E3 Video: Sony's New PSP "Lite" Gets Chewbacca Love
It's time for happy news from Sony's quarter, so how about we start with that trimmed down "slimmer and lighter" Playstation Portable that's been rumored for months? As in: 33 percent lighter (189g down from 280g), 19 percent slimmer than the original (18.6mm thick vs. the original's 23mm), and formally introduced at E3 today.
Better still, and adding something I've wanted from the beginning, the new unit will come with a video-out port (S-Video or Component), allowing you to play all those 4.3 inch "squinty" UMD and memory stick movies or pictures languishing on the shelf (yours as well as stores). I don't know exactly how 1.8 GB (dual layer) translates quality wise on an HDTV next to DVDs with 2-3 times as much space (or for that matter, Blu-ray) but the video out option would sure be nice in a pinch when you're carting stuff around to show friends. And oh yeah, it might not be quite up to PS2 standards, but how about playing Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops or Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on your big screen for a change? It's sounds pretty cool in theory, anyway.
What else? How about faster load times by storing game content on (presumably) a memory stick? Improved battery life? A specially themed Star Wars model, alongside color options like "Piano Black," "Ceramic White," and "Ice Silver"? Oh, and you can charge the new PSP via a USB port (they specific a PC or PS3, but I'm assuming it'll work off a powered hub or Mac as well).
Click play to see footage of announcement.
I take the swipe at UMD back -- according to Sony, UMD sales are up 35 percent over 2006, with U.S. weekly sales vaulting to 90 percent following the recent price drop on the present model from $200 to $170.
The new PSP debuts in September, and will be priced at $200, though current PSP owners will probably want to check with local retailers for special trade-in incentives.
(Update: My only two quibbles are the lack of a secondary right-hand analog thumbpad, and the fact that the left-side thumbpad still sits much too low on the system to comfortably accommodate long-fingered fellas like me.)
For more up-to-the-minute blogs, stories, photos, and video from the show, visit our E3 2007 Infocenter.
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Freakin' Sweet!!
Wow!
I really wish I could say that I was truly happy about this but I'm not really sure that it's enough.
I personally like my PSP but even with the upgrades I'm not sure if it's worth trading in or pitching another $200 bones for a slimmer version and new color option!
Also why sell these versions for more? Why not just leave it at the $170 price point and get rid of the old version? (Seemed to work well for Nintendo with the DS)