First Look: Sony’s Impressive PlayStation Portable

“It’s black and shiny with clear acrylic buttons; it plays games, music, and movies; and it’s coming to a store near you March 24. It’s Sony’s $250 PlayStation Portable, and after two days of intense testing, I’ve reached a conclusion: You’re probably going to want one of these, despite a few minor flaws.

The first thing you notice when you remove the unit from the box is that big display.

The PSP’s 4.3-inch, 480-by-272-pixel TFT LCD screen is absolutely beautiful, with bright, vibrant color on display during both game and movie play. Everyone who peeked at the PSP commented about how good the screen looked, and I have to agree, it’s striking.

However, there are several drawbacks to the display’s brilliantly shiny surface, chief among them fingerprints. Within minutes of opening the box, I’d covered the device with prints that were so noticeable you wouldn’t need a crime scene investigation unit to lift one. I guess that’s why Sony ships the special gray chamois cloth with the unit. I predict that the PSP will inspire many gamers to perform a new ritual: wiping fingerprint grease off the screen before playing a game or watching a movie.”