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Specs for Sony PSP Handheld
doctor_no writes "Sony has announced the specs for its upcoming handheld gaming device,
the PSP, at their PlayStation Meeting 2003. Most interesting is that this device promises Playstation 2 level graphics, a compact 1.8GB media, Wireless 802.11, USB 2.0, 7.1 channel Audio, and a
24bit 16x9 screen TFT LCD screen. Sony has called this device the 'Walkman for the 21st Century', and plans to allow the user to enjoy
movies and music for the device, along with games. Full specs can be found at ZDNet Japan. The PSP will debut at next year's E3."
when this thing was first announced, there were a lot of naysayers, "Nintendo rules the market, and it's going to be hard to beat them." but these were some of the same comments that were being made in 1995 when the PSX was introduced. the specs on these thing are unbelievable.
the reason Sony does as well as it does in the videogame market is because it tries to find out what it's competitor does well, and improves upon it. I'm not saying this is going to be a GBA killer, (price is going to be a big factor) but it looks as if there is finally going to be a viable GBA competitor. (N-Gage eat your heart-out.)
but as we all know, it all comes down to software. personally, I'd love to be able to play Vice-City whenever and wherever I want.
Mike
....you'll have to rebuy all your PS2 games you know and love, even though they'll be exactly the same on this.
Would it have been possible to make something that can take PS2 discs? I remember that portable PSX that guy made, it didn't seem too bad. Another idea would be to make a discman-like device you put in your pocket but it has a cable running to a screen/control pad thing. I saw a portable DVD player made by Sony at the Metreon last year based on that idea (although it was just a screen, no control pad).
I belong to the ______ generation.
... 7.1 channel Audio
Why?
It's a HANDHELD!!!
I can just imagine the proprietary headphone now... it's a wrap around band for your whole head, with a subwoofer on top.
Oh and the name... PSP?
I hate to say that this guy is already using the name....
Oh and in case I haven't karma whored enough?
Here's pics of the presentation
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
Walkmans were around US$400 when first released.
sony needs -games- to compete with nintendo in the portable market.
whereas nintendo basically rolled over and gave up in the console market; the gameboy has fought off hoards of similarly impressive technical specifications.
sony needs a solid price, a solid lineup, and a good darn screen (properly lit the first time would be nice).
nice specs - but how about we hear a list of developers and games planned for the psp? or even the dimensions of the screen, or the battery life/recharge time?
after that 98% dip in revenue last quarter, it'll be interesting to see where sony puts its continued marketing force.
// "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
That's quite some time for Nintendo to get serious with its Gameboy.
How often are GBAs dropped? Alot.
How often are GBAs given to young kids? Most of the time they are.
How often do young kids take care of thier stuff? Consider that I NEVER give my GBA to a young kid, and I cringe as I hand them a PS2 contoller...
Take this device that has a rotating optical media. Take it for a drop. Is the head still going to be aligned? If yes, repeat 200 times. You just simulated a weeks worth of use. Also, what parent is going to buy thier kids this thing? That's like sending your kid to school with a laptop.
PS2 quality graphics are nice, but when they're applied to such a tiny screen, who's going to be able to read anything?
Battery life? Consider that the day they release this thing is the day that Duracell and Energizer's stock split 3 times in one day.
I think they're missing the market.
If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard
I agree that this device is getting enourmous featurewise. I wonder if this is truely a handheld device as the media (and headline) says, or if its simply a portable ps2 just like the psOne, as the PlayStation Portable title suggests.
Given that, the psOne had a negligiable impact on the sales of the GBC or GBA. Very few people bought the psOne for its portability. But perhaps Sony is amending the mistakes that made this so by including a fliptop screen that was a popular bundle with the psOne.
I Browse at +4 Flamebait
Open Source Sysadmin
Just like the SUV doesn't compete in the same market as "trucks" or "station wagons," the SUV created it's own market. And unlike the in the car industry, the PSP and GBA will not be chasing the same dollars nearly as much.
In fact, there may instead be three classes here as the NGage seems to lie somewhere between the GBA and the PSP in terms of cost and capabilities.
Well, congratulations. You named one product in Sony's vast array of electronic innovation that has failed you; where I can tell you that I operated my PSX on the abusive environment of an aircraft carrier where it was played 24/7 (by day and night shifts), moved and manhandled on a regular basis without failing once in my ownership of the console.
Beyond your issues with that one product, I have to say that most of their electronics lines are very well made, from experience no less. I've owned at least three of their portable audio products and an array of headphones and the only times any of them have ever failed me was after I abused them in some extreme way (dropped from height onto a steel deck for instance). Sony isn't the only portable audio hardware I buy (price factors in), but it is on the short list of consideration.
Sorry, but Sony does produce great hardware in most cases. You seem to have run into problems, but considering the PSX and PS2 have been the best selling consoles world wide for over a decade now should clue you in to the fact they must be doing something right. A lot of something as a matter of fact.
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