible with the PSP 3000. When purchasing headphones read the specs carefully.

Even without the included accessories, the PSP 3000 still brings it on. I would definitely recommend this model as a gift or as a personal purchase. After all, it is Play Station.

Review by A. Dent:

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.

Review by VC:

Enough good things have been said about this PSP2001 (aka PSP slim and lite)

Just to emphasize

Pros:

- Top notch screen

- Playing Madden on this and my xbox felt the same

- Extremely easy controls (well built buttons)

- Light weight (won’t feel the weight when playing for long hours)

- Battery hardly used when on sleep mode, I have put this on sleep for days and then continued my game from where I left!

- Well designed

- Video quality is amazing

- Video podcast download over the wireless is a GREAT add-on. I watch CNN highlights on this.

- Updating firmware was easier than eating a muffin !

Cons:

- None that I know of !

- A slight disappointment, if I may, I bought the component cable to connect to my 51″ TV. The video quality of the podcasts was unbelievably clear. Now, I knew that the game won’t use the entire TV screen (for those who don’t know, the game will use about 60-70% of your TV screen). But the quality of the game video was bad, in fact Madden looked terrible on the TV! That is something I did not expect from PSP.

All-in-all, money well spent on the console. I recommend this to anyone, any age, who would like have mobility but still be able to play their Madden etc. as well as get bit more out of the console with video podcast downloads over the air or a music player or a ‘OK’ web browser or location free client or whatever

Review by Nite:

Pros:

+A Very Powerful Handheld Device

+Plays music, movies, and allows you to look at photos

+Browsing online is fun

+A lot of accessories available

+Now has a good library of games

+Easy interface and control

+Very detailed screen and large

Cons:

-Online browsing isn’t that much fun

-Can’t organize a music library and UMDs aren’t all that fun to watch, even on road trips

-The battery life isn’t long lasting

-The screen is easily damaged

When the original PSP launched back in 2005, it eventually became subjected to heavy criticism. Not necessarily the console itself, but mostly that much of what it did, people didn’t see the use for in a handheld system, and the fact that its library of games wasn’t incredible. Nevertheless, the PSP has still shown itself to be a powerhouse of a console.

First and foremost, this review is not here to talk about the Nintendo DS. If you would like a review or comparison to the Nintendo DS, I highly suggest you look for reviews under the Nintendo DS or use the forums. Most people on the amazon community will be very helpful in helping you decide on which handheld is the best for you.

The new PSP is much better than the original. It’s slimmer, lighter, and a slightly bigger screen that actually makes some of the picture look a bit more crisp. Some games also run a little faster, and that more than helps the PSP out.

What the PSP has best been known for (and criticized the most for) is being a handheld entertainment center. It can do more than just play games. It can play music, go online, play movies, and you can look at photos. This is all built into the system and doesn’t require you to purchase any extra peripherals to use. While these are all good and well, they come with slight hitches. You can’t organize a playlist when it comes to the music, and while going online is great, it’s pretty sluggish when you have to input addresses and such via a keypad function similar to that of a cell phone. Movies are great too, but a UMD on the PSP’s small screen isn’t enough to replace a DVD or Blu-Ray disc.

Luckily, however, the PSP isn’t a home entertainment center and is a gaming console. In that respect it gets the job done. The Slim PSP works because the interface is very user friendly. You can select several things from the main menu to do. Whether it be to play music, browse photos or just start a game. When playing a game you can return to the home menu at any time. The system even sleeps if you suddenly have to put it down. The UMDs are also a great gaming format. There’s plenty of space, which makes some games live up to their potential in length, and also pushes how powerful the PSP is. In terms of graphics, it’s like walking around with a Playstation 2 in your pocket.

The PSP does suffer from a couple of setbacks. The battery is still pretty short in length. It lasts much longer in the slim PSP than the original, but it still isn’t that long lasting. At least you can always check how much battery is left, and when it gets low it’ll let you know. Even better for the PSP is that even if the battery dies in the middle of a game, you can just charge it and resume right from where you left off since the console will merely go to sleep.

The other setback with the PSP is that the screen can be damaged pretty easily. In order to protect it you’ll need to spend more money on accessories such as a case to protect it. It’s also not the most durable system you can buy. You have to be a bit more delicate with it because it’s a bit more fragile than most other consoles out there. Luckily, most of you probably won’t drop it purposefully, but in case a parent is looking at giving it to a child, you may want to watch to make sure they don’t drop it on a concrete or hard surface.

