It's No iPod

Mobile video is only part of the PSP’s entertainment offering. It’s also a reasonable music player, although limited by proprietary offerings. Even if you look past the memory standard, music compatibility is just as important. Though audio playback was very limited in the beginning, Sony has made a reasonable effort by adding support for unsecured AAC and WMA files (if you go through the separate WMA activation process) through a myriad firmware updates. Of course, don’t expect to play your copy-protected tracks purchased through online music stores.

Unfortunately, the physical characteristics of the PSP limit its usefulness for on the go listening. "It's just too big to haul around for most daily activities, especially when compared to other dedicated MP3 players," says Peter. "In the car, working out, and traveling, the PSP just doesn't cut as a music player. The interface is cumbersome, and not as intuitive as other devices I've used like the iPod and Rio Karma."

Music capacity is another detriment. Why spend $100 for a 2GB card when a smaller, better, and more portable MP3 player with two to ten times the capacity is only a few dollars more? Peter has over 20 GB of music he wants to bring on the go, and there's just no 20GB Memory Stick out there to make the PSP comparable to higher capacity, smaller devices.

Can Games Save the Day?

The only saving grace left in the PSP is as a game system, but this is another area that the PSP is falling flat. Yes, it is capable of spectacular 3D games in a portable package, and there have been plenty of games that take advantage of the hardware. So why then is the PSP getting hammered by the Nintendo DS in sales and popularity? The hardware does have a little bit to do with it. Like I said above, UMD is a great format for a mobile gaming device, but they should have worked on the speed of the drive a little before releasing it to the market. The load times are painful.

The main reason games don’t do that well is not entirely Sony’s fault. All the power in the PSP is being used, but it’s the developers that aren’t releasing compelling games. "The reason I'm salivating over the DS Lite is because it seems to get all of the creative, unique, and truly entertaining titles, such as the Castlevania series, that the PSP seems to be lacking", says Peter. "I've been looking for a title with true character, that I will play to a point of addiction."

Instead of truly unique and innovative titles, the PSP is plagued with lower quality knock-offs of popular console titles. Sure, you can get games like Splinter Cell to look great on the PSP, but that doesn’t mean the game play translates well to a portable. The PSP has a few hits, like Lumines, which has been available since day one, but there have been few follow up smash hits to make the PSP the “must-have” game system it was touted to be. Peter said it best, "One or two great titles for a $249 portable system just isn't enough for me."

Conclusion

So far, the PSP has been a disappointment for many buyers. For many, it now sits and collects dust; regardless of the fact the PSP is the kitchen sink of mobile devices. It does everything…it just doesn’t do much of it particularly well.

It may still be a bit early to call the PSP completely dead, given that it still has a few years of life left in it, but it would take nothing short of a miracle to rekindle the excitement and interest it used to generate. Offloading many of its entertainment functions to the Mylo allows the PSP to be rejuvinated as a gaming only device, and that's a step in the right direction. However, it's surely a move that will infuriate existing users that expected the PSP to live up to its "all-in-one" promise.

Sony’s proprietary approach to technology design and numerous fumbles has forced the PSP into an awkward position, and it’s unlikely that it will be overcome during its lifecycle. Assuming that's the case, Peter's PSP may stay in storage for quite a long time, maybe indefinitely.

We may just have to see what PSP 2 has to offer, and hope that Sony doesn’t make the same mistakes twice.

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