Deals Now On Sony Psp 3000

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 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 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. As far as glare reduction goes, I did not see that much of a difference over the PSP 2000. Its a given that fingerprints will still be a continued problem 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 add on 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 slide show or singles.

The PSP 3000 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 a 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 accessories, PSP 3000 still brings it on. After all, its 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 are happy with the purchase so far.

The Ratchet & Clank Pack includes the following:

- The PSP 3000 itself in shiny black (a fingerprint magnet)

- 1 GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card

- Ratchet and Clank game (UMD)

- Everyday Shooter game voucher (download)

- National Treasure 2 movie (UMD)

- Manual, promos, registration card, etc.

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 Sara K. Lewis:

This is something that I really recommend getting. It comes with some quality things too.

1. Hard case, For the PSP 3000 its a tight squeeze but still a nice thing to have.

2. Soft case, This is mainly for protecting the PSP not much of a carrying case.

3. Headphones, Just like the ones you would get with an iPod, and they come with a pad that goes on the bud.

4. USB cord thingy, I have found this most useful, This is how I got all of my music, and videos on there, I also used Media Manager to help.

5. Screen guard, just protects the screen from scratches.

6. Car charger, you need the USB cord to use it, but a nice little deal to have for road trips.

7. Wall Charger, Still need the USB cord, I found this the least useful out of all of the products because the PSP already came with one, but a good replacement for a broken one.

For this is really a good deal, I recommend it to anyone who has a PSP

Review by Snoopy:

This accessory pack is not worth the plus shipping I paid. I estimate it to be worth about total, give or take a dollar. Everything in the pack is cheap, with the hard case being the best of the low quality items. The hard case is alright but as one reviewer stated it has a rivet back on the inside bottom of the case which can mar the finish of your PSP. Also the soft cover is too small for the PSP 3000. It might be a better idea to just by a hard cover separately instead of spending this amount on low quality merchandise.

Review by Michael Wang:

Going by the package images I thought the unit was going to be an “off-white” color but it is in fact pearlescent (opalescent) white and under direct lighting or bright indirect lighting it does “sparkle” as the first reviewer stated though I would hardly consider it “glittery” myself and I think it’s a really nice effect.

Under normal indirect lighting conditions it just looks off-white so it’s not like it’s sparkling all the time unless you happen to like playing under bright lights. This color is available in Japan but it’s unique to this package here in the US (unless you import) and I actually much happier with the color of the unit than if it was just a regular white/off-white.

Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines is only a so-so game. Read the reviews if you aren’t sure what to expect. The environments in Bloodlines have been trimmed down a lot compared to the original game (which isn’t surprising given the limitations of the PSP) so the cities don’t feel as “alive” or expansive as in the console game. The controls also suffer because of the lack of a second analog stick on the PSP. Normally in these sorts of 3rd-person 3D games the left analog stick controls your movement and the right analog stick controls your view but on the PSP you have to use the buttons in combination with a trigger button to have full control over your view which is very awkward.

For those that haven’t played either of the console games you might actually enjoy the game play on Bloodlines more than somebody who has since you won’t have experienced those things that wouldn’t fit on the PSP.

The Angels & Demons PSN Voucher code is actually for the DVD-quality version of the movie (720 x 480 resolution, 16:9 anamorphic widescreen) rather than a UMD-quality version (480 x 272) which was a nice surprise. There’s no extras though, so it’s not like the version you can get on DVD. I downloaded it on my PS3 and am watching it on there which is nice but you can copy it to your PSP if you like. *However* the 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo the package comes with is too small to fit the movie as the movie is 2.2 GB in size so you can’t download it from PSN on your PSP or watch it on there unless you have a larger Memory Stick to put it on.

I haven’t tried using the Music Voucher yet so I can’t comment on that part.

Overall I’m very happy with the purchase. I really like the PSP itself. It’s not quite as well put together as my old original PSP (Model 1001) but the screen is nicer and the lighter weight and more RAM are nice too. And the Pearl White color definitely gives a subtle (unless you are always using it under bright lights) but unique look to the unit which I really like.

The “value” of the package, however, isn’t as good as I originally thought it might be. I probably won’t finish Bloodlines as I have a bunch of other games I would rather play first. I bought a Sony 16 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo to go along with this PSP as I wanted to take advantage of the ability now to buy and download games to the MS which was added to PSN to support the PSPgo (I find juggling UMDs a pain and they are slower) so the 2 GB MS isn’t much use to me. So really I paid for the PSP and the movie, and the songs if I ever use that voucher, which if you value the Pearl White PSP the same as the regular Piano Black one isn’t a good deal but it is one if you consider how much it would cost to buy a Pearl White PSP from an import shop.

