How would you change Sony's PSP-3000?

We first caught wind of a slightly revamped PSP months ago, and the long-awaited handheld -- complete with a new, fancier and in some cases more dreadful display -- finally hit US shelves this month. For those that picked one of these up and have spent some quality time digging into the latest firmware, how are you liking things? Particularly for those that upgraded, are you pleased with the new build? Are you being plagued with those mysterious screen problems features? Could you stand to see a few more things tweaked for the PSP-4000? We suspect there will be quite a few mixed messages flying in this one, so let's get those comments rolling.

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 24th 2008 6:36PM]

Put a phone in it for 200$ more.

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 24th 2008 7:12PM]

Or take out the UMD drive and make it slimmer and $50-$100? cheaper. Distribute games via psn network that you download onto your memory stick. If you are concerned about piracy then put some DRM on it if you must... I know developers have to eat and publishers have to eat too.

[KAIKAI @ Oct 24th 2008 7:16PM]

umm ditch UMD
ditch memstick pro duo
add SD card slot
add bluetooth
add a small keyboard and second analog stick
....yes
i want a mylo with 2 analog sticks and plays psp games :)

[KarlW @ Oct 24th 2008 7:29PM]

@KAIKAI

Don't forget faster WiFi! 802.11b is dreadfully slow. How do they expect us to download anything from the PlayStation Store?

802.11g/draft n would do me fine.

[KAIKAI @ Oct 24th 2008 8:21PM]

yes thank you
fast wifi
and while your at it
toss a phone chip in there
i mean
it has a mic already
just put and tiny speaker between the facebuttons and your good to go :)

[musicalwoods @ Oct 25th 2008 1:11AM]

@KAIKAI

You're describing the Pandora, a home-brew system in production now :)

I'll probably pick one up when they start their second manufacturing run.

[J @ Oct 25th 2008 1:01AM]

@KarlW

How fast is your Internet service? 802.11b goes up to 11Mbps way faster than most residential ISP's can/do offer. 802.11g/n would help with local traffic but would make no difference while using the Playstation Store. Unless of course you are in an area and with an ISP that can support >11Mbps. Even then the difference would be difficult to notice.

[Jackster @ Oct 25th 2008 4:04AM]

@J

11mbps is the theoretical limit of 802.11b, with the limit in practice being closer to 6mbps. I don't know about you but my connection to the interwebs is usually around 14mbps so 802.11g would improve my speed.

[Mr. S. @ Oct 25th 2008 4:42AM]

It's missing a second joy stick, just like your mom!

[Pepsipoint @ Oct 25th 2008 10:04AM]

Isn't this the same question they ask everytime a new psp comes out? and usually the same ten answers?

[jason @ Oct 25th 2008 1:11PM]

G also has A LOT better range than b

[edge @ Oct 25th 2008 3:57PM]

* Dual memory stick slots
* Remove the UMD drive (unlikely, but it would make the device a lot simpler I'd think)
* Dual analog sticks
* 802.11g and/or 802.11n
* If you remove the UMD drive, use some of the extra freed space to allow for larger aftermarket batteries (so we can get additional life without having to swap batteries)

And in the more unlikely, but still cool to think about department:

* Upgrade the processor/video so it can output HD content at atleast 720p via mini-HDMI. Ideally older games would get the upscale treatment too. This would apply to everything from the XMB to video output and so forth. Basically a PS3-portable.
* Wireless video would be cool using one of the new standards shown recently. It'd be nice to be able to sit on the couch, fire up the PSP and play your games on the big screen without being tethered to a 6 foot cable.

[Crooked Style @ Oct 28th 2008 9:22PM]

thedesolate1: you realize not everyone has a broadband connection right?
Purchasing a game for someone living in the country or even the city will be impossible.

[Andy @ Oct 24th 2008 6:39PM]

Touch screen

(first comment on engadget, first comment on this post)

[kyle allen @ Oct 24th 2008 6:45PM]

welcome to engadget noob!

[Patriks7 @ Oct 24th 2008 6:49PM]

And you missed it by 3 minutes
Here at Engadget we call that.............
FAIL!

[Peter @ Oct 24th 2008 6:51PM]

One thing you should know about the comment system, it's a bit delayed; therefore, it sucks to be you.