For a couple of years, the PSP has suffered the most from having a fairly tight library. Most of its more notable games were either ported from the Playstation 2 or ported TO the Playstation 2. With the PS2 no longer being the focal point, it has certainly allowed the PSP to grow much more. We’re now seeing much better games and much more expanded games. The library is still fairly short on fantastic games, but at least now it’s growing as a gaming system. If you’re interested in a PSP, now is not a bad time to grab one as there are better games being released and it’s been built to last.

The PSP is a good handheld device. With a volley of games to choose from all across the spectrum, the PSP really does serve as a good gaming choice for everyone.

Review by C. Perry:

Ok, so I just got a PSP3000 and needed some good protection. I am an adult with medium size men’s hands, and, although I like that the PSP is small, I find it’s almost too small for playing pleasure. In fact, when I first got the PSP3000, I was jammin’ to God of War, side-steppin’ and slashin’ baddies with Kratos’ blades when the PSP almost flipped out of my hands! Because the PSP Slim (2000 or 3000) has such a small form factor, if you have medium to large hands, you should definitely consider getting the Logitech case. The case is a clam shell design that fully protects the PSP from front to back and allows access for you to play the PSP while it rests within the case, therefore giving it a little more bulk for those of us adult PSP users. The upper part of the clam shell also folds back and doubles as a stand if you want to set your PSP on a table to play. Also, the case includes a template that you can use to cut out pictures, illustrations or just about anything you want and use as “wallpaper” inside the case. I’m a grown man and I didn’t think I’d ever avail myself of this little feature, but lo and behold I’ve now got a nice little human skull illustration on my Logitech case that I downloaded for free from the Playgear Pocket Skins website. Lastly, the Logitech case is also very, very reasonably priced. That’s my two cents. . .

Review by Troy Minassian:

When I ordered this on Amazon, I was hoping that it wouldn’t be some sloppy redesign of the original PSP case. Well I am happy to say that this case lives up to the quality that was present in other Logitech cases from the other generations.

All of the ports have ample access room, except for the USB port on the top that requires for the PSP to be removed. Hard plastic covers the PSP from head to toe and the rubber fitment in the case cradles the PSP with no wiggle room. Logitech also sends out stencils with the case, allowing you to slip in any piece of artwork that you desire so that it is visible from the outside. The hinges are strong and they will hold the cover at whatever angle you like. When the cover is opened all the way, it acts as a stand that lets your PSP stand at a 45% angle that is good for displaying the console. The bottom of the case is also a neat little feature that exposes the “PSP” logo ring on the back of the PSP. Since I have the God of War: Red PSP, the combination of black and red go really well together.

Overall, this is a great PSP case that not only protects the PSP, but makes sure that all of your essentials are accommodated. You could definitely take this on the road with you without hesitation and I recommend it to anyone who is willing to invest in the protection of their PSP.

Review by Apprentice:

So this is the 3rd iteration for the Playstation Portable.

I’ve personally experienced the first 2, selling my original PSP Phat for the PSP Slim (2000).

I’ve done the same again and sold my slim and bought the 3000.

The improvements over the PSP 2000, are a improved LCD screen which I must say is pretty improved, and a built in Microphone. (Finally I can make use of the skype feature as well as chat online in psp games.)

So is this a justifiable upgrade? For the improvements not really.

But if you’re in the market for a PSP right now… The PSP 3000 is an ideal step into the PSP World.

Also following up the PSP 3000′s launch is the Firmware 5.00 which brings Playstation Store (found on PS3) to the PSP.

But this firmware will be hitting all iterations of PSP.

So…Great purchase for me…Hope all of you here on Amazon do the same

Review by Jeffrey Bergkamp:

The first thing I would like to say is that the scan lines are not nearly as big of an issue as others make them out to be. I have only noticed them slightly, and they are completely overlooked when comparing the overall quality of this new screen. It is brighter, has a higher contrast ratio to display more vivid colors, and ghosting is no more.

The included games Ratchet and Clank and Echochrome are both terrific in their own respect, but I have to hand it to Echochrome. It is a brilliantly done puzzle game that is as beautifully presented as it is mind-bending.

