PlayStation Portable Value Pack previews

The four major uses of the PSP, in order are: Games, Movies, Photo, MP3. If you want to play near PS2 quality games on-the-go then this is pretty much your only option (unless the Gizzmondo ever hit's NZ).

The reason I say this is because if Photo's and MP3's are an attractive feature of this device you would be better off with something like an IPod Photo 30G. Expanding on this, if you are mainly attracted to Movies, Photo's and MP3 features you should definitely consider the Creative Zen which offer's 7hrs of Video playback and 22Hrs of Music playback and photo support for just under double the cost of PSP (although the Zen only has a 3.8 inch 4:3 display).

Perhaps the main reason you'll be wanting the PSP device for games however is because realistically you would be wanting a minimum of a 2Gb memory stick to get the best from the device, and a 2Gb memory stick costs slightly more than the cost of the PSP itself. Okay, so maybe about $150 dollars more, BUT if you get the 2Gb stick you will be totally setup. With 2Gb you have room for 1 full length movie and enough MP3's to get you through the day.

My rating is heavily slanted against Sony only including a 32mb stick in this package. My rating for the PSP as a piece of technology would be 5 out of 5. IF and WHEN Sony releases writeable UMD's, and in my opinion they will need to, then the PSP will become a must own device. As it stands it's only a must own if you really must play near PS2 games on-the-go.

Editor's Note: This review is based on a PSP unit from overseas.

When I first heard of the PSP, not only I did know what it was, but what it could really do. After purchasing one I was really pleased at what a great system it was.

Menu: The main menu for the PSP is a list of options and tools with animated icons and backgrounds. You use the D-pad to scroll through them, and “O” and “X” to confirm/go back. I found the menu to be user friendly (after a while) and really good with a lot of user control.

Pictures: You can store as many pictures as you can hold on the memory stick (Value pack contains 32mb). Once loaded, you can browse pictures or start a slide show. You have full control over them with rotation, zoom and size. The analog stick can move around the picture really quick or slowly which has to be my favourite feature with pictures.

Music and video have both controls with: Play/Stop/Fdt Fwd/Rewind/etc.

Music: Music is the same with pictures, as many as the MS can hold. Only takes MP3's and some other strange format.

Movies: Movies are a little hard to get working, as you must create the folders they go into on the MS and convert them to an .MP4 (only format the PSP can play). Depending on the compression settings, movies usually take up a lot of space which is really vital. You can change the size of the video to widescreen and standard. The video quality for my movies is very high and is a great feature.

Games: Have not tried yet!

The PSP is a really great system and upon purchase you will not be disappointed. A small amount of computer knowledge is required for some of the features.

Cons: price of memory sticks, speaker volume, battery time and formats for media.

Apart from that, get it!

You would think that this would be the most amazing gadget ever because of the price, but sadly it isn't. After playing my cousins PSP, I have to say i am a little bit disappointed but that doesn't mean that the PSP isnt great.

Let's note its key features. The big 16:9 ratio(that means widescreen) backlit LCD screen. Wi-fi support for some games, one being Wipeout Pure. Wi-fi is internet and to be able to go on the internet, you must be in a hotspot. It plays UMDs which has millions of memory. Rich stereo sound. Four face buttons, analog “disk”, not stick. The disk can be awkward at first but as is with everything, you'll get used to it and a d-pad. There is a memory stick where you store your saved games and you can put music and movies into it so you don't have to buy those expensive UMDs to watch movies.

When you first turn on the PSP, you will come up to a start up screen. Much like the Nintendo DS. Here you input what you want to do, change settings, play a game, view pictures, music or videos stored in your memory card. The PSPs battery last up to 5 hours on the most graphically intense game(Ridge Racer).

The PSP isn't all that bad BUT it is not worth paying $470 for this little gadget. Then you have to buy the games, that equals to even more when you first buy it! So unless you will use every little feature this babe has to offer, you best stay with your PS2, they are the same thing. Hence the name PLAYSTATION portable.

Editor's Note: This review is based on a PSP unit from overseas.

I had some doubts when I first heard of it and after seeing some bad reviews about it, I was really concerned. But all doubts were blown away when I landed my palms on the mighty PSP.

First thing you'll notice about the PSP is its GIGANTIC screen, yes its massive for a portable and its quality is drop dead gorgeous. The graphics are nothing short of a portable miracle from the games I've played (Ridge Racer, Dynasty Warriors and Wipeout Pure). The sound performance on this little gadget is also brilliant, the game sounds are both rich and clear, like nothing you would expect from a handheld.

The controls will fit like a glove to ya if you've been a PS fan. The buttons are layed out the same way as a PS controller but with only 2 shoulder buttons(L&R) it also has a small analogue stick tucked neatly just below the D-pad, and it controls like a dream. Sony really has done well in this department.

Besides playing games, the PSP is also a great multi-media player, you could hook this baby up to your PC and musics, photos and movies are just a few clicks away from being viewd on the PSP, oh and did I mention the HUGE SCREEN? :) Its brilliant. Plus with wireless capability you could connect to the internet or other players.

Overall, the PSP is just one amazing invention. Anything I say just barely describes how wonderful it is, get your hands on one and you'll know what I mean!!!