Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Would I be stupid to buy PSP over iPod or MP3 player

May 28, 2007 2:31PM PDT

I've never bought an MP3 player just because I'm not all that into listening to music. I just like to have music playing once and a while, no audiophile or anything, usually just listen to the radio. So, I've never really felt buying an iPod, Zune or another Mp3 player has never really worked out.


I have a DS and use it more than any other gaming device I've ever owned. It has brought me a little bit back into the gaming world, and I'm finding that I really did miss it.


So, I did some research and found some sound systems for the PSP that seem to get pretty good reviews. So, I really like that I would be able to put music, videos, games, web, etc. on the PSP. So, I think that it would be better for me. I could get the system, games, accessories, etc. for less than the cost of a good MP3 player and have a lot more for my money.


However, it seems like most people that I talk to either make fun of Sony or the PSP and/or own the PSP and really don't think it is all that great. I know that the whole UMD thing is annoying and so is the fact that you have to have memory sticks.


So, would I be stupid to go with the PSP over getting a good MP3 player?


Thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Dunno.
May 29, 2007 12:11AM PDT

My nephew has the PSP, a NANO and something else. He uses them all but for carrying tunes I see him pick up that NANO.

It depends on your needs.

"I know that the whole UMD thing is annoying and so is the fact that you have to have memory sticks."

I see the UMDs were 5 bucks at the usual outlets. Quite the nice price. Memory sticks are now "cheap" so I don't get why one would quibble today.

Bob

- Collapse -
Thanks
May 29, 2007 12:51AM PDT

I've wanted to get an iPod for a while, but not being a big listener to music, I hate to spend that amount of money on something that can't really do much else. I know you can play videos and things, but it would not really be ideal to watch on that screen.

I read that the sound on the PSP was pretty good, but I didn't know if I was making a mistake or not. Reviews just seem so mixed, from people I talk to. Reviews online seem to be pretty good though.


I guess I'm just worried that I will buy this hoping I can do a little bit of everything, but the game selection will be limited and the games available won't be good, the movies will be too expensive and not be able to be used anywhere else, the music won't sound that good and then I have something that really doesn't do anything I want.


I've not seen $5 UMDs. But, at that price I may end up with a larger movie collection than I have ever had. I guess I will start looking, cause that is good. Thanks for pointing that out.


I've been shopping for memory sticks. I don't know if I consider them cheap or not, but I see the prices are coming now. I found 4gb for less than $80 and then a 512mb for $10. So, that seems pretty good to me..... To be honest, neither of those issues are a problem for me, but that seems to be the two problems people keep going back to when I talk to them.


Thanks for your help!

- Collapse -
Nod to the PSP then.
May 29, 2007 4:36AM PDT
- Collapse -
Thanks
May 29, 2007 10:22AM PDT

I was looking at EB Games add and seen those UMDs today, pretty good deal, might have to grab a few.


I think I'm going to spring for at least 2gb (EB has it on sale for $30 now) but more than likely get the 4MB, mostly just for music and maybe a movie or two. Then, I am going to get an extra one, probably 512mb for storing games and things.


As usual, thanks for your help!

- Collapse -
I wouldn't think so
May 29, 2007 2:36AM PDT

If you're not all that interested in listening to music, I would think the PSP's meager abilities would be plenty. I wouldn't want to use my PSP as my only portable music player, but if I were in a car or on a bus for a long period of time, it'd be fine. If I weren't the type who thinks that running is a means of escaping something that thinks you would make a tasty meal, I would say you probably want a real MP3 player, though you shouldn't limit your selection purely to the iPod. Other companies make MP3 players, and some of them are pretty good, even compared to the iPod, but cost considerably less.

Since in your earlier discussion you said you were more interested in the gaming aspect of the PSP, and the music and movie features were along the lines of nice bonuses, I'd have to say go with the PSP. You can always get a video MP3 player later if the PSP's music and video abilities aren't up to your desires.

- Collapse -
I think I am going to try it.
May 29, 2007 10:20AM PDT

Even though gaming is not really the reason I want the PSP, just one of the many reasons, I really think at this point it is my best option. If it is does a pretty decent job at each of the tasks I will be happy.


It just seems not many people are real happy with the PSP. Even you for example, you said your won yours, but you still don't even seem to like it that much and you were able to spend much less. I just hope I'm not getting something I really won't use at all.


Right now I'm using the PSP as a test device to see how much I use it as an MP3. If I use it enough I will then start on the task of getting an MP3 player. I'm hoping Apple will release the new iPod soon and that will probably be what I go with.

