First of all let me explain my title. I'm getting so sick and tired of hearing about people complaining about how there are not two analog sticks on the system, or how they think Sony is stupid because they can't play any of their UMD games they already own. Really people!? Use some common sense for once and stop complaining!

First of all Sony clearly stated that the PSP GO was not a successor to the PSP 3000 but an alternative model they will sell along with the 3000. That means they can't add a second analog thumb to the system because that would force developers to either program games for one or the other platform essentially making the system a PSP 2. How would a owner of the 1000-3000 model line feel if the new game they where looking forward to buying was only playable on the GO because it required two analog sticks? Look if Sony releases the PSP 2 and they don't add a second analog stick then by all means be upset because that would not be the smartest move on their end, but in this regard it's the only thing that makes sense. I'm sure some people out there think that developers could just program games to use both types of controls but think about how much extra work that would be.

Ok so on to the whole no UMD subject. I think it was stupid for Sony to announce plans for a conversion program only to announce their would none weeks before the units release. The fact is I can't think of a single financial good way they would be able to convert games into digital without people taking advantage of it. What would stop someone from converting their UMD to digital format and then selling the game? In my opinion they should have never mentioned a program in the first place. This is a product that is taking the PSP line into the digital age and is intended for early adopters. I couldn't stand the cheap feeling of the UMD on the previous models, and the removal of the unit has allowed them the shrink the portable even more. I hear people complaining that the screen is smaller and how stupid that is. What do people expect? You can't keep making something smaller without some sacrifice. If you get a chance to hold a PSP in your hands you will see how much smaller it is. It now truly feels portable. If I could compare it to any recent device I would say it compares (when closed) most to the size of the Iphone 3G. I have owned every model of the PSP and have bad hands, and I can truly say this is the most comfortable PSP I have used in my opinion.

To me the PSP Go is the ultimate portable handheld. I can carry around so many games without ever having to worry about where my UMD is or if they eye on the player will go out, or better yet have to listen to the loading noise while I look at the screen. Isn't this the true meaning of a portable? Oh and for those upset about not getting to use their UMDs then at least know you can still buy the 3000 and Sony is not getting rid of it. I could understand if Sony announced they would discontinue physical games but they didn't so why so upset? Music, movies, pictures, books, and now games are going digital. I think this will be a slow transition but you can already see it happening. PC games are largely bought online through various means such as direct 2 drive and steam, and even consoles have embraced it (Wii Ware, virtual console, PSN, Xbox live arcade and now Xbox games on demand). I'm pretty sure it's a safe bet that the next PSP will be all digital as well, and I for one welcome it.

I'm not a fanboy as I have an Xbox 360, but I just don't understand why everyone has to complain about the system. Yes there are faults with it but nothing in my opinion that can't be changed with some firmware updates. If they are trying get a little bit of the Ipod touch market then I suggest they start getting some apps out there that are non gaming, and please please Sony get a new browser out there as the PSP browser is pretty bad. So the question is should I buy a PSP Go? Well if you want a true portable handheld and don't have a giant library of UMD games then by all means get one. If on the other hand you refuse to get rid of your collection or you don't like the idea of getting digital only products or aren't ready to go in that direction then you always have the 3000 or the choice of not getting one at all.

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I have read a number of negative reviews here, but it seems pretty obvious that most reviewers did not actually purchase the product, which is sad. They all seem to harp on the fact that the Go doesn't not have a UMD drive. I wonder if these people complained about Ipods not being able to play CDs?

At any rate, I have never owned a PSP. The Go seemed like the perfect opportunity for me. I am computer savvy and own a PS3, so I really like the idea of a download only portable. I'm not one of those people who need to put a box on a shelf, in order to be happy.

Once I opened the package, I was immediately impressed with the consoles sleek, sexy design. It fits in the hands comfortably, and the buttons are all in easy to reach places.

Once I booted her up for a test drive, I was impressed with how bright and sharp the screen appeared. As stated above, I already own a PS3, so I felt right at home with the operating system (XMB). It's simple to navagate, but works extremely well.

