PSP TV adapter kit reviewed
posted Nov 3rd 2005 2:25PM
Sure, we all know what the last P in PSP stands for, but that doesn't mean you don't occasionally want to kick back and enjoy a game or flick on a big screen in the living room. Unfortunately, Sony doesn't provide an easy way to do it. And neither do the makers of various PSP-to-TV adapters. If you really want to connect your PSP to a TV, you're going to need to open it up and do a little surgery (at least until promised no-mod versions start showing up). In case you're not sure what that entails, or need a dose of cold reality before popping the case, Lik Sang has a hands-on review of a PSP adapter, complete with lots of pics. And, yes, we know Lik Sang is a retailer, so you should know that they have something of a vested interest in getting you to buy one of these. But we're pleased to see that they've added caveats about how using this will void your warranty, and doing it poorly will trash your PSP.
[Thanks, BolshiBlue]
Sony DOES in fact provide an easy solution for you to watch movies and play games on a big screen.
You see, about 5 years ago they released the PLAYSTATION 2 which I might add also plays DVDs. Why would anyone mod their portable so they can have this capability, not even mentioning the inability to use your cases anymore.
Get a friggin Playstation 2 if you're so hard pressed to play video games on a TV. Am I the only one who thinks that this device is probably the stupidest idea ever?
I second this motion. The PSP is a useful media device, but it's far from portable, the games are just knockoffs of franchises, and the battery life makes the machine as useful as a plastic bag in a moon crater. That's in a nutshell, please don't get me started on my full thoughts on this machine...
*turns head* Here come the fanboys! TAKE COVER!
erm....i dont think this product is too bad, makes the psp more versatile, i mean, when psp tournaments start, i sure everyone would like to see finalles on a decent-sized screem, now that would be sweeeeeet.. well done psp-tv
Seems to be it's a rather unbiased review considering Lik Sang as a retailer's point of view... what's left out is that as they mentioned it does offer a better image quality on 16:9 screen, no pics for this mode are provided.
and to #1: it's a protection to consumer's investment - if you already plunge $16.99 for a UMD movie you'd like to show you friends on TV right? especially while his $1.99 ipod video eposides are playing on his 37" LCD.
I for one, think the idea of getting an extra PS2 and almost ALL the same games in a diff format is more stupid then getting PSP on TV.
PSP is the 3rd gadget I've ever bought that I'm ready to sell (the first two being an old palm m100, and my apple cube g4 (which I regret and I *will* have another).
But its also the only gadget I've ever bought that I felt like a sucker for owning. Not only that but when I hear about how much awesomeness is orbiting the DS, I become angry that I have a psp.
I bought the think excited for the industrial design, two games that were planned, and the functionality of a ps2 without the need of a TV (which I had no room for).
The two games I was pumped about were Gran Turismo (coming out NEXT year) and GTA. I've since bought GTA:SA for my PC. Then I was given a TV and bought a PS2 and GT4 (along with katamari!).
What the hell!? I can't even sell this thing on craigslist. Why is it easier to get snes games to run on this than it is for developers to get quality original titles?
Sony is being a real stickler when it comes to porting ps2 titles to the PSP and a lot of companies are having a hard time doing anything thats been done already because of this. But I mean, come on, I was *so* slutty for the PSP the week it launched, and I don't really get all excited for handhelds or consoles.
Excluding GT4 on my ps2 I may never get excited about a handheld again...although the pink DS nintendogs package is awfully tempting...GAH there is it is again! The DS with another awesome app.
Wow that was a long comment.
I remember when people used to laugh and say how impossible it would be to have your PSP hookup onto a TV unless it were some sort of DEVkit PSP. Well, now you can and who is laughing now? I am, because it is just yet another reason to hack your PSP to death! The PSP isn't really a handheld gaming system unles you call porting your roms and PS2 games to it. It's a worthy piece of crap if you enjoy playing snes games on the go.. oh wait, did you say that there are other portable media devices that does the same including the Nintendo DS? Hah! Incredible! ... well not really.
Also did anyone whois psp2.com yet? It actually is registered i think by sony (some guy from japan) so it might be possible there is a psp2 on the way. I'm still not impressed with the current PSP, though I WOULD buy one if the price was right... $149? Yeah, that would be good but I would concider purchasing 6 console games before that :P
@vectorbug,
I held out long enough to realise the DS was the platform I really wanted, and with mario kart just around the corner, ive never been more excited.
Oh, and ffIII.
And a bunch more games. Inbetween, i keep myself busy with GBA games I've wanted to play for a few years. Im not really down with the whole nintendogs thing, but there are some exciting games that make me really happy to be a DS owner. All my friends want one now, after i was the first adopter.
It's not a bad idea if you consider the PSP a portable video player. If you travel a lot it might be easier to take some UMDs that don't take that much room and your PSP instead of your big DVD case and your laptop.
Or you might be at a friends house and they notice the UMD movie you have in there and you might decide to take out the pop corn and watch it on the TV.
