PSP's non-gaming capabilities panned by WSJ

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bottlenut

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It's interesting to see how someone without a vested interest in pushing or diminishing the game features of the PSP critiques it.

The Wall Street Journal, one of America's most revered and trusted names in journalism, has published an online review on Sony's new handheld, and gives it solid marks for gaming -- but little else.

Some excerpts from the PSP review:


"As expected, gaming on the PSP was a lot of fun. Using the device's Wi-Fi capability, which can link game players, Katie and I competed against each other and a third player in an unreleased car racing/combat game called "Twisted Metal: Head On." The images on the screen were three-dimensional and so vividly animated that we almost forgot that we were looking at a portable player's screen. The controls were fast and easy to use.

"But playing or viewing movies, music, photos and home videos was less satisfying because of limitations in the PSP's interface, storage capabilities and ability to work well with PCs.

"Amazingly, the PSP has no hard disk, despite the easy availability of tiny, relatively cheap hard disks that are now used in music players like the iPod and will soon make their way into cellphones. This severely limits the PSP's usefulness for holding and storing personal collections of music, photos and home videos.

"In fact, the only medium that comes with the PSP for storing your music, photos and videos is a puny 32-megabyte Memory Stick, and it must be shared with games, which use it to store scores and saved play. You can buy larger Memory Sticks, but they are expensive.

"Sony doesn't make it easy to use the PSP with a computer. While you can connect the gadget to a PC with a cable or insert the Memory Stick into a reader on a PC, Sony doesn't supply the connecting cable. And, unlike almost any other portable music or video player, the Sony PSP doesn't come with any software to help you automate or synchronize the transfer of music or other files from your computer onto the device. Instead, you must manually drag and drop files from your PC onto the device or its Memory Stick module.

"Despite the PSP's Wi-Fi functionality, the device doesn't yet allow you to browse the Internet, download files wirelessly from a PC, or buy music from Sony's online store or any other. The company says these functions may be added in the future.


"Nor does Sony make it easy for you to transfer videos from your PC onto the PSP. Sony doesn't include software to convert standard Windows video files to the video format PSP requires. You'll have to find and buy or download separate software to do this.

"In addition, the PSP lacks standard "transport controls" -- the familiar Play, Pause, Stop, Forward and Back buttons you find on virtually every other audio and video playback device. Other PSP buttons can be used to substitute for these common controls, but the effect is clumsier than it should be.

"The best non-gaming function is watching prerecorded movies from the UMD discs, but even that wasn't as smooth as it could have been. Katie and I watched parts of "Spider-Man 2" on the PSP, and were impressed by the display's bright, sharp images and wide-screen look. But navigating through the movie wasn't as easy as it would have been with real transport keys. We had to pull up a 19-item onscreen menu to find controls.


"But listening to our music wasn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing. The album art for my MP3s showed up as a tiny icon on the left side of the large screen, which was mostly blank. And, as with the movies, controlling music playback was a bit clumsy. We had to press the triangle button to see an on-screen menu of 15 options before finding pause.

"If you're interested in the PSP specifically for its gaming purposes, as we suspect many users are, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect much else right now."


FOR THE FULL REVIEW, try: http://online.wsj.com/public/articl...-iVNnylcGTC2nGGaAdG4A1n9yopc_20050415,00.html
 
Hopefully firmware upgrades will fix some of the browsing issues they had. I agree the Lack of a cable is mystifying (although at the same time I got like 3 of them) But I fail to understand how "drag and drop" is more complicated than having to start up a program to manage files.
 
reason why this isn't in the print edition and only online because the reviewer has bias.

adding hard drive would make this, what, a $400-500 device?

must be iTunes heavy user--because drag and drop>software anytime, anyday because nobody likes to install bloated crap for something like transferring files

why add more buttons? thank goodness he isn't a designer. and yea, the PSP has a remote with those buttons but rather than destroy the elegance of a gaming machine with unneccesary buttons on the unit, they added it in with a nifty remote with the value pack. maybe he can crack on the ps2 and xbox for not adding "transport buttons" on their controllers too. or is he mad too that they have DVD remotes for music/DVD playback.

when did listening to music have to become aesthetically pleasing? why couldn't he make a comment on the audio quality. isn't that more relevant with music.

and those are just the sample of comments that raised my eyebrows at this pseudo-review
 
And, unlike almost any other portable music or video player, the Sony PSP doesn't come with any software to help you automate or synchronize the transfer of music or other files from your computer onto the device. Instead, you must manually drag and drop files from your PC onto the device or its Memory Stick module.
Click to expand...

