As you've probably
heard, the PSP's main selling point is its' 4.3-inch hi-def screen.
While 4.3 inches doesn't sound like much on paper, the PSP's screen
really must be seen to be appreciated. Both games and feature films look
absolutely fantastic, and since the screen is formatted to a 16:9 ratio
both applications can be appreciated in full widescreen,
high-definition glory. Watching Spiderman 2 (which was included in the
first million units sold in the US) is a remarkable experience; when I
first booted it up, I laughed at the game store manager and proclaimed
'It looks better than my television!'. And sure enough, it does. The
screen is bright and crisp, and you may find yourself picking details
out of the image that you might not have noticed the first time around.
Of
course, movies are one thing, but the PSP is primarily a game platform.
You wouldn't think so, but games benefit from the PSP's hi-def screen
moreso than films. Watching something like Wipeout Pure in motion is
amazing; not only is the image in razor-sharp hi-definition, it's also
widescreen, allowing a larger view of the playfield than ever before.
Again, you'd think a 4.3-inch screen wouldn't capable of very much, but
it just isn't so. Without a doubt, the PSP's screen is one of the
greatest single innovations the handheld gaming world has ever seen.
Powering
the PSP is a single 333mhz processor, which may not sound too
impressive up front, but visually, the PSP stacks up favorably with it's
bigger sibling, the PS2. All the flourishes you've come to expect from
the full-size gaming platforms, sharp textures, lens flares, hi-poly
models, can be found on a device roughly the size of a scientific
calculator. Pick up Ridge Racer, perhaps the most visually impressive
title in the PSP's launch lineup, and you won't miss the PS2 iterations
one bit. Ditto for the aforementioned Wipeout Pure, which actually
manages to overtake the PS2's Wipeout Fusion by a fair mile...and not
merely by virtue of it's portability. It's actually a better game...if
that doesn't say anything to you about the power of the PSP, nothing
will.
The PSP also lends itself to other applications, such as
viewing photos, watching videos, and playing music. Though these are
definitely secondary uses for the PSP, they are no less good selling
points, as the PSP handles them well enough to be a serious
consideration for anyone looking for a secondary media display device.
In each instance, simply connecting the PSP to your PC with a 5-pin USB
cord will let you drag files from your hard drive onto the PSP's Memory
Stick. Pictures and music are fairly straightforward, while video is
less so, requiring you to convert it to .mp4 format and set up a
separate folder on the Memory Stick.
Picture viewing is a breeze.
The PSP interface is set up in a horizontal hierarchy displaying each
function; you simply navigate left or right to choose the application
and then vertically to choose the source. Selecting 'Pictures' and then
'Memory Stick' will let you browse whatever images you have stored on
your Memory Stick. Since the PSP uses standard Memory Stick Duo format
chips, if you have a digital camera that uses MS Duo sticks, you can
simply slap the stick from your digican into the PSP and browse to your
heart's content. The PSP allows you to zoom in or out and pan the photos
in any direction using the nub.
Music is just as easy...you just
drag your ATRAC (ech!) or .mp3 (yay!) music files onto the Memory Stick,
and then navigate to them the same way you did the photos. One thing
the PSP is not, however, is an iPod...you have to set up folders for
each group of tunes you want, though you can assign tracks to song
groups and play them back at will. That said, the PSP's music playback
functionality is great. The PSP comes with a decent set of earbuds and a
remote extension allowing you to control the PSP's music functions
without having to dig the unit out of your pocket. More importantly, it
sounds great. If you know how to edit .wmu playlists, you can even
assign thumbnail images to the tracks which will appear when you play
back the tune on your PSP.
Videos are the biggest pain in the
arse, mainly because you have to do the most fiddling. Luckily, homebrew
PSP programmers have already jumped to action, and there are already a
number of freeware apps available online which will let you drag 'n drop
video onto your PSP with little or no trouble.