If you think you will enjoy the game and can make good use of the 2 GB MS then the package is a very good value.

Review by John A. Klaesius:

I’d like to say first off before you buy this, the PSP itself, is SPARKLY white! Its not a flat white, it is a glittery white. Just glad I got it for my wife. So if you have a wife or girlfriend that wants one, then you should get them this one. More then likely she will give you the assassins creed game. Which is win win! My wife loves the PSP, and all the other stuff it comes with! Unfortunately, the PSP wifi doesn’t work with my N wireless router. That is my wife’s only complaint. Other then that, this would make an awesome gift! Everything is already in 1 package!

Review by DWales:

I have just received this Limited Edition Lilac PSP bundle and am extremely happy. Having bought it as a 2nd PSP, it was purchased primarily for the unique color which is a relief considering the lack of colors available in the USA. The Lilac is more purple than pink and also has a deep shimmer. (not matte) NOTE: There is NO logo or Hannah Montana art on the PSP console, it is just plain lilac front and back with separate stickers you can use to decorate your PSP if desired. After playing with it for the day, the lilac color does NOT show the fingerprints the way the black PSP’s do which is very nice. The silver/gray accenting compliments the lilac color without making it TOO young looking which is great for older teens & adult gamers wanting this color. Overall, well done and a worthy color to add to the USA PSP line!

As to the console itself, although it is the same as the other 3000 model PSP’s, my lilac edition has a sturdier UMD door that closes snugly and doesn’t feel loose (unlike my black from the Ratchet & Clank Bundle) Personally I am happier with the quality of the lilac edition over the black I purchased for my daughter a few months back. This console comes with a Hanna Montana game & 2nd UMD with her TV show episodes. Also a 2 GB memory stick and standard black power cord/adapter. I had no trouble setting up my PSP for first use and was gaming within minutes of opening the PSP box. If you’ve been wanting a colored PSP in the USA and like the lilac color, this is worth the price and it is MUCH nicer in person. The color just shimmers. Highly recommended.

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 a few months ago because one of my kids was a fan of the game. The Rock Band bundle followed shortly after. Now, a little girl in the house she needs her own PSP and she gets to keep it for as long as she does well in school. And, like must girls her age, she’s Hannah Montana’s hugest fan. It didn’t really come to a choice between a HM live concert and the purple PSP. It turns out the show was sold out in our area before we had a chance to buy tickets so the HM PSP Entertainment Pack was the logical choice – because it was the only choice.

THE BUNDLE

———-

The bundle costs a few more than the ‘clean’ PSP-3000 but, in our case, the convenience of getting it together with a little game AND a memory card AND a few HM episodes on a second UMD disc justified the extra expense because she REALLY wanted a PSP of her own and she REALLY likes purple – the ‘lilac’ is a pretty good approximation of her favorite color.

The ‘Pack’ includes the following:

- The PSP 3000 itself in black

- 2GB Memory card

- The Hannah Montana: Rock Out The Show game

- A few HM episodes on a separate disc

- Stickers

- Manual, promos, registration card, etc.

Since this is our third 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.

The Rock out the Show game appears to be interesting and fun – lets a girl practice her management skills and develops it develops her sense of rhythm. Our girl just started playing it and the general idea is that Robbie Ray is temporarily gone and HM is fully in charge with managing her ongoing world tour. The player can dress up Hannah, pick the songs, set the stage and so on. Oh, and there are about a dozen songs and Hannah sings while the games are being played. Pretty cool, or so my girl is telling me.

The HM episodes are… just that. She’s watched each one many times already, on a big screen. She didn’t show much interest in replaying them on the tiny PSP but they may come in handy next time we go on a road trip.

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.

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 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 Hanna Montana edition 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 it wasn’t available for purchase when we ordered the HM pack, 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 be depended too much on our memory card’s limitations. Of course, our concerns may not apply to everyone.

MY RATING

———–

For anyone whose girl is a HM fan, this is the perfect bundle. Well… the only bundle. If HM 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 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 a few months ago because one of my kids was a fan of the game. Now, with 2 boys and one girl in the house, one PSP turns out not to be enough. We’re on Hold for the Hannah Montana edition for our little girl but we had no choice but get the Rock Band edition for the one who just turned ‘teen’ last week.