I highly recommend this unit if you have a PS3 because of the remote play capabilities. Being able to stream video, music, and pictures wirelessly is a dream. And now Sony is offering their Media Manager as a free download it is a breeze to add your own music and media right to the 1gb memory stick provided.

The best part about owning a PSP is that most games that you really want are now around , so you can beef up your library for cheap.

All in all I love the PSP 3000, do not let the worries of the scan lines scare you away.

Review by A. Dent:

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 some time ago because one of my kids was a fan of the game. The Hannah Montana bundle followed shortly after because our 6 yr. old was Hannah Montana’s biggest fun. But we have 2 boys and junior maxed out on the GT Prologue on the PS3 and he ‘lost’ the 3000 we got him a few months ago at school so… here comes the PSP 3000 GT pack.

THE BUNDLE

———-

The bundle costs a little more than the ‘clean’ PSP-3000 but, in our case, the convenience of getting it together with a great game AND a memory card AND all the other freebies justified the extra expense.

The ‘Pack’ includes the following:

- The PSP 3000 itself in silver

- 2GB Memory card

- Gran Turismo, of course – click on the link for the game’s reviews

- A voucher for The Italian Job (not exactly a hit movie)

- More vouchers for a car and a few downloaded songs

- Manual, promos, registration card, etc.

Since this is not our first PSP-3000, it was up and running within minutes but, trying to be objective, someone new to the PSP environment should be able to have it running with basic functions pretty quickly – half an hour to a couple of hours.

Note:

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 we ordered a 16GB memory stick and will probably be using the included 2GB to archive photos – will hold over 1000 – because we are planning to store a few movies when taking it on the road. Movies take about 0.5GB each and we just downloaded the digital copy that came with the Blu-ray 1998 Godzilla. The Italian Job… maybe we can find a buyer for it

FIRST PSP 3000 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 for the screen size (480×272), and it responds quickly to controls. It appears to be solidly built. Unlike prior models, the 3000 comes with a built-in microphone while the sound output can be either through the internal speakers or headphones (not included). After charging the battery, my kid was up and running and happy in no time. It’s worth noting that the silver finish is more forgiving than the regular piano black PSPs when it comes to fingerprints. But, let me proceed with a more structured discussion.

STAND-ALONE OPERATION (DISCONNECTED)

—————————————-

Once charged, the PSP 3000 will play games or movies delivered on UMDs 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. Amazingly, you can access your PS3 remotely from anywhere in the Universe for as long as your PSP can access the Net via Wi-Fi.

When playing music, it’s possible to play it on the PSP’s own speakers/headphones or have the PS3 play it itself, the PSP therefore acting as a remote control device.

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. And Bluetooth.

PSP 3000 vs. PSP GO

———————

The question begs itself: how about a PSP Go? Well, in our case, the Go was out of the question because the Go price is a little to high – we have 3 kids – and we would rather keep our games on disks so that they can be easily shared amongst our tribe and won’t depend too much on our memory card’s limitations. In addition, we buy quite a few games on impulse and end up selling them a few days later because the kids don’t like them so we like the ability to sell our games and to buy games ‘used’. Not to mention the ability to trade games with other kids. Of course, our concerns may not apply to everyone.

MY RATING

———–

For anyone who happens to be a Grand Turismo fan, this is the perfect bundle. Well… the only bundle. If GT is not your game, then you are probably better off with a ‘clean’ PSP and then get your own memory card, games, movies, etc.

For what you get, it’s a 4.5 stars plus, rounded up to 5.

________________________

Note:

It would be almost sinful not to protect your new PSP. We use PSP Logitech PlayGear Pocket – Slim. It doesn’t have compartments to store UMDs or memory cards but it does wrap around your 3000 like a glove and, in my view, it provides the best protection.

Review by Jeremy Reaban:

Well, first of all, don’t pay more than 0 for this. I guess it’s out of stock in many places, and so now only the gougers have them left.

It’s a decent starter bundle, but the main reason I got it was to get the PSP-3000 in silver. The shiny black ones are too fingerprint prone (I had a 2000 that way, anyway). But the silver one just looks nice and remains fingerprint free.