The biggest
drawback to all this media fun is the fact that the PSP ships with a
measly 32mb Memory Stick. By the time you start messing around with
music and video files, you'll be sorely aching for a big 'ole 1GB Memory
Stick.
So okay, I'm sure you're wondering whether or not any of
the horror stories you've heard about the PSP are true. One of the
bigger points of contention that's hounded the PSP is the dreaded 'dead
pixels' issue. Reports have circulated widely that a number of PSP units
have been plagued by 'dead pixels', pixels which are either permanently
light or dark, depending on how they're stuck. My unit does indeed have
a handful of these dreaded dead pixels, but seriously...I think you'd
have to be a real anal-retentive type for it to be considered truly
bothersome. I'm certain that a handful of PSP's have some serious
issues, and Sony has agreed to repair or replace these units at no cost.
However, seeing the problem first-hand, I can honestly say that it
doesn't seem to be that big an issue. In fact, over the last week or so,
some of the 'dead pixels' seem to have disappeared, leaving only two
barely noticeable spots. The other standout problem with the PSP's
screen is that it is a veritable magnet for smudges and fingerprints.
Sony thoughtfully includes a microfiber cleaning cloth with the unit,
and believe me, you'll get a lot of use out of it. If this really
bothers you, be aware that for less than $5 you can buy a number of PSP
'skins' which protect the screen from smudges or (gasp!) scratches.
The
second biggest concern about the PSP has been the battery life. So far,
in my experience, the power supply is adequate for what the PSP is...a
portable gaming system. With average use, you should expect to get
between 4-5 hours of use between recharges. I generally use the PSP to
while away lunch breaks or spare moments in the evening when I've got
nothing better to do, and I have yet to encounter a situation when I've
been left with a fully discharged PSP. If you really expect to put some
time into the PSP, you will probably want to get into the habit of
carrying around the included 5v power supply or invest in a secondary
power source (Pelican currently sells a 'power brick' which will
recharge your PSP twice on a single charge for a mere $10). Other
reports, from UMD's ejecting from the unit when its' twisted, to poorly
fabricated 'square' buttons, have really been overblown. I'm sure you
can find faults with the system, but overall, it's very well
manufactured and should withstand years of use provided you take care of
it.
A minor issue of mine lies with the UMD movie lineup. While
I'm all for enjoying fan-favorite fare like Hellboy and Kill Bill, I
wonder if film studios will truly embrace the format. Will we ever be
able to enjoy Citizen Kane or the works of Jean Cocteau on the PSP? I
think not. Considering the highly proprietary nature of the UMD format, I
can't imagine the studios taking a risk on less bankable material for
consideration for UMD release. I suppose those of us who enjoy the
occasional foreign or classic film will have to resort to storing flicks
on the Memory Stick. Oh well...least common denominator, I suppose...
Film
snobbery aside, the PSP is truly a remarkable piece of engineering.
When the PSP's specs were first unveiled a mere two years ago, it was
widely believed that Sony's handheld system was vaporware in the making,
and that the final product couldn't possibly deliver. Amazingly, they
have. Nearly every point on Sony's ambitious list is intact. With
numerous hardware and software improvements on the way (digital camera
attachments, installed web browser and chat clients, PSP MMORPG's), Sony
has crafted the first true challenger to the handheld gaming
throne...and suddenly it feels like 1995 all over again.
Alex Mayo is a graphic designer of Irish/Filipino descent who
grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised on comic books, punk rock,
and grade-B kung fu movies, which explains his complete and utter
inability to deal with real life in a rational manner. He is reasonably
well-educated (if Art school counts), reasonably well-read (if graphic
novels and the 'Letters to Hustler...' columns count), and reasonably
well-fed (if Sliders from White Castle count).
Alex currenty
supprorts himself as a freelance graphic designer and as the helmsman in
charge of [http://destroy-all-monsters.com] a popular Asian-American
Pop Culture webzine.
