Sony PlayStation Portable go PSP-N1000

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Performance

While there are some rumors that the PSPgo sports a faster chipset that may offer performance benefits in the future, we didn't notice any discernible differences between our review sample and the PSP-3000 we had on hand. Playing the digital version of Motorstorm: Arctic Edge, the load times were virtually identical on both devices and the games played the same.

Much like the iPhone, the PSP has never been known for offering great battery life. And while the PSPgo seems to perform roughly the same as the PSP 2000 and 3000, it's important to note that the battery isn't user-replaceable, which means you can't just carry around an extra battery to swap in during long road trips or flights. This seems to have been a deliberate move by Sony to combat piracy, as previous PSP models have been exploited via custom battery packs such as Pandora's Battery.

Sony claims a fully charged PSPgo should net you around 3 to 6 hours of gaming time. We were able to squeeze just over 5 hours playing MotorStorm: Arctic Edge with the brightness on the lowest level and the volume at 25 percent. Of course your results may vary depending on your display settings. We were hoping for better battery life--especially considering there are no longer any moving parts--but the PSPgo's battery performance appears to be on par with the 3000's.

On a related note, we noticed that in other PSP models, you can manually check the battery's current status, but we couldn't find the same option in the PSPgo's system settings. Perhaps that feature will arrive with the next firmware upgrade (as noted, our system had system 5.7 firmware even though system 6.0 is the current version for other PSP models).

Accessories
Included with the PSPgo you get an AC adapter, a USB cord, Media Go software, and an instruction manual. Unlike previous models, the PSPgo does not offer a standard mini-USB port. Instead, everything has to be connected via a proprietary port. That includes the AC adapter, the USB cord (the PSPgo charges when connected to a USB port on your PC), and the aforementioned PSPgo AV cable accessories that allow you to view games and videos on a TV screen.

The included Media Go software lets you convert most videos for playback on the PSPgo and can rip audio CDs to the device as well. The software acts as a mediator (think iTunes for an iPod) between your PC and PSPgo. (Plenty of other software--such as Format Factory--is also available to handle the conversion of videos to a PSP-friendly format.)

Conclusion

As we said in the intro, the PSPgo represents a bold move for Sony. In terms of design, this model, which is the sleekest and most pocket-friendly PSP yet, is very appealing, though not without a few downsides. However, its success will largely depend on the software that runs on it and whether Sony is able to get a large number of developers on board to produce inexpensive, compelling games, along with a core staple of AAA titles that fully exploit the PSP's graphics and gameplay advantages (yes, this remains a powerful little system).

Because we've yet to see what Sony will offer as far as PSP Minis or additional non-gaming applications, it's hard to pass final judgment at this time. For now it's safe to say that this is a sexy gaming handheld that's got potential but is overpriced at S$412 (US$292.53). If Sony had launched its PSP franchise with this model we wouldn't be as nitpicky. But as it stands, with the existence of the perfectly good S$299 (US$212.30) PSP-3000, it's really hard to tell people to go run out and buy the PSPgo, which is limited by the number of games it can currently play.

Of course, as Sony works out the transitional kinks, builds out its PSP Minis offerings, and perhaps offers up some interesting apps, we'll update our review accordingly. Make no mistake: The PSPgo is a work in progress. Buy it if it strikes your fancy but realize that it's got some maturing to do. And also be aware that by the time it hits its stride, it will probably cost less--or may even be replaced by a better model.

Tags: Apple iPhone, Screen, Apple iPod, Sony PSPgo, UMD

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