Obviously some people don't see the value in not needing software for this. :roll:
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']Obviously some people don't see the value in not needing software for this. :roll:[/QUOTE]
I believe he's basing it on the non computer literate audience. he also probably meant that having a program would provide more capabilities as well. if you think about it, all of the computer connected gadgets do come with software, whether they're the best of the bunch or not, it still comes with something to make it more user friendly.
 
Since we're discussing features and capabilities....

Is anyone else worried about how 1st person shooters are going to play on this thing. Obviously it won't be a problem graphically, but I've only had a chance to briefly play it and the controls don't seem to condusive to playing FPSs.
 
[quote name='Borat']Since we're discussing features and capabilities....

Is anyone else worried about how 1st person shooters are going to play on this thing. Obviously it won't be a problem graphically, but I've only had a chance to briefly play it and the controls don't seem to condusive to playing FPSs.[/QUOTE]

I think it would work fine... youd be fairly limited, but use the 4 right buttons for movement: up, down, strafe left and right. Use the nub for aiming. The triggers could be jumping and firing and the dpad could change weapons/items.

As for the added software... hes a freaking yuppy, they want everything done for them. "I didn't like viewing pictures on the PSP because the hardware wouldn't take the pictures automatically when I thought of something I'd like a picture of"
Shaq-fu that cigarette...
 
He's not very bright. Dragging and dropping is about as easy as it gets. I hate software that does everything-- it takes much longer. And a hard drive would make this thing outrageously expensive. If he said compact flash, I would've agreed.
Seems like he also forgot about the remote controle thingy for movies.
 
Personally, I'd argue that drag and drop is a lot better than iPod's upload procedure. Its annoying that your computer will actually delete files on your iPod just because they aren't in your iTunes folder anymore.

Also as far as first person shooters are concerned, anyone every play Goldeneye or Perfect Dark on N64 with just one analog stick? Its a little different but its not really that bad.
 
[quote name='sononkyo']reason why this isn't in the print edition and only online because the reviewer has bias.

[/QUOTE]


Wrong. This was published on a cover page March 16, 2005; Page D1.
 
I think dragging and droping is SOOOOOOOOOO much easier than having some big overblown software on your computer making the process worse than it has to be. As for the playing movies + MP3 arguments....I think a monkey could figure out the controls sooner or later...it just sounds like he wants to put no effort in.

All of this aside though the one thing that really sucks is the memory format. While I agree a hard drive wouldn't be the way to go the storage option of the memory stick duo sucks. There are just better cheaper options for memory out there. They also come in larger sizes. The thought of forking over $150 or so for a 1 gig memory stick just doesn't seem worth it to me. I think the UMD movies is a good idea but they should sell for about $5 rather than $20. This is really my only complaint.
 
[quote name='jkam']All of this aside though the one thing that really sucks is the memory format. While I agree a hard drive wouldn't be the way to go the storage option of the memory stick duo sucks. There are just better cheaper options for memory out there. They also come in larger sizes. The thought of forking over $150 or so for a 1 gig memory stick just doesn't seem worth it to me. I think the UMD movies is a good idea but they should sell for about $5 rather than $20. This is really my only complaint.[/QUOTE]

Memory stick = created by sony why would they use someone elses memory format when they canfurther the cause of their own? After ending the Clie line of PDAs the only uses left for them were their Digicam and the few random MP3 players that use them. I dont doubt the prices on them will drop soon though the cheaper they are the more people will buy of them for storing movies and game save info...