I actually was hoping to get a recently built one, but apparently these must have been left over for a while, because it shipped with firmware 4 something, which is about a year and a half old. I was hoping newer models would have fixed some of the problems with early PSP 3000 screens (lines through them), but nope, the lines are pretty obvious. My first one (since returned) also had dead pixels.

So if you want a silver PSP-3000, you really gain nothing by picking this pack over the others.

Anyway, for serious PSP ownership, it’s a bit lacking as a bundle. Gran Turismo for the PSP is a major disappointment. No career mode, no tuning of cars (except for drift races), glitchy graphics. It’s not terrible, but I’m sure the game will soon be discounted to .

The included memory card, 2 gigabytes, isn’t big enough to do anything with. Installing the Gran Turismo to it (which is basically a must, due to bad programming) will take up half of it. Much of the point of getting the PSP is taking advantage of Sony’s new downloadable game push.

The rest of the bundle isn’t worth much – a download of a bad movie, and 10 downloads from Sony’s music store. Unless you like Michael Jackson, a smattering of classic rock, or old Jazz, there’s simply not much. I couldn’t find a single song I wanted that I didn’t already have.

Review by H Hobby:

I got this case for my husband’s psp. The psp fits great and the outer rubber shell of the case seems quite durable. However, if you look at the picture, you’ll see a carabiner looped through a little strap on the case. That strap is held in place by a large rivet that’s punched through the case and sits in the corner of the area the PSP should sit. This means that any time the PSP is in the case, that rivet is wearing on the PSP, potentially scratching, or otherwise ruining, the finish on the back of the system. If you buy this, be prepared to line the bottom with some heavy cloth or something to take the rivet out of the equation. That being said, this case is excellent for protecting and carrying a PSP. The designers just need to make an adjustment.

Review by Hadi Rahhal:

It can carry 2 UMD discs and the earphones with the remote wire including the PSP comfortably.

And the quality is excellent

Review by :

The PSP has a significant amount of features… you probably know that. So I’ll cut to the important parts. The PSP is an excellent gaming machine. It’s look and design is very nice, sharp, and sleek. The large plasma-like screen and the PSP engine manage to bring us vivid, sharp, PS2 like graphics. And as I said before, there are multimedia capabilities, however they are not pushed to their full potential. To store snything you will need a memory stick duo. Although the prices have dropped they are still expensive, especially if you want a large sized memory stick. UMD movies are also expensive, so don’t buy this for movies alone. Here is how I rate it:

Graphics: 10/10

The graphics are absolutely mind blowing. For a handheld system, it doen’t get any better than this. The frame rate of most games is excellent, and sharp, sleek character models are plenty in every game.

Design: 8.5/10

The look and the design of the PSP is great, however the absence of a second analogue stick makes SOME games are a LITTLE hard to play. However PSP games manage some other kind of control, so this isn’t a big downside. Also, screen protecters are a must. The PSP is very, very susceptible to smudges and scratches.

Games: 9/10

Finally, some good games come out for the PSP. The games look and play great. These games include ACE COMBAT, DAXTER, TEKKEN, GTA: LIBERTY CITY STORIES, GTA: VICE CITY STORIES, MEDAL OF HONOR, SYPHON FILTER, CALL OF DUTY, NEED FOR SPEED, LOCOROCO, KILLZONE, BURNOUT, RIDGE RACER, ATV, METAL GEAR SOLID, and many, many more. Of course, there should be no comparing the PSP and NDS beacuse they both have PROS and CONS.

Features: 8/10

Video, music, photos all courtesy of an expensive memory stick. But it’s worth it. However, it’s a little tricky getting video onto the unit, you have to convert it into some kind of format so the PSP can read it.

Pros.

Great games

Great graphics

A sleek design

A big screen

Music, photos, videos, games, a multimedia powerhouse!

Cons.

No second analogue stick

Low battery life

Hard to get videos onto the unit

No built in memory

Expensive memory sticks

Overall: 8.5/10

The PSP is an excellent leap for handheld devices, however the PSP does have it’s fair share of shortcomings.

Review by Juan C. Ayala:

I commute into work every morning on the light rail in Portland Oregon. I bought myself a PSP earlier this past spring with the intension of watching my TiVo on it while I’m on the train. So every night, I let the TiVo download to my PC and it’s kind of like a PSPcasting.

