Tech: Sony PSP Slim Review

When it first debuted here in mid-2005, Sony's PlayStation Portable video game console was a joke. With an asking price of $250 and a dearth of decent games, the thing sold like molasses. Crappy TV spots like these didn't help much:






Now, nearing the end of 2007, Sony is betting on a $80 price drop, a slight redesign of the hardware, and a much better games lineup to entice shoppers this holiday season. Let's see if they were successful...

Out of the box, the PSP has an embarrassment of features. As before, you can play MP3s and MP4 video, as well as view photos. Since the PSP's launch, Sony's added some nice new features, like a web browser, support for WMA, and a nice RSS reader that makes keeping up with your favorite podcasts a snap. All of your media is stored on Memory Stick Duo cards, which have also drastically fallen in price since the PSP launch - now an 8 GB card can be acquired for way under $100.

What gamers are really interested in, naturally, are the games. Again, Sony's managed to attract a much better lineup of games to the system - from Konami franchises like "Metal Gear Solid" and "Castlevania" to Capcom hits like "Street Fighter" and "Mega Man." If you like strategy RPGs, the system literally has a truckload available - good ports of "Disgaea" and "Final Fantasy Tactics," as well as original games like "Jeanne D'Arc" and "Metal Gear Acid."

The new PSP "Slim" isn't a very radical revision. Sony took out the seldom-used IR port, and they reduced the weight of the system by about a third. There's also a TV-out feature, but you'll need a TV that supports progressive scan in order to play PSP games on your TV, and in any case, it's awkward to have your PSP tethered to your TV. It's not worth upgrading if you have the original version of the PSP, but it's a decent revision.

So what's the downside? Why do I still like my DS Lite better? The problems with the PSP have always been more basic than the price or the games...the system just isn't well suited to travel. It's very long (a full inch or so longer than a DS Lite), the battery life is nothing spectacular, and the system's analog nub isn't that great. Granted, these issues are all minor, but they detract from what should be a great portable system.