After I had the system booted up, I couldn't wait to try out a game. I hopped and downloaded a few games. I should also note that there is an impressive collection of games/movies on the PlayStation store. The store can easily be accessed through your PSP, PS3, or PC.

After putting a few hours into my game, I can happily say that I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. The game was looked and controlled amazingly for a portable game. I have since downloaded a movie also. Movies look even more incredible on the device.

In all honesty there are many more features that I still have not had a chance to use. The system has a browser, blu-tooth, web radio, skyped, etc, etc.

It's sad to see such an innovative device get such a negative and even angry reaction. It is a bit pricey, but 16 gigs of internal memory have been added. All in all, the purchase has exceeded my expectations. If you happen to be on the fence about it, and the angry negative reviewers haven't scarred you away yet.. I would strongly suggested it to you. You will not regret having a gaming, movie, internet package in such a sexy device.

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Needs a better battery, UMD conversion support, a bigger hard drive, louder max audio, better file structure, Apple support of some kind, a built in camera, 2 built in cameras like the DSi. Built in software like the DSi, and cheaper movies. Dudes at SONY and everyone else in charge reading this...I will never pay $10 for films I already own to have them on my portable devices. $2 maybe, not $10. Why pay for something I already own? When will you guys figure out that films need to become like CDs so we can rip what we own and buy new what we want. Until that point is reached you will be grasping at the peanut crumbs of the potential of this massive movie ripping playlist industry. And games for the PSP Go need to be cheaper too. As well as something we can back up.

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Most of the negative reviews posted here come from the PSP community, which are a backlash of early PSP adopters. These are unverified purchases from customers who don't even own the PSP Go. With that said, I think some of these reviews have merit, and most do not. People need to realize that this is made to co-exist with the PSP-3000 (you don't see PSP Go owners posting reviews to bash the 3000 model). Personally, I did not find the PSP-3000 appealing for the reason that PSP's in general are too bulky to be portable.

For me the convenience of carrying a portable system in your pocket without the hassle of carrying several UMDs everywhere you travel is worth it to me. It actually is remarkable how small the PSP Go is compared to a DS or any PSP model (about the size of an Iphone). Now $250 is a lot to pay for, but most people seem to glance over the fact that 16gb of memory are included with the system. $80 extra for 16gb of memory is somewhat reasonable considering how much Sony is charging for their Memory Sticks. Also, with a little bit of research you'll find that the display screen is better than the 3000 model in terms of refresh rate, colors, and there are no ghosting issues here. Sure the screen is a little smaller, but it's meant to be portable right?

A feature exclusive to the PSP Go is the save state feature. This saves the game at the exact point you're playing for future use. This is not the same as sleep mode that all PSP models have (including this one). If you're playing an RPG and know there's not a save point for some time; you can use the save state feature; play another game, surf the web, listen to music, watch a movie, and come back to it later rather than sticking it out from sleep mode until you find another save point in the game. This is a HUGE convenience and something that should get more attention from all reviewers.

In terms of actual hardware improvements there are some hits and misses. The PSP GO is small, which is great for portability, but it takes a while to get accustomed to since it is half the depth when opened. The analog on the Go are an advantage over earlier models, there is a noticeable difference in resistance compared to other PSPs which allow for more precise controls. The battery, on the other hand, is something left to be desired. Battery life on Go isn't any better than other PSP's and the fact that it's not interchangeable means that you're limited to 3-5 hours until you can find an electrical outlet. I found that portable USB charging devices do work with this system (look for Duracell), and they are great for long car trips. Still, it would be nice if battery life was improved over earlier models considering this does not have a UMD drive and should require less power to operate.

The PSP Go obviously isn't for everyone, but if you're still using a PSP-1000 I would suggest the upgrade. You'll be surprised how much more you'll play when it's this portable, rather than second guessing whether or not it's worth it to bring your other PSP.

