AfterDawn: News

PSP goes on sale in the U.S.

Sony's much-anticipated handheld console, PSP (PlayStation Portable) went on sale in the United States today. According to early reports, enthustiasts were queuing outside game stores across the U.S. to get the console that has already proven to be a hit in its origin country, Japan.

However, despite PSP's technical superiority, it has faced stiff competition from Nintendo DS which was launched slightly before the PSP and has been hailed due its dual-screen design and other innovative ideas (whereas PSP's strengths are with the hardware power).



First million units sold in the States will be bundled with Spider-Man 2 movie, released on Sony's proprietary UMD format that PSP uses for its games and other content. In the U.S., PSP costs appx. $250 (appx. €193).

Sony hasn't still decided an exact date for PSP's European release, but according to the company it is still "few months away".

Source: BBC

Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 24 Mar 2005 12:58

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• 57 comments

• ceja_11

  To Freaking Expensive, If the price was set to $140.00 i would get it , But going to wait till it drops down.....

  24.3.2005 13:27 #1

• philipman

  I am going to wait a bit but I will get it when the price goes down.
  

  

  24.3.2005 13:32 #2

• venomX05

  Always have to be breaking people in the pocket when a new system comes out!
  
  ;)
  
  Guess they think we are made out of money.
  

  "WE ARE....VENOM!"
  
  
  2.6Ghz P4 Dell Inspiron 1150
  60Gig HDD
  512 DDR SDRam
  Windows XP Pro
  WD External HDD 80Gig
  Mad Dog External Floppy Drive
  Hitachi DVD/CD Writer
  External CD/DVD

  24.3.2005 14:46 #3

• philipman

  yeah they should have priced it a 150 bucks. I have to get it.
  

  

  24.3.2005 15:00 #4

• venomX05

  That would be good...I have been into alot of console games for like over a year, just playing them here and there and only my fav's, but wondering if I should get a handheld for trips and stuff.
  

  "WE ARE....VENOM!"
  
  
  2.6Ghz P4 Dell Inspiron 1150
  60Gig HDD
  512 DDR SDRam
  Windows XP Pro
  WD External HDD 80Gig
  Mad Dog External Floppy Drive
  Hitachi DVD/CD Writer
  External CD/DVD

  24.3.2005 15:09 #5

• philipman

  I want to get the psp for the abilty to save movies and watch them on it, that would be great for long trips.
  

  

  24.3.2005 15:13 #6

• venomX05

  Yeah today, I JUST found out that it was able to play movies, that and the fact that the Rambo one was coming on it, but I didn't really keep up with it.
  
  It looks cool!
  
  Hopefully Gamestop or EB, has a display model that I can try out.
  
  
  

  "WE ARE....VENOM!"
  
  
  2.6Ghz P4 Dell Inspiron 1150
  60Gig HDD
  512 DDR SDRam
  Windows XP Pro
  WD External HDD 80Gig
  Mad Dog External Floppy Drive
  Hitachi DVD/CD Writer
  External CD/DVD

  24.3.2005 15:29 #7

• nachoguy

  I havent heard much about this, but what i have heard is that it plays games, you can put video files into and watch them, and it can be used as an mp3 player too. Seems like it might be worth the money if you were considering buying an mp3 player anyway.

  24.3.2005 15:52 #8

• philipman

  yeah the fact that you can play movies and listen to music on it is the main reson that I like it better than the ds. The ds is great because of the touch screen but it can't play movies or music.
  

  

  24.3.2005 15:59 #9

• nachoguy

  exactly. i dont even want it as a gaming system. id rather buy it in place of an ipod and have something to play my mp3s and videos on. the gaming is like a bonus.

  24.3.2005 16:03 #10

• philipman

  The games should be great too but the movie part is the coolest.
  

  

  24.3.2005 16:05 #11

• rastasker

  dosnt it have wifi? isnt that the "internet gaming" if so thats pretty bad ass!

  24.3.2005 18:56 #12

• mrman

  yea the psp has a 802.11B wireless modem built right into it so im sure that it will have many possibilities.

  24.3.2005 19:21 #13

• knoxl

  I have the psp and I love it definitely worth the money. I have already loaded mp3 music and photos. Sound is crisp clear I like it better than ipod. Game graphics are great. I have NFL Streets 2 and the WIFI works like a charm. Recommended!!!