All of my Season Pass shows like Lost, My name is Earl, ER, Desperate Housewives, Numbers and all of my favorite shows I don’t have time for I’m now watching on my PSP. I have a 2 gig memory card that is automatically loaded with my tv programs while I’m asleep and when I wake up in the morning I just pick up my PSP from the dock and go.

I also play video games on it, its great for that too. But I’m watching way more TV on it then playing games.

With out a doubt this is my favorite toy that I’ve purchase all year long, although it only half over, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing anything else that comes close to how much I enjoy this thing.

Review by J. Noriega:

NOTE: The Rachet game, the family guy collection and the memory stick only come with the 199.99 bundle. The 169.99 PSP Black Slim does not come with these items.

The new PSP is 19% thinner and 30% lighter. Should definitely notice the difference as soon as its in your hands. Here are the pros and cons

Pros:

+ Video Out to your TV. Watch your UMD movies and Games on your screen. This is the perhaps the best feature of any handheld.

+ Much lighter, feels really good in your hands.

+ The D-Pad has been upgrades. Fighting Game Lovers rejoice!

+ The analog nub also feels more responsive.

+ Buttons are raised making them easier to click.

+ The LCD is brighter, has a higher refresh rate and the colors are more vibrant.

+ UMD games load faster.

+ The memory has been doubled in this unit to allow developers to build caches they can then use to make games load much faster.

+ Even games that dont implement caches, load faster due to an automatic new caching done by the system.

+ Ability to eat less battery life.

+ Daxter Game is included! This is one of the best games for the PSP

+ 1Gig memory stick is included.

+ Family Guy freaking sweet collection UMD included.

+ Price. For 0 you are getting a lot. PSP system, a game, family guy compilation, a new color, and memory stick. All for more than PSP slim black. I would definitely recommend getting the bundle.

Cons:

-Yes the packaging is a bit cheap.

-UMD tray may not impress. It feels cheaper.

Hopefully you guys enjoy this little system. It really is a sexy looking thing and with critically acclaimed titles like crush and Jeanne d’arc and other games like Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core, Wipeout Pulse, and God of War over the horizon, you wouldn’t be a true gamer without one. If you like your handheld games at the same quality as your console games then what are you waiting for. pick this up.

Review by C. R. Swanson:

I’d never played with a PSP until yesterday. I’d see a friend of mine playing Lumines when it first came out, but that was about it.

Now I begin to see what I’d been missing.

I bought the PSP Daxter Entertainment Pack – Ice Silver version of the PSP hardware yesterday on something of a whim. I’d heard decent things, read some reviews and thought it might be a good investment. Plus, hey,Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions was out, and I wanted to play that.

I turned out to be a good purchase! The unit itself is very well-designed and comfortable to use. The display screen is incredibly vivid and bright. The interface is nicely designed. I had a few problems getting onto the internet at first, but I managed to resolve those within a few minutes (the little web-browser they have built-in to the software is… ok. Not great, but it gets the job done).

In fact, about the only thing I would have liked that did not come with this system was a USB cable. Fortunately I was able to find one at my local game store and now I can hook this sucker directly up to my computer. Very useful, given that I now am able to play MP3s on my PSP, as well as store photos!

In addition to the system, I also got a one gig memory chip. That’s pretty handy! It also came with Daxter, which I haven’t played too much, but it’s proving fun. It also came with Family Guy – The Freakin Sweet Collection (UMD Mini for PSP). Alone, these items would likely add quite a bit more to the expense, but they came included for only a little more than the system itself (I sold the UMD, however. Why? Well, partly cause I have that same product on DVD and partly cause I just don’t “get” the whole UMD thing. They’re overpriced, have no extras and just aren’t very interesting).

I’ve owned and enjoyed a Nintendo DS Lite Onyx Black, but I gotta say this little system is worlds away. You get video games, internet access, an MP3 player, a movie player (though not my thing, as mentioned), and a picture viewer, all for not too much more than a DS. Nintendo, I love you, but in this case Sony has the best product (don’t hate me!).

The only down-sides I see is that this is not a system for younger kids (what with the UMD discs), and it is a little larger than the DS. It would be nice if it came with a wrist strap, since I’m sure dropping it would have tragic consequences, and as I said before I would’ve liked to have had a USB cable in the box. But still, I’m happy with what I bought and I think you would be, too!