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Amazing purchase, everything perfect. Cant really say more just perfect.

Matt

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GREAT GREAT GREAT.I love it so much how the screen slides out its so compact it can go everywhere,and the screen itself is OMG GOOOOOOOODDDDD.You get way better picture its unbelievable.The buttons are so tight and are way better to control then that wack psp3000.If you want a portable system get this NOW.I love it.

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I purchase it along with PSP3k (I still have bunch of UMDs), the primary purpose of purchasing is to play downloadable classic PS1 games (FFVII of course). As a veteran PSP user, this is good as addition, but it's not intended to replace your legacy PSP, if you want legacy PSP, you need to purchase PSP3k.

The unit is a lot lighter (about 60% length of PSP3k), the screen is smaller, and smaller 930mA/h non-removable battery.

Pro:

light

ample 16GB ROM (14GB available to user).

bluetooth support, but it doesn't have DUN and PAN support, that you can't tether to your mobile phone, you must use wifi to access wifi.

Con:

proprietary data port (charge and data).

M2 support (used in recent SonyEricsson phone models) because of the size.

non-removable battery, it even has a seal that the user has to take a risk to void warranty to replace the battery.

no UMD support (as expected, that's why I bought it along with PSP3k to replace broken PSP2k).

If you want to buy this using, make sure you know what you're doing. If you already have legacy PSP, this is a good addition to let you play FF7; If you're new PSP user, you may want to go for it because UMA may get obsolete in the future.

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The PSPgo is an interesting device. It would appear to many that this hardware revision seems to have taken one step forward (sleeker design, bluetooth capability, built-in memory) and two steps back (no UMD drive, price, purchases tied to the PSN Store). I'm here to say: I love my PSPgo.

First, a little bit of my background: I was an original adopter of the PSP-1000 system. I love the PSP platform and feel as though the hardware itself as well as many of the platform's games are severely unappreciated.

I want to provide some commentary for what kind of customers might be looking into purchasing a PSPgo:

1) The Gadget Geek

It's obvious, even from the customer images and official product images, that the PSPgo is one slimmed-down, sexy device. If you're into gadgets, the PSPgo will not disappoint: this is a much more portable, sleeker device than the PSP 1000 / 3000 systems. This handheld will fit where the old PSPs won't, that's for sure. The sliding-open of the controls is addicting; it mimics many of the cell phones that have this kind of mechanism.

2) Someone who is looking into purchasing their first PSP system

It's a tough call to truly recommend the PSPgo for those who are looking into purchasing this as their first PSP system. Personally, I would. Many probably wouldn't. As of right now, the PSN Store does not have all of the best PSP games available to download. However, they do have a fantastic current selection that includes Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2, LocoRoco 2 and more. As of today, they do not have several fantastic games on the PSN Store (Dissidia and Crisis Core, to name a couple). I can only assume, in time, these will be available.

The other consideration is buying used games at stores such as Gamestop. As a new PSP owner, you probably want to buy a lot of older games that you have yet to enjoy. These probably come in at fairly cheap used game prices at stores. If you have a PSPgo system, some of these prices are comparable; some are not.

If a first-time PSP owner does decide to purchase a PSPgo system, they don't want to worry about purchasing additional memory right out of the game, which is a nice little bonus.

3) Someone who currently owns a PSP 1000 / 3000

If you have the financial means, I think purchasing a PSPgo to compliment your PSP 1000 / 3000 system is a great idea. This is the kind of customer I am. I was able to use Amazon's video game trade-in program to knock the price down for the PSPgo system. I still have my PSP 1000 system around in case I want to play any of the games I have on UMD. And, not surprisingly (or maybe surprisingly for some), I have yet to have a hankering to go back and play any of the UMD games I own since owning a PSPgo. And I have some fantastic games on UMD that are not offered as a digital download currently on the PSN Store!

