PCWorld.com - We Test Drive Sony's PSP With the launch of Sony's PSP (PlayStation Portable) on Sunday, we finally have a chance to put the device through its paces. While it will be some time before all of its features are given a thorough testing and its quirks identified, my initial reaction is positive.

Everything about the PSP indicates quality, solid manufacturing, and a value far beyond its $200 retail price. Analysts have speculated that Sony is losing several hundred dollars on each machine, something that Nintendo has said it is not doing with its recently launched $150 DS (Dual Screen) handheld device.

Even the packaging of the PSP is well designed. An inner cardboard assembly holds the power adapter and cables in separate compartments and unfolds, the way any good present should, to reveal the treasure inside.

Music, Movies, and More
The system settings have their own menu and there are also main menus for games, movies, audio, and photos. Currently, those last three work only with content stored on a Memory Stick, but Sony plans to release audio and video content on discs at a later date.

Music and video can be stored on the Memory Stick directly or by connecting the PSP to a personal computer and switching the unit to USB mode. The Memory Stick appears as a USB mass storage device and so should work with almost any modern operating system. Windows identified the device as "PSP Type A," which is sure to lead gamers to speculate on what other types of PSP may be coming in the future.

Martyn Williams,
IDG News Service