After hours of careful consideration, I succumbed to the temptation to replace my pink PSP Slim (aka 2000) with the new PSP Go (aka N1000) model. I attempted to trade in my 2000 but GameStop wouldn’t take it because it’s a Japanese import, so I will probably sell it on evilBay or Craigslist instead. I actually hate to get rid of it because it’s so pretty, but I just don’t need two PSPs.
So, why the PSP Go and not the PSP 3000? I considered the pretty lilac 3000, but since I am over the age of eight, I really didn’t need all the Hannah Montana crap that comes with it. Also, the system itself is not all that different from the 2000. The PSP Go is a completely different shape and size and uses a substantially different philosophy in terms of functionality (more on that below). Unfortunately it only comes in black and white, at least for now, so I went with white. Like the iPhone, I figure I can get a pink case for it at some point and it will look better with the white behind it.
In terms of look and feel, the PSP Go is a pretty sweet piece of kit. It’s only slightly larger and thicker than my iPhone, and unlike the PSP 2000, it fits easily in a pocket. The Pearl White case is glittery in the sunlight, and less of a smudge-magnet than the Piano Black. The Go screen is about the same size as the 2000, but noticeably brighter and clearer. The slide function to access the controls is smooth and solid, and the buttons are laid out well and easy to use.
Aside from the slider format, the main functional difference between the Go and the older models is the lack of UMD drive. Although this is a benefit in my book (no more carrying around a case full of UMDs), this has been a major source of contention for gamers who have invested a lot of cash in UMD movies and games. It’s not a big issue for me because I had maybe 5 UMD games, and I had no movies because my Japanese PSP 2000 wouldn’t play US-formatted movies. When I bought the Go, I traded in my UMD games (along with some unloved PS2 and Wii games), so it wasn’t a total loss.
Games for the Go are available via download from the Playstation Store only, which is another complaint from gamers. You can download them directly from the console via wireless, or use your PC or PS3 as an intermediary. However, you can’t trade downloaded games in for credit if it turns out you don’t like them, and you can’t rent them to try them out before buying. Currently there is not a huge selection of games available in the PS Store, but there are some good ones, and more are being added. Regular games are about the same price as the UMD games, but some are less and the “PSP Minis” are just a few bucks. The download-only arrangement is similar to Apple’s iTunes model, and although the proprietaryness of it annoys me, IMO it’s worth it to give up the UMD format.
To accomodate all these digital downloads, the PSP Go is equipped with a 16GB hard drive. It will also accept Sony’s Memory Stick Micro for removable memory. The PSP Go has support for Bluetooth, so you can use a Bluetooth headset for Skype or use it to connect with your PC or PS3. It also has buuilt-in Wi-Fi, which I will likely only use for game downloads and system updates. I really have no need to use the very limited browser or RSS reader when I have an iPhone with real Safari.
There’s not much in the box along with the PSP Go – just the combination USB/power cable and the manual, plus a voucher to download Rock Band Unplugged Lite free. There’s a CD containing Media Go, Sony’s iTunes-like media manager, but you’re better off downloading the newest version (free) from the Playstation Network. Media Go is unfortunately not available in Mac format, so I have to use it with my netbook, but it does make managing everything easier. It had been a while since I accessed the Playstation Store, so when I logged in through Media Go it was nice to learn that not only could I re-download the digital games I’d purchased for the PSP 2000, but I also had a $19 credit waiting for me. Downloading Rock Band was as easy as adding the voucher code under “Redeem Codes.”
Connecting to wireless was a bit of a challenge. I tried it in two places, at work and at home. The work network has much more security so it took a bit of finagling to get the right key sequence entered. My home network is not secured, but initially I couldn’t connect at all. After a little internet research (OK, I could RTFM but I didn’t) I learned that the PSP needs wireless-b and my router was configured for wireless-g only. After tweaking those settings on my router it worked fine.
Inside the PSP Go, there are locations already set up for you to add your own music, photos, and video, and it has a bajillion different system color schemes to choose from. In addition to Rock Band, there’s a pre-loaded demo for the new Patapon 2 game and free Skype software. Rock Band comes with 5 songs but you can download more at $1.99 each, and some of them are pretty good. In my next post, I will write more about games and game play on the PSP Go.
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