And I think this is where the PSPgo system gets a LOT of hate: the whole discussion about not being able to play any UMD games you may currently own. My thought on that is this: I think before owning a PSPgo, this might be a concern. But when you have one, you don't have a drive to play any of your UMD games. I have plenty to play in terms of PSX / PSP games I've already downloaded and have downloaded since owning the system. I don't know, maybe I'm just a special case or something.

Conclusion

I absolutely love my PSPgo: it's sexy, it's incredibly portable and I love having a whole smattering of games available right there on my system. The price may be a tad bit high, but if you can swing it, you'll love the PSPgo system. Since owning my PSPgo, I have not wanted to play any of my current UMD games on my old PSP system. There's a lot of currently released titles on the PSN Store to satisfy my needs.

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I just don't understand all these negative reviews. It's clearly an alternative to UMD but they just won't stop criticizing. I don't hear these complaints to iPods for lack of additional memory slot or proprietary USB cable or for having non-removable battery. How many did when iPhone came out at $499 for 16gb? They didn't invent smartphone, just revolutionized it. If you like the product and can afford it then go get one. If not, stop whining. Nobody is forcing anybody. Some keep comparing the pricepoint to PS3, for $50 more. Okay, get one and try to put it in your pocket. I have 3 PSPs, a bunch of iPods and a couple of PS3. Neither Sony nor Apple forced me to buy it. I simply like those products, and so is PSG Go.

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Congratulations Sony. I love the new PSP GO. My only problem is with using my media off my pc. I did everything as instructed and the files are on the psp but when I try to play them, it says it isn't compatible. I had that same problem with my PS 3. It's no big deal as I still love the little bugger but I so hoped I could use media I already have purchased on my pc and it looks as if I will have to purchase new media for the psp go.

I love the case I purchased also. I actually leave the game in the case while I play.

Now, for the record, I am a 49 year old mother of four and I am not ashamed to say I enjoy gaming. I am more into the character games like "Jak and Daxter" and "Ratchet and Clank". No violent content as in other games. My point is, you are never too old to have some fun and I do enjoy your game systems, and yes, I am waiting the newest releases in my favorite two character games. Already pre-ordered.

Once again, Congrats on the new game. It may be little, but it packs a wild punch.

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i have the psp 1000 and have billions of umds. but it crashes a lot and shuts down,it will be pretty pricey to buy it and buy some of the games back but buy looking at all of the reviews and going on youtube. it looks pretty good, im 10 and for my age this looks great , this is the only present asked to get for christmas, and hopefully getting it , i will tell u all about it

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Welcome to the 21st century people!

Digital download only :-)

Stop crying about not being able to play UMD's on this device.

If you own UMD's.... that means you already have a PSP.....So why buy another one?

This device is targeted for people who don't own a PSP already and want something portable & without all the UMD's.

Simple as that.

Most people don't understand that.

PSP GO

New, sleek and portable!

Great looking screen.

Lots of games and movies.

Buy it if you can afford it.

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It's the PSP, only smaller and without an UMD. The screen is a little smaller but not noticably so. If you don't mind going without UMD and relying completely on digital downloads and want a PSP small enough to fit in your pocket, AND don't mind spending more, this would be a worth while buy. Games, movies, music. It's a great little entertainment system.

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Please, Please, Please - listen to the voices of reason when reading reviews! Read through as much as you can and make an education decision.

There are A LOT of angry Fanboys using PSP Go reviews as a forum to voice their frustrations.

They're angry because of the digital delivery system of getting games on the PS Store, they have almost no issues with the device itself - and bear in mind the PS Store can and will change! They may have game rentals and game buy back in the future, who knows! But the Fanboys are upset because their large library of UMD discs they've invested in is useless if they were to buy a PSP Go. And they desperately want to have the latest fancy piece of technology, but sadly it is not for them.