The bundle costs a few more than the ‘clean’ PSP-3000 but, in our case, the convenience of getting it together with the game AND a memory card AND a downloaded movie justified the extra expense because the kid REALLY wanted both the PSP and the game and, if you add up all that you get with the bundle, you come out ahead this way.

The ‘Pack’ includes the following:

- The PSP 3000 itself in black

- 4GB memory card

- The game on a UMD disk

- A downloadable movie voucher

- Manual, promos, registration card, etc.

I couldn’t discuss Rock Band myself because I don’t really play Rock Band and my kid is still practicing so, see Rock Band Unplugged for absolutely EXCELLENT reviews from those who spent some serious time rocking on the PSP (I salute you). And here are the reviews for School of Rock (Widescreen Edition) (for the movie itself not for the PSN download).

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 be using the included 4GB on a camera because we are planning to store a few movies when taking it on the road. Movies take about 0.5GB.

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 or 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 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.

I suspect that additional capabilities exist that I am not aware of yet and we uncover new uses and new features all the time.

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 it wasn’t available for purchase on our kid’s birthday, because the price is a little to high – we have 3 kids – and because, at this time, we would rather keep our games on disks so that they can be easily shared amongst our tribe and won’t be depended too much on our memory card’s limitations. Of course, our concerns may not apply to everyone.

MY RATING

———–

For anyone into Rock Band, this is the perfect bundle. If Rock Band 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 Adron Gardner:

I am not a hard core gamer.

I’ve been through the DS, the Wii and I refuse to buy an Xbox 360 after seeing so many die out in the hands of friends. Gears of War and Halo really never struck me as good enough to pay for a piece of junk that will die after a few months.

My PS3 gets used heavily, sometimes for games, but more often for Blu-Ray in my home theater. When I saw the PSP Go unveiled a few months ago, it sparked some interest. I have an iPhone and I have tons of games for it. However, with some exception – Fieldrunners and a couple shooters – the lack of buttons is frustrating on most games. I really wanted to buy the PSP Go, but then I decided to go with a PSP 3000 to get the best of both worlds; UMD and PSN downloads.

At first, I was skeptical of the Rock Band bundle. I’ve been down the Guitar Hero road and I”m over it. But I actually think the rythm formula plays much better on the PSP then the stupid guitar peripherals. The game is highly addictive, easy to pick up anytime and the formula works perfectly for a portable like the PSP. Moreover, more than the other music games, it reminds me of an old PS2 favorite, Frequency.

Looking at the PSP-3000, I like the XMB and how it is just like the one on my PS3. The 4 gig card is a good starter for downloads. i like the way it feels for the most part. I like the wide screen and even the loading times aren’t that bad for the games I have.

What I don’t like? The damn thing in black is a freaking finger print magnet. I wish they offered the bundle in a different color. The UMD tray feels pretty flimsy. The battery life isn’t as good as a DS. Sometimes the controls, particularly the shoulder buttons, feel awkward. My biggest complaint is the slow nature of downloading movies and games from the PSN. I think the free School of Rock movie took like 3 hours to download on my DSL connection. Sucks.

If you are going to use PSN, just buy whatever you want from the PS3 Playstation store and then transfer it to the PSP.

Though the PSP has been out for some time, I am glad I bought it now. With the 3000 model, I get the best of both worlds of UMD and PSN downloads when I want. I like the design, the size and the games. Overall I can just say, no matter how much more life is left in this thing, I’ll be playing it for awhile. I love my iPHone and some of the games on it are irreplaceable, but I like my PSP more and I am glad I bought it.

Review by B. P. Page:

I have a PSP 3000 and eventually got tired of the stack of UMD cases in the corner of my desk toppling over, so I went out looking for the best possible storage solution. With this case, I found exactly what I was looking for.

This case holds 8 UMD discs and is well-constructed. It is a little smaller than the PSP itself and both sides open using a double-articulated hinge. Perhaps the best part is that the case uses magnets to hold the discs in place and to hold itself closed. No more struggling with latches or practically breaking the disc to get it out of a cheaper case that is a little too snug. This case is simple perfection and I highly recommend it.

Review by CoquiMan:

I have the older psp umd case-built like a little tank but a bit of a pain to snap in or take out the umd’s. This new case is fantastic to me. No where near as bulky & heavy as the old one. I absolutely love the fact that the case holds the umds by magnet. How simple & easy it is now, no more snappin in & rippen out! A total breeze. Holds 8 umds like the old one & both sides open opposite, like an accordion, “u get used to it” I recommend. Nice case for a decent price & easy as pie to use. Go for it & protect your umds!