- Collapse -
Well
May 29, 2007 10:47AM PDT

There are some design issues with the PSP that keep me from really using it much. The big ones would be the high resolution for a 3.5" screen making things hard to focus on (for me at least), and the fact that the controls were designed with smaller asian hands in mind, not larger western ones. The thumbstick in particular is in about the worst possible place. It also hurts my ears to have any kind of headphones on for more than about an hour. I have really good peripheral vision too, so I get motion sick if I try and read or play a game in a moving vehicle.

Then there's the fact that I don't travel much, and most of that is under 2 hours away. And I tend to just take my Xbox with me, since I put a modchip in it for Xbox Media Center, and replaced the HDD with a 300GB one. I can load onto the HDD movies and TV episodes from my DVD collection or from iTunes, there are emulators for the NES, SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, PSX, N64, etc for the Xbox... It comes ready to connect to any TV with composite inputs...

There's more, but I think the idea is pretty clear that there's really little room for a portable game system in my life as it stands now. Maybe if I had to travel via plane a lot, it might be really handy for those times the in flight movie selection is really bad and kill me now.

- Collapse -
Thanks for clearing things up
May 29, 2007 11:36AM PDT

I guess the best thing is to just buy it and see. Unfortunately I've never got to see or use one, which makes the decision a little harder. All the EB Games and Gamestop stores are pretty far from where I live, so I rarely go. I went one time and they actually had a PSP and someone had broken it, so I still wasn't able to see it. My hands are not that small, but they aren't big either, so hopefully that won't be much of a problem.

I have the same problem with headphones. I've been trying to catch on podcasts lately and my ears are so sore right now. Not only do they hurt inside, but the outside of my ear hurts from the headset and earbuds are even worse, so I try not to use them very often.

I travel quite a bit, which is why I like portable things. I used to have a Playstation and one of the screens that attach to it (I guess I still have it, but anyway) I never used it because of all the stuff I had to take, having to use the car charger and everything, it always ended up being a hassle. I have like five home systems that I rarely use, I used to play my SNES and things like that all the time, but that was when I was a kid. So now, I can't seem to find the time to actually sit down and play. But, when I got my DS I found myself picking it up and playing it for a half hour or so when I had a few minutes, or when I was waiting for my dog to eat dinner, little things like that. So, I find I play it quite a bit, more than I expected. And then, I play it a lot in the car and on planes, so portable just seems to be the way I need to go.


Thanks for letting me know your issues with it. Your info has really helped me a lot. I guess I will buy one and see if I like it, if not I can get a few bucks back and sell it.


Thanks again!

- Collapse -
"Controls designed for small asian hands..."
Jun 1, 2007 3:49AM PDT

Haha...that's my complaint about most game controllers. My favorite PS2 controller is the big honking wireless one made my Logitech that got criticized for being too big and heavy by a lot of people.

Consider buying a clip on hand grip for your PSP like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Grip-PSP-PlayStation-Portable/dp/B000CSEYCK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7/002-9267478-1532004?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1180719762&sr=8-7
The rechargeable battery in it doesn't work well at all, but it sure makes playing games on a PSP a lot easier if you have big hands. One of the best $10 add on devices I've ever purchased.

As far as using a PSP as an MP3 player- it's the only music/movie player I take with me when I travel and it works great for that. Like others stated, the price of Pro Duo memory sticks has come way down in the last year or so. I do own a separate MP3 player though that I use for running and working out. The PSP is too heavy and fragile for holding when exercising.

- Collapse -
iPod please
Jun 26, 2007 2:13PM PDT

PSP is not really something to buy for a music player nor a game platform. It dosent have nearly enough battery life as an iPod and the iPod integrates with good ol' itunes and the sync process is simple. If you need a giant screen and you watch a movie here and then get a psp but make sure you have a car charger or a couple extra batteries.

- Collapse -
BS
Jun 26, 2007 11:41PM PDT

The remarks about the PSP not being good for playing games or music are total BS. The PSP's battery life isn't great when playing UMDs (the proprietary game/movie disks that the PSP uses), but that battery life is much, much greater when playing music, movies, and games off of a memory card. If you want a huge amount of storage space for music and video (20 GB or more), then I'd certainly suggest an ipod over a PSP. But I'd recommend a PSP as a music player over an ipod nano (or any 4 GB or less mp3 player) any day. If you just used the PSP as a music player and set it so that the screen turns off automatically after a minute, you should be able to get 20 hours or more of play on one charge.

- Collapse -
Thanks for the answers
Jun 27, 2007 1:08AM PDT

I bought a PSP a few weeks ago and I'm really glad I did, it is a great device. I've used it very little for an MP3 player, so I'm glad that it does more than just play music.

I'm glad I decided to get it, it is pretty awesome.