Sony has always been known for being on the cutting edge of entertainment technology. They’ve always developed quality televisions, entertainment systems, surround sound and their Playstation console has kept them on the cutting edge of gaming for over a decade now.

sony psp console photo

You can tell just by looking at it how aesthetically pleasing the PSP is. It’s one of those electronic toys everyone gathers around and oo’s and ah’s about. Resembling an Xbox controller with a screen in between, it just has “fun” written all over it. Weighing just a little more than 1/3 of a pound, this thing is light. It does fall short in one area, however, and that’s size. For what it does, the PSP is amazingly small. With as much power as it has, it should be the size of a laptop. However, it’s just a little too big to comfortably carry in your pocket. Will it fit in a full grown man’s jean pockets? Well, yes, but don’t think that it’s going to be comfortable. This is no smart-phone.

The PSP’s dainty looks aren’t deceiving. It feels fairly delicate. Obviously nobody has had the guts to drop-test their expensive new toy, but judging by the way it looks and feels, it seems like it might not do so well if it were accidentally dropped on a hard surface.

The screen is bright, crisp, and beautiful. It is capable of displaying a broad range of colors, and no matter which direction we pointed it in, it never really looked extremely washed out or distorted like many cheaper LCD screens will. The contrast ratio is good, giving a crisp definition between blacks and whites. Even darker games and movies still look good on the screen. It’s hard to match the contrast of a traditional CRT screen, but when compared to most LCD monitors and televisions on the market, the PSP holds its own.

The controls feel very responsive, just like you would expect from a full size console’s controller. In games, the buttons don’t have a tendency to stick, and won’t leave you with the urge to throw the device across the room due to getting killed when you the game should have registered your kill. You’ve got only yourself to blame for that on the PSP!

Media is inserted into the PSP on optical disks, resembling mini-CDs. These contain games, or movies that have been licensed for sale by Sony. The selection might not be as wide as what you could find on DVD, but this device obviously isn’t large enough to read DVDs, so for what it is you can find a wide assortment of titles.

You can also place videos such as movies or TV shoes on the removable Memory Stick Due card device. The software made by Sony makes transferring data directly to the device easy as well–the PSP has a built in USB port, allowing universal plug-and-play compatibility with any desktop, notebook or even Mac. However, the only bad thing is that this software is not freeware, nor is it included with the PSP. It must be purchased separately for about $25 at the time of writing this review.

Another cool feature is being able to stream live television to the PSP over its Wi-Fi connection. This high-quality toy offered directly by Sony lets you watch a number of channels straight from the device, without having to download anything first. The feed is live and streaming, so you don’t have to worry about filling up your memory capacity.

Speaking of Wi-Fi, you’re probably aware that the PSP offers fully-functional internet access. Its browser isn’t quite as good as the iPhone, and in fact it can seem fairly crude at times, but considering it’s the only actual portable gaming device with full internet access, what can we complain about? It gets the job done.

As for storage, the PSP accepts memory cards. The PSP console now comes in nine different colors.

How Does the PSP Console Compare To It’s Competitors?

While the Playstation Portable isn’t without its fair share of competition (most notably from Nintendo, and in a very different sense the iPod touch), it has a very firm hold on the market for users who are looking for a combined multimedia experience and gaming experience.

The Nintendo DS offers strong competition in the sense of gaming, but the PSP offers an arguably equal gaming experience, with controls that many claim are easier to use, and a slightly larger screen that offers image output that is bright and crisp. Its multimedia experience also trumps the DS, being able to play two to three full-length movies before the battery runs down.

Though the DS also has Wi-Fi connectivity, it is more for playing games over the internet and chatting with friends. The PSP’s full internet access offers another gadget that many love to use.

Now, a more recent competitor is the Apple iPod touch. Though the older versions (and the new “Classic” version) only play music, it seems that MP3 playback was only an afterthought with the Touch. The full touchscreen offers desktop-quality web browsing (through Apple’s Safari browser), and some basic gaming.

The PSP is more of a hard-core gaming console, and from a pure gaming aspect, blows the iPod out of the water. The iPod’s games are more arcade style (similar to internet flash-based games), where as the PSP resembles a full-sized gaming console as far as 3D games go. Still, the iPod remains a worthy competitor, since it can also play back movies, TV shows, music, and for someone who wants to browse the internet, we’ve just got to face the truth: The iPod does it better. But gaming is where the PSP truly shines over any Apple product.

Conclusion

Overall, the PSP has always been, and remains, a great choice for someone looking for exceptional quality gaming on the go. Its media compatibility, excellent battery life, and full internet access over Wi-Fi sets it apart from the copetition. Just don’t expect to carry it around in your pocket all day (not comfortably, anyway), and you won’t be let down.