[Sora @ Oct 24th 2008 7:27PM]

No, you see, he meant that it was HIS first comment on this post.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 24th 2008 7:30PM]

Hi,
Welcome to Engadget, on the basis of your first post you'll fit right in here :)

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Oct 24th 2008 7:33PM]

Poor guy is trembling. It'll likely be his last post too.

[Paulmichael @ Oct 25th 2008 3:01AM]

^^Poor guy must have no sperm left now!

[Joey @ Oct 25th 2008 8:17AM]

Just had to mention sperm in the comment, now, didn't you? :/

[wtf?yo? @ Oct 25th 2008 10:34AM]

sry to tell you but never ever say first on engadget....you will likly be 15th

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Oct 26th 2008 7:30PM]

@Patriks7

We call that "EPIC FAIL".

[Podaman @ Oct 24th 2008 6:39PM]

Double the current number of analog sticks.

[Dan @ Oct 24th 2008 6:49PM]

I agree... i like everything else...

[Flashpoint @ Oct 24th 2008 6:49PM]

THANK YOU. 2 analog sticks.

If i worked at SONY, I guarrantee you, the PSP would have NEVER MADE IT PAST R&D without a second analog stick. PERIOD.

Using the action buttons to ...*ahem*...."look" in a first person shooter, is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. What's sad is that most of the FPS games on PSP that suck now would be ten times better if the PSP had the 2nd analog stick.

Here's my suggestion.

Design a new PSP with 2 Analog sticks. Then make all new games compatible for 2 sticks and make them backwards compatible for older PSP's. This has been done before with video games on DS from the Gameboy SP for example even without the need to download new firmware.


I'd also like to get rid of UMD altogether and make the PSP have a 20GB SSD drive (or more) where the games take up about 1.5GB (or less). In time SSD's will be cheaper. an SSD would help the PSP in so many ways...longer battery life, faster access times, etc.

[rothgar @ Oct 24th 2008 7:11PM]

Agreed. 2 analog sticks and SSD. Non of this memory card business.

in the long run though I think it should have a phone in it so I can play real games with me where ever I am.

[Sora @ Oct 24th 2008 7:28PM]

"so I can play real games with me where ever I am."

There's a reason that the PSP is a handheld, you know....

[GenBanks @ Oct 24th 2008 8:11PM]

Going hand in hand with the SSD idea that Flashpoint brought up:

PSP + Steam!

Steam gives you a real sense of solidity over your ownership of digital media. If the PSP was integrated into Steam, you could buy games and use a special Steam tab to synchronize which games are on your PSP. Your games would be tied to your account, so you can't lose them. I think that would be totally awesome :)
I know it would never happen, but a 20gb SSD plus synchronization with steam for buying new games would be a dream come true and would make the PSP an instant impulse buy for me.

[Stevo @ Oct 24th 2008 10:05PM]

Wow, a useful comment from Flashpoint.

[Getterac7 @ Oct 25th 2008 2:37AM]

I would be content with an analog stick that is usable. The current "low profile" stick is nearly worthless and the position of the stick (currently where my palm rests) gives me cramps in my hand. The analog stick should be positioned near the top left corner for those of us who have normal sized hands.

[GenBanks @ Oct 25th 2008 9:24AM]

@MyHeadisFed

You obviously haven't used Steam since the days of the Half Life 2 launch...
Anyway, you wouldn't need any software on 'your' PSP for you to be able to put Steam-bought games on the hoped-for hard drive. It's merely an idea and frankly it's quite similar to the notion of using PSN exclusively to download and install games on the PSP. The major bonus would be that by using Steam you could unify your games collection on two different platforms. Also, the colour scheme of Steam is, I think, suited to the PSP.

[Sly Fox @ Oct 25th 2008 9:20PM]

@FlashPoint: WTF?> SSD are you joking? That would raise the price SOOOOO much. Everything else is fine.

[timmah! @ Oct 24th 2008 6:41PM]

Internal memory of at least 8GB. I know it has a memory stick slot but internal storage would be nice. Maybe another analog stick. Some way to flip around the screen so it's protected with in my pocket.