As for actually installing it, I'm a novice hardware hacker and I'm scared to death of those little flimsy cables. I'll eventually try that out when I'm tired of playing NBA Live and decide to just take the chance.
I love my PSP. I think its the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm really enjoying GTA Liberty Stories and can't wait for SOCOM to come out. I'm sure there will be all sorts of neato devices coming out for the PSP in coming months.
Uh, hello...
The title of the article was not "I HATE THE PSP" even though most commentors think so.
Sheesh, gimme a break.
-Pie
See, I don't hate the PSP in fact I own one myself. I used it for video before I bought a 5g iPod which I currently use.
Yong - If you invest $16 dollars on a movie and then invest another $100 dollars to play that one movie on a television then you've just wasted your money. You could instead spend that money to buy a PS2 if you don't already have one, which a lot of people do already. So the point is, sure it would be great to impress your friends by playing video but if you need to spend $100 for a device that bricks your PSP and permanently attaches itself in order for you to impress your friends then you need to get new friends.
Meanwhile, spending $150 dollars on a brand new PS2 plus games is cheaper than $250 dollars plus the cost of UMD videos plus $100 to play them on your television.
Hell, even going out and buying a 5g iPod SOLELY for the purpose of playing videos on your television from a portable device is way more cost effective than that second option, plus it's way more practical and doesn't involve potentially destroying your PSP in the process.
Yeah, I just don't get this product either. I don't see how it would be worth the hassle. Gamers should already have a non-portable machine they bang on as well.
The screens look craptastic at best?
Hey, if you can get PSP games running on the ps2 go ahead, tell us how. Oh wait, you can't. That is why this device exists.
So shut the fuck up.
I love my psp. I use it everyday! I use it to listen to music at work (ipods dont have external speakers infact most mp3 players dont) I use it to watch the simpsons almost anywhere (I have a mount set up in my car too) its sweet having a modest music collection and a few of my favorite tv shows at my fingertips. not to mention gta:lcs which is made more amazing with the custom soundtracks! my battery has not run out on me yet. also Im posting this from my psp. try to do that from your ds.
This is great for playing PSP games not available on consoles on your TV. Think about Burnout... no wait, GTA, hmm still no... Need for speed? Grand Turismo? Sports Games? Hmm... there really aren't any good games for the PSP that you can't get on a console.
Alex is right, there are practically no PSP games that aren't available for PS2 as well. In fact, some of the games that are available on both systems are cheaper on PS2 than on PSP, like Grand Theft Auto III versus Liberty City Stories...
The purpose of the PSP was to be "P". Not a huge brick just so you can play your games on a tv screen. If you're so hard pressed to play on a TV then why did you buy a portable in the first place.
I know I bought mine because I'm never home and I like having games on the go so I actually have the chance to play them rather have a consol collect dust at home. A portable is for portability and a console is for home use.
Besides, this mod is ugly as all sin!
HAHAHAHA you'd rather play Liberty Cities than the.. ahem.. Big Brother equivalents? ooookay..
Let's start with the definition of portable..
Walking around with a 5lb game system ain't it.
It's Liberty City Stories not Liberty City Cities and it's very similar to Grand Theft Auto III for the console....
Before calling me "dumb shit" you should probably do a spelling and grammar check....
Whatever you say will also not take away from the fact that this thing sucks!!!! haha....check!
You know what? Think outside the freaking box you morons.
Highly portable digital video player?
Want to show a home video or somthing to a friend? put it on your PSP, you don't have to burn it, they don't have to have a DVD player.
Doesn't sound so bad know DOES IT?
ez, what you just described can be done with plenty of PVPs including the new iPod (with the necessary extra cable). Allowing it to be done on a PSP is way too costly both financially and in light of the risk you take opening the player. Again, this option of having these movies play from your PSP is not cost effective at all considering the cost of a PVP player out there or an iPod which by the way is about $50 less than a PSP with this mod and it stores 30 times the size full of movies than a PSP can with a 1gb stick.
Pointless
Meh, I bought a PSP because back in june there were 0 good DS games, and lumines was out on PSP. By the way, lumines is a good game not on the ps2. So is frantix. And death jr. And coded arms.
Currently on the ds there are 2 noteworthy games. Trace Memory and Trauma Center.
*ducks as fanboys throw stuff*
Honestly, how can you make Nintendogs the ds selling point? My original GameBoy has Tamagatchi already, and I don't play it. Why would I want yet another [overglorified] virtual pet?
Advanced Wars dual strike? Meh, don't get me started. I have 2 on my GBA that I never beat.
Mario Kart? Sorry, I have it on my N64, and it's collecting dust, like the DS version would.
Honestly, quite a few handheld games are knockoffs of console or previous handheld games.
Now to the topic as hand, I personally would enjoy playing Lumines on a bigger screen through my stereo system with the dual shock. I'm pretty confident with my electronics, and I think I could pull off the hack. If only it was cheaper...