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Hardware Sony Announces Availability of PSP-2000
Marcus Yam (Blog) - September 5, 2007 3:19 PM
Print 24 comment(s) - last by robinthakur.. on Sep 7 at 4:46 AM

Three different colors, three different packages, three different release dates  (Source: SCEA)
Slimmer, lighter PSP launches today -- but only in silver

Sony unveiled at this year’s E3 the second iteration of its PlayStation Portable handheld gaming system. Today, Sony announced the North American availability of the new PSP hardware that is slimmer and lighter than the previous system.

While there have been three different packages the new PSP, all of which wear the model number of PSP-2000, only one of them is launching today. Now available at retailers is the limited-edition Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack priced at $199.99.

Inside the $199 package are the "Ice Silver" colored PSP slim and light system, PSP "Greatest Hits" game Daxter, animated TV comedy, Family Guy – The Freakin' Sweet Collection on UMD and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo.

"PSP sales have soared since we introduced the $169.99 price point in April, and that momentum will only continue with the launch of the newly designed PSP, which has generated strong interest among consumers since we announced it at E3," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "With our growing software library, which includes more than 140 new releases in the pipeline this fiscal year, the PSP platform is poised for significant growth. The Daxter Entertainment Pack offers a great opportunity for consumers to jump in to PlayStation Portable experience with content that demonstrates the multi-functionality of the system, all for a great value."

Also launching alongside the new hardware are several peripherals that take advantage of the updated design, such as the ability to output video from the PSP to a television. 8-feet long component or composite video cables for video out retail for $19.99, while the headphones with remote control run for $29.99.

In addition to the Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack¸ SCEA will offer two additional PSP SKUs at retail at a later date. A PSP Core Pack, with PSP in "Piano Black," an AC adaptor, and battery pack, will be available later in September for $169.99. The limited-edition Star Wars PSP Entertainment Pack, including a special "Ceramic White" PSP with a silk-screened image of Darth Vader on the back of the unit along with the Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron game will be available on October 9 for $199.99.

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Duh! UMD...
By phaxmohdem on 9/5/2007 3:52:07 PM , Rating: 3
Solid State Storage FTW.

I don't own any portable gaming systems, but if I were in the market, I'd probably go for a DS Lite, just based on the game library available, and I prefer solid state carts in portables.

Although I do love the graphics of the PSP, and the screen is wicked sweet looking. UMD is the deal breaker for me though. Seems like it kills batteries more than need be... and moving parts = higher breakage. Don't understand why with flash memory as cheap as it is they went this route.




RE: Duh! UMD...
By Moishe on 9/5/2007 4:02:45 PM , Rating: 1
The only problem I have with the moving parts is that it probably reduces battery life. UMD is essentially a version of MD, which is essentially a tiny CD in a plastic cover. The cover prevents most of the scratching normally seen in optical media and really makes the discs very sturdy. Breakage is not a problem.

Wiki says UMD holds 1.8GB... that's not too bad for a super cheap disc. I would bet that manufacturing a UMD costs a fraction of what similarly sized flash based storage costs.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By FITCamaro on 9/5/2007 5:13:47 PM , Rating: 2
The problem is that compared to formats like Compact Flash, Sony's Memory Stick Pro Duo format is expensive.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By BiuTech on 9/5/2007 6:01:39 PM , Rating: 2
Relatively inexpensive if you ask me:

SanDisk 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo) = $39.99
SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo) = $56.99

And that's just from Newegg.com. I will give you credit, however, that the Sony brand is more expensive although the format itself has become very cheap.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Omega215D on 9/6/2007 1:53:05 AM , Rating: 2
2GB SD = $25
4GB SD = $40

Many card readers and devices use SD so I can share cards among them.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By pugster on 9/6/2007 10:27:26 AM , Rating: 2
Memory card manufactures pay little royalities for creating memory SD cards. Whereas they have to pay royalities for making every memory stick they sell. It is the same as those xD memory cards. That's why SD and compactflash are so widely accepted.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By otispunkmeyer on 9/6/2007 8:04:17 AM , Rating: 2
also dont forget the Mini-Disc format had been around some 10 ish years before the PSP came along.

i was shocked that MD was actually that old, heh i wondered why my last MD player was labled as the 10th anniversary edition.

after that they moved to Hi-MD, high density disks, those 1.8gigs you are on about.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Melted Rabbit on 9/5/2007 4:34:34 PM , Rating: 2
The last time I checked the DS uses Mask ROM chips and consequently are actually relatively expensive to manufacture.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By PrimarchLion on 9/5/2007 4:39:36 PM , Rating: 2
I'd pay an extra $5, maybe $10 per game to get them on flash, but thats just me and I don't own a PSP so I guess I'm lying.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Moose1309 on 9/5/2007 5:21:59 PM , Rating: 2
Why would you rather have flash than standard ROMs? You would pay more for a cheaper technology? That doesn't make sense to me. It seems to me it's a little too easy to erase flash :) I do agree that solid state is preferable though, especially in a mobile device.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Goty on 9/5/2007 6:41:12 PM , Rating: 2
The increased UMD Drive cache has helped to improve loading times and cut down on power consumption since the drive does not have to spin constantly. I'd assume that this would help with breakage, also.

