Portable devices continue to add functionalities with each release. For example, when people compare the original iPhone to the currently available iPhone 3Gs, most would agree that there is a substantial difference. Today, Sony released its PlayStation Portable Go (PSP Go) gaming system, which doesn’t to follow the above logic. In this review, we’ll take a look at the different features of the device and how it functions.
Pros
16GB internal storage: The original PSP had limited internal storage and thus users had to purchase additional memory sticks. Fortunately, for most users, this is no longer a necessity as the PSP Go comes with 16GB of internal storage, which is sufficient for holding a few movies and games.
Cons
Build: The PSP Go is much lighter than the original version. Unfortunately, this lower weight is also accompanied with inferior build quality and almost a cheap plastic-like feel. For a device that costs $250, the build should have been improved on.
Proprietary: The video formats that the PSP Go accepts are still very restricted and are often not compatible with other players outside the Sony ecosystem. Furthermore, the PSP Go uses Memory Stick Micros for additional storage. Unfortunately, other than Sony, no other companies use Memory Stick Micro. SD cards and/or Compact Flash cards would have been a better choice.
Price: The PSP Go costs $249.99. Given that the PS3 costs $299.99 and that other PSP models are under $200, the PSP Go is priced extremely high. For users that prefer casual gaming, devices such as the Apple iPod touch are better options.
Compatibly:The PSP Go does not support UMD discs. Which means that if a user has previously purchased games or movies, they are essentialy useless. Sony does not offer users the ability to download the same content for free or even at a reduced cost. For users looking to purchase new devices, the PSP-3000 is a better option.
Conclusion
The PSP Go is an inferior system in all regards — starting from the build quality to it’s proprietary content and storage mechanism. It is priced higher than the base level iPod touch, the very capable Archos media players, the Nintendo DS and even the original PSP-1000. All three of these devices provide a much better entertainment experience than the PSP Go. Unless Sony drastically offers additional features not found in prior versions of the device and various competing products, the PSP Go will be a hard sell, especially since the device has fewer features than its predecessors.