As for the UMD movies, are they completely without any features like "making of" or are they litterally just "all movie" buecause if they are I wouldnt pay more than 10-15 bucks for one... I may just sit back and wait for used ones to show up for like 7 bucks in EB.
 
I agree with the reviewer that Sony should have included software to make converting video to PSP format easier. I think it sucks that you have to pay $20 for the official Sony software. I know I can get 3rd party software(PSP Video 9) free, but it would have been nice to get it from Sony as part of the $250 "value" pack.
 
You can get the Sony one for free if you google it the right way, someone released a hacked version of the japanese software translated into english and they decided to include a serial number with it. I stubbled across it a month ago.
 
[quote name='Alpha2']Memory stick = created by sony why would they use someone elses memory format when they canfurther the cause of their own? After ending the Clie line of PDAs the only uses left for them were their Digicam and the few random MP3 players that use them. I dont doubt the prices on them will drop soon though the cheaper they are the more people will buy of them for storing movies and game save info...

As for the UMD movies, are they completely without any features like "making of" or are they litterally just "all movie" buecause if they are I wouldnt pay more than 10-15 bucks for one... I may just sit back and wait for used ones to show up for like 7 bucks in EB.[/QUOTE]

Exactly my point....the Sony memory stick has been a big problem all along. Buy their camera use their memory, buy there PDA use their memory, buy an MP3 player use their memory. Then you wonder why Sony's other products have a hard time selling. Why would I buy a Clie when I can get an HP or Dell handheld where I can have a ton more storage at a cheaper price? It's because SONY insists on selling you EVERYTHING under the sun. I'm not saying it would be the best move for them to have a different memory format as they wouldn't make the profits from their memory. I'm saying that we are restricted from a better storage solution because of it.

The UMD of Spider-Man 2 is "All Movie" no extras. It does look really great though. I will probably go the cheap or used option if I buy any.
 
Well if demand went up for Memsticks the price would go down to something more reasonable. The more of them you make the less it costs to make them, the problem is getting people to demand them. To do that you need a high selling application for the tech, The PS3 and PSP would probably fit that bill.... hopefully
 
[quote name='Alpha2']Well if demand went up for Memsticks the price would go down to something more reasonable. The more of them you make the less it costs to make them, the problem is getting people to demand them. To do that you need a high selling application for the tech, The PS3 and PSP would probably fit that bill.... hopefully[/QUOTE]

I don't think the high price is lack of demand... Sony has many products that use Memory Sticks, especially now. A lot of this is that they can just get away with charging more and people will pay it. The super-high price didn't start coming down until third parties were able to start making the product to create some competition between brands of Memory Stick providers. Sandisk makes the Pro DUO as well, but there has still been a premium for the Sony memory products even through the third parties that make them. I guess licensing is coming into play??? I'm hoping that economies of scale will come into play if the DUO is in more demand, but I'm not sure the PSP is that strong of a demand driver right now to really increase overall demand for that type of stick. Not everyone who initially bought the PSP will be trying to buy another memory stick diluting the demand multiplier a little. Maybe when it is more establish with more users who want to use the features other than gaming will we see that (sucks for initial adopters, but that's something I'd expect).

I think the 32MB stick included is a little slap in the face. It definitely reminds me of the 8, 16 and 32 MB cards that come with a lot of cameras. I'd rather them drop the price 10 or 20$ and not include it at all. I guess if all you want to do is save game data, though, 32 MB is probably going to be sufficient and is a good argument to only providing that size. I am definitely in the boat where the Value Pack should be an option not a requirement. At least I got 25$ off the PSP with a coupon making it a little easier to swallow :).
 
Well I did mentione the PS3 which is supposed to have a Memstick slot, I dont think the PSP will do it alone either but it's a device that has a better chance of driving demand than a Digital camera or Video cam because you can easily get other devices that dont use memsticks at all and use cheaper media. Get a couple million more systems into people's hands and they might drop the price because more sticks will be purchased by the higher installed user base (easier to sell at a lower price) there are only a few companies selling memsticks and their licencing fee forces them to stay at or above the price sony could sell for especially if they drop the price.
 
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