  24.3.2005 19:25 #14

• maxxjulie

  how would you play mp3's on it? doesn't it only accept a special mini disc designed specifically for the PSP. It's not like you can burn music and movies and play it on the PSP. I think you have to buy everything that can be played on it. I'm not sure, but I think that's the case as of now.

  24.3.2005 19:26 #15

• knoxl

  mp3, photos and mpeg videos can be downloaded from your pc through usb cable just like ipod which only cost me $5.00 from walmart. I recommend a bigger memory duo stick than 32mb though.

  24.3.2005 19:30 #16

• rastasker

  what exacly is wifi?

  24.3.2005 19:30 #17

• knoxl

  wifi is wireless internet using a hotspot or wireless router like playing ps2 online without the wires.

  24.3.2005 19:33 #18

• rastasker

  Free?

  24.3.2005 19:34 #19

• knoxl

  yes free, just like ps2 online gaming

  24.3.2005 19:36 #20

• rastasker

  thats cool i dont like sony at all i think there products r cool but people r willing to fork over more cash because of the name sony..............but its pretty cool,the price is not worth it ,i might get it when the price goes to were it should be!150.00$

  24.3.2005 19:40 #21

• jawdrop

  i got mime and it is cool.. definitely worth the money spent.. still jaw drop by the screen..
  

  All about Portable Video on PVP, PSP, Smartphone
  http://www.jawdropforum.com
  Check out PSP Video Conversion FAQ
  Check out PVP Comparason Chart

  24.3.2005 19:58 #22

• rastasker

  how good?

  24.3.2005 19:59 #23

• scalper66

  the one think i really think would have boosted it big time if they put a camera on it i mean if cell phones can have a camera in it the psp should have had one

  24.3.2005 23:46 #24

• wonderboy

  I have the PSP and the screen is huge compared to DS, and you can get bigger memorey duo and watch movies, it has so many connections with usb, and wifi someone is bouond to hack the psp real soon. The PSP isn't all that small either but it does come with loads of extras, headphones(ok for freebees), case, wriststrap, plug in remote, and 32mb memoreystick.

  25.3.2005 01:38 #25

• Jauzzi

  I just got it! Damn this thing is hot!! Definitely worth the money. I was also complaining about the price weeks before the release, but this is not what I expected... this is so much cooler! Yesterday I went in my lunch break to Best Buy to get it. I brough it back to work and all my coworkers came around to watch spiderman 2. They just couldn't believe it was just $249. Now everybody wants to get one. I mean.... after you actually see what you got for the money, after you actually hold it in your hands... i just don't have words for it... I just love it... I'm just pissed because the Best Buy I went didn't have all the release titles. So I couldn't get Untold Legeds nor Ridge Racer. I guess I'll stop by Walmart on my lunche break today.

  25.3.2005 03:48 #26

• knoxl

  I Love it. I can transfer my games to pc thats the best thing so I'm going to buy a 1gig memory card today so I can load more music and photos. I do agree it should have a camera but I have a digital cam so I can just transfer pictures instead.

  25.3.2005 04:51 #27

• knoxl

  Ooops on the last post I meant I can transfer GAME SAVES not games.

  25.3.2005 04:53 #28

• bballcj33

  did anyone have any success playin online with thug 2 remix...i know my wifi is working but whenn i connect i dont see any games under the online game list help would be appreciated.

  25.3.2005 08:54 #29

• jrg9662

  Sony has been building great products from tv's,dvd players,recorder's,cameras and the playstation for the last 10+ years. PSP is a complete package. Sony has done it.........AGAIN!

  25.3.2005 09:54 #30

• knoxl

  Response to Bball
  
  Are you using a wireless access point? You have to have one in order to play online.

  25.3.2005 13:01 #31

• rastasker

  how many movies can be stored with only one gig memory stick?? or do the movies go somwere else?

  25.3.2005 20:06 #32

• knoxl

  only mpegs can be stored on memory sticks from you pc....More movies besides spider man 2 will be released on UMD in April starting at $15

  25.3.2005 20:11 #33

• rastasker

  well i can use a p2p client and download the movies then download straght on the psp

  25.3.2005 20:15 #34

• knoxl

  yes as long as its mpeg format

  25.3.2005 20:17 #35

• rastasker

  so i take it mpeg is alot smaller as so it takes up less space?