So if you have a large library of UMD discs - the PSP Go is not for you. Don't bother pining about it - it is for

One other major complaint, a valid one - is the price of games on the PS Store - they are MSRP, so no discounts, for the most part. So almost all retailer discount their software, which you won't be able to take advantage of. Now the Fanboys blame Sony for "not passing on the savings to the consumer" since Sony has almost no overhead for games on PS Store, but I believe the reality is that if they were to give discount pricing on all downloadable games, there would be a huge backlash from major retailers complaining about unfair price competition - and they would drop all UMDs from their shelves in a heartbeat. So blame the beloved brick and mortar retailers for this pricing, not Sony! But there are a lot of really good $15 games on the PS Store, so check them out!

Also check out Amazon's new Sony Network Store:

[...]

There should be a trade-in program of some sort, which Sony initially promised, but then backed out of. Hopefully they reverse their decision once a larger percentage of the PSP library is available on the PS Store.

If, like me, you've never owned a PSP, have no UMD discs, and really like the idea of having a ton of games all stored away inside a tiny device that fits in your pocket, AND you're not scared away by the price tag - this might be a great device for you. Sony has recently done a massive update to the PSP Store adding a ton of new titles:

[...]

But if you don't like the price, and want access to the complete PSP library, by all means, get a PSP 3000 - its a great device.

The PSP Go device itself is very sleek, but you'll want to get a screen protector of some kind, the screen gets very greasy and smeared with finger prints very easily. I am very happy with it in general, although I feel like it could really use a $50 price drop.

It comes with Rockband Unplugged - Lite. Which is pretty worthless, it has 5 songs on it, and you're expected to buy any other songs at $2 and the selection is pretty limited at this point. It's a lame marketing ploy if you ask me.

Here is my exhaustive list of the advantages and disadvantages, notice I've separated PSP Go issues from PS Store issues.

Disadvantages:

PSP:

$250 Price Tag

.5" Smaller Screen

Non-removable Internal Battery Ugg!!

Does not use tradition memory sticks (Memory Stick Micro)

Proprietary Data Cable Port

PS Store:

No Renting

No Buying Used

No Selling Back

No Borrowing

No Giving Away

No Trading

No Instruction Manual

Games Cost as much ormore than Retailer bought games

Nothing "physical" to present as a Birthday or XMas gift.

Someone gets your account info, you could get locked out of your entire game library.

Advantages:

PSP:

Sharper Screen

Lighter Weight

Smaller Size (Fits in your pocket!!!)

Slick Design

16 GB Internal Storage

Bluetooth Capabilities: Wireless Headset w/voice chat, Skype, Connect a PS3 Controller!

PS Store:

No Need to Carry Around Discs

No Lost Games

No Stolen Games

No Scratched/Broken Games

Games are never "out of stock", no need to run around town to stores to find one.

Instant Delivery

Entire Residence gets access to games if on the same account (no need for multiple copies of same game)

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When the GO was announced I was excited but my excitement quickly dwindled after the price announcement. I balked at the $250 price tag.

How could SONY make such a fumble with this wonderful machine? I still ordered it being the gadget fanatic that I am. Let me just say that I was completely blown away when I got it. It may that my expectations were low but this little machine is impressive. The quality of the materials used, the size, it has real metal on the back making it one of the most solid pieces of tech I have ever owned.

Pros:

It's small and thin... Much smaller than you think, go check one out. Its about the size of an iPod.

Buttons feel orders of magnitude better than previous iterations and other portables.

Digital downloads.

PSP Minis - DS/iPod (Smaller, cheaper) type games.

PSP type games like GTMobile. Still has the most beautiful games on the market.

Great PS1 games from PSN like Final Fantasy VII

16GB memory expandable to more with memory sticks.

Bluetooth

Connects with your TV

You can use your PS3's controller the DS3 with the Go

2 players on one PSP Go using DS3 as player 2

Wifi

SONY moving the PSP's game library over to PSN. However there is still only a fraction of the games available.

Comes with a mic

Comes with Skype, you can use it as a remote Skype phone.

Cons:

Price, though once you get it on your hands, you can see it's worth the price. Also you can get it for $199 if you shop around.

Digital only. Not compatible with UMDs though you can put other PSN games you have previously bought and downloaded.

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