[maveric101 @ Oct 24th 2008 7:20PM]

totally agree with the dual analog and flip screen (probably clamshell). though that would probably have to be a new system.

[daniel =] @ Oct 24th 2008 8:38PM]

wow, you put your psp in your pocket?

[Dave Chappelle @ Oct 24th 2008 10:35PM]

ye 8gb internal memory would be great, I think it would have already happened but Sony knows people will hack it and not buy their games.
I am sick of this design though, i loved it at first and thought ok fair enough for PSP2000 (as it got thinner) but for it to be the third generation of PSP and still look basically the same is not good enough. if they made it considerably thinner i would have been happy but a 'brighter screen' $2 mic and $3 "1.3" Mega Pixel camera is not enough.

- Make it thinner.
- Add another analogue stick THERE IS ROOM FOR IT.
- Blue tooth + 802.11G (both very cheap nowadays especially when its wholesale and mass produced)
A psp with these features should also have a price drop.

However, if they want to sell it at the same price as PSP1000 completely new design with:
- THIN BODY.
- Bluetooth +802.11G
- 3.2 mega pixel camera (with Video)
- Dual analogue sticks.
- A smaller disc which fits in a DS style catridge. (i do not think UMD is that bad, apart from its physical size)

and in some readers people's tradition.
- Blu ray UMD
- 1080P video recording
- 40gb Hard Drive
- 1280x768 screen
- 8 mega pixel camera (like that C905 phone)
- Triple Analogue sticks? (and a medical certificate prescribing a 'default' third thumb on your hand
- Accelerometer and Rumble.
- as thin as an itouch.
- and of course 'frikkin laser beams' < lol i did find that one funny tho.
- $60 and a $10 rebate.

[Duh @ Oct 25th 2008 12:50AM]

12 drummers drumming
11 pipers piping
10 lords a-leaping
9 ladies dancing
8 maids a-milking
7 swans a-swimming
6 geese a-laying
5 golden rings
4 calling birds
3 french hens
2 turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeee!

[Peter @ Oct 24th 2008 6:42PM]

I'm not buying one until they come out with a PSP G2 with dual analogue sticks and flash cards instead of UMDs.

[p3713 @ Oct 24th 2008 10:43PM]

Totally Agree. Im a 360 Fanboy and don't like sony much, but i would TOTALLY buy a portable with dual analog sticks JUST for FPSs on the go.

[Jamesology @ Oct 25th 2008 4:00AM]

I agree with the dual stick but NOT the flash cards; see the DS graphics? Now imagine playing Wipetout Pulse on that..... ummm no thank you. You saw Ridgeracer on the DS and also on the PSP can you tell the difference? Because I know I do. Plus, I dont think PSP game fit in a flash card.

[Peter @ Oct 25th 2008 9:03AM]

The reason why the DS's graphics are so bad is that it has a 67 and a 33 Mhz processors. Using flash cards won't change the graphics unless you use some really slow flash. And since they can use cards which are smaller; they could have more space to either make the device smaller or put more stuff in it. It will also increase the battery life tremendously; just ask anybody with a jailbreaked PSP (I do not own one BTW, a friend of mine did a comparison).

[PDubs @ Oct 24th 2008 6:42PM]

TV Tuner and/or remote TV like they have in Europe. Which actually should be psp-x000 independent.

[Branden @ Oct 24th 2008 7:54PM]

they already have LocationFree TV...works pretty good. Wouldn't mind getting a signla outside fo a htospot though.

[XIYL @ Oct 24th 2008 10:25PM]

Yeah... except for the price, nobody wants to pay $300 for the equivalent of a Sling box minus the compatibility. I definitely think we need a TV tuner, I have always thought the PSP deserved one. with the screen on it digital broadcasts would pretty damn good.

[lgespee @ Oct 24th 2008 6:42PM]

More of those cool display features.

[conor @ Oct 24th 2008 6:44PM]

slide the screen up to reveal a keyboard and put in 2nd analog nub and optional 3g

[Jared @ Oct 24th 2008 6:46PM]

Make the screen not suck.

[John P @ Oct 24th 2008 6:54PM]

That seems to be the general consensus. I actually am afraid to buy one now that I know how nasty the interlacing is.