I hadn't bought a PSP yet for a number of reasons, also, but the changes to the PSP-2000 might be enough to get me to go out and pick one up.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Aikouka on 9/6/2007 8:15:42 AM , Rating: 2
It should be noted that buying a new "PSP Slim" might actually ruin some of the best non-Sony-intended features of the PSP... and that's what the hacking community has done to the portable machine. Having a standard off-the-shelf PSP compared to having an unlocked PSP is really no contest. You're not format limited to mp4 anymore, you can run emulators to play some of your favorite games (that you own... had to throw the disclaimer in there :P) on the go, you can run games (that you own...) from the memory stick.

I'm not too abreast on the PSP moding scene still as I haven't touched mine in a bit, but I haven't heard anything about the PSP Slim being hacked yet to allow the same bonus functionality that the PSP Fat has.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Goty on 9/6/2007 2:59:53 PM , Rating: 2
RE: Duh! UMD...
By Parhelion69 on 9/6/2007 9:37:08 AM , Rating: 2
Actually, the PSP has more high rated games than the DS, which surprinsingly, has few AAA games coming, the PSP is having better games each year.

I don't have one portable either (I lost my GBA) but I was thinking in buying a DS, cause of all the fuzz, but then I looked at reviews and upcoming games.... and I found it's library extensive, but utterly mediocre, with a few excellent games of course. Right now I'm much more interested in a PSP, specially since you can also play H264 videos, run emulators, etc. But it's biggest weakness its the battery life, I should definitely get the battery pack.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By Assimilator87 on 9/6/2007 10:41:39 AM , Rating: 2
How long is the battery life in your personal experience. A DS or PSP would be a good, cheap device for me to browse the web on the go.


RE: Duh! UMD...
By robinthakur on 9/7/2007 4:46:33 AM , Rating: 2
Are you kidding? The DS has tonnes more AAA games than the PSP I can assure you (I used to own both) Yes the psp can play movies and music, but when I buy a games machine I expect there to be decent games on it. The DS lite is my current portable console as I sold my PSP because nothing decent ever came out for it besides loco roco and tekken and otherwise it just sat attracting dust. There was nothing coming down the pipe either. This is its last gasp, and the fact that the design change is hardly that radical compared to the DS (originally a bit f-ugly) show's that its not the design holding back psp sales, but its shortcomings as a games machine! If you can't emulate other systems, and most owners can't, and there aren't any AAA games what is the point of it?!? Also, its time that somebody apart from Nintendo learned that portable systems have to have longer battery lives if they are going to succeed. Honestly, how many decent systems were hamstrung by this? RIP gamegear, lynx, turbographx, wonderswan. Time to add another name to the tombstone soon perhaps...


Confusion
By PrimarchLion on 9/5/2007 3:53:37 PM , Rating: 2
I don't understand what this sentence means, is this a typo?:

Available for $19.99 are 82. Feet long component or composite video cables video out and headphones with remote control for $29.99.




RE: Confusion
By Moishe on 9/5/2007 3:58:44 PM , Rating: 1
Was thinking the same thing... maybe the cables are 82 feet long for $19.99... :)

Overall, it looks like a nice system and I think the PSP is finally starting to break into a more popular price point.


RE: Confusion
By Verran on 9/5/2007 3:59:23 PM , Rating: 2
My guess:

8.2ft component or composite video out cables are available for $19.99.

Headphones with in-line remote are $29.99.


RE: Confusion
By PrimarchLion on 9/5/2007 4:35:50 PM , Rating: 2
Changed:

8" $20
12" $30

Paying $2.50/inch and they give you the connectors for free, how generous =)


RE: Confusion
By johnsonx on 9/5/2007 4:58:38 PM , Rating: 2
I take it these AV cables aren't for playing the games on a TV, only for the movies?


.
By h0kiez on 9/5/07, Rating: -1
RE: .
By Makaveli on 9/5/2007 7:12:10 PM , Rating: 2
I own a current gen PSP, the extra battery life and more ram is what will make be buy this one and sell my current PSP. I don't really care much for the colours cause my PSP is already modded with face plates and skins.


RE: .
By afkrotch on 9/5/2007 7:14:35 PM , Rating: 2
Wonder what the significant differences are. Maybe replace my old PSP with a new one, as long as battery life makes a big change. Course, not like my old one was a huge battery hog.


"If you look at the last five years, if you look at what major innovations have occurred in computing technology, every single one of them came from AMD. Not a single innovation came from Intel." -- AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in 2007

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