  25.3.2005 20:31 #36

• knoxl

  yes and less quality

  25.3.2005 20:34 #37

• jawdrop

  if it is not mpeg, you can use conversion tool to convert to MP4 file format.

  25.3.2005 20:42 #38

• troie18

  PSP is great. No doubt about that. But it could've been a lot better.
  Suggestions:
  R2 and L2 has to be added.
  Memory Stick worth 40 GB or if you can plug in a USB cable from the PSP to a Mini Hard Drive worth 250GB. That would be awesome!!!!
  Games are too expensive. $50? comon now. at least make it $20-30.
  I have a 6.1 Surround Sound System and a PS2. I don't travel a lot, so I might wait til it drops down to $150.

  26.3.2005 02:29 #39

• jrg9662

  Wait for $150? Wont happen until xbox2/ps3 have been out for 6 months or so. Maybe this time next year. Movies will be in new UMD format. I dont believe they can be stored on the system.

  26.3.2005 03:06 #40

• sniperg

  just brought psp is awesome

  26.3.2005 05:54 #41

• rastasker

  if some one was to buy it in japan would it equal the same amount as ini america?

  26.3.2005 20:06 #42

• knoxl

  thats dumb

  26.3.2005 20:18 #43

• pcshateme

  anyone know if theres any talk of recordable umd media? cause a 128mb memory card aint gonna cut it for movies (i know theres a 1gig but its like $150)

  27.3.2005 04:47 #44

• Caboman

  people are complaining it has dead pixels!!!!!!
  

  

  27.3.2005 07:26 #45

• KingPep

  For the People Complaining about not having a Camera built in, I read that $ony are Designing a EYETOY Cam, the same as the 1 on PS2, to use on the PSP,
  Well that will be very Cool, see the Other person on there PSP, & Hear them as well, i should Imagine!!!!
  Can't wait for the PSP in England, Will be Buying 1, thats for sure!!!!

  27.3.2005 10:32 #46

• knoxl

  any dead pixels sony will replace it but some arent noticeable anyway

  27.3.2005 14:03 #47

• williej

  I got one from Wal-Mart ... the value pack ... put it on layaway though as an investment. I should be getting it out soon ... can't wait ...

  27.3.2005 18:03 #48

• philipman

  Geting mine by the end of the week with a 1gb card so I can save music and movies to it.
  

  memorex is the best!
  

  27.3.2005 18:25 #49

• killa85rz

  u buch of luckey bastards. i have to wait till late 2005 like so maney othere psp fans in australia.

  27.3.2005 23:12 #50

• wonderboy

  Look for the one gig memory on pricegrabber found it for like 123.99 not too bad but hey. as for how many movies you can fit on a 1 gig about 2 movies. anyone wanting to convert video should definately get PSP9 video encoder. lots of files can be converted but watch out for those nasty WMV files.

  28.3.2005 03:04 #51

• pcshateme

  well for a college student working for a little over minimum wage a $150 memory cards pretty pricey when you consider i have to spend $250 on a system and another $40 on a game
  
  thats $540!

  28.3.2005 06:02 #52

• pcshateme

  i mean 440- still expencive

  28.3.2005 06:03 #53

• rederived

  Just for all your info, movies can be converted to mp4 format and played from a memory stick. It's not a tough process.

  30.3.2005 06:39 #54

• pcshateme

  theres a program called 3gp converter that does the conversions quickly but if you want decent quality video its about 3.5 megs a minute, thats alot consindering how much the cards are and the limited capacity they have.

  30.3.2005 08:20 #55

• pcshateme

  if you use 384k video and 96k audio you can only store 36 minutes of video on a 128mb card

  30.3.2005 08:23 #56

• grundle

  PLEASE PLEASE HELP i am in the UK and am going away for a few months to india and looking to get a PSP i know there not out in the UK but will the PSP have regionalised games (like all consoles) ie so usa games wont work on a UK machine and vice versa or is the PSP one international forgot as i was considering getting a USA PSP online... please help!!
  

  Grant

  5.4.2005 14:01 #57