Help Mark decide on...

[SilverNight]

Nah it's really simple for people that can think alittle. Yeah, Sony charges for the software but it does do other stuff, not just convert the files. Not only that but there are plenty of free programs out there on the net that are actually easier than the software.

[Mark]

Huh, my DS-fanatic friend told me today to get a PSP, not a DS, if I wanted to listen to music/watch videos/play games. I find that kinda funny.

[SilverNight]

Indeed, that is funny. XD I must agree though. -.-

[Joy]

If you just wanna play: Get a DS.

If you want to do everything (in a jack-of-all-trades sort of way: Get a PSP

If you just want the music/video: Get a Zune.

Really just depends on what you want more ^-~ I have an iPod, DSl, and a PSP. I don't use my PSP. I wish I could find my charger though because I finally bought another game for it -_- (Gurumin, the cutest game EVER)

[Ether]

Out of the gadgets you mentioned, I've only got the DSlite. So i'll talk about that:

A DSL will cost you $129.99 (standard price nowadays).
But if you decide to get a DS you'd want a flash kit with it.

R4 + 1GB Kingston *** microSD card I've found selling for $44.25 US. The R4 is currently the most popular flash card because it's cheap, has decent homebrew support and:
[spoiler]The R4 runs all commercial roms with the same performance of actual game cartridges. But I wont go into that here. [/spoiler]
the Kingston *** microSD card apparently works the best with the R4. I've found a deal where you can get both for 44.25 with free shipping.

Anyway with DS homebrew you can go use msn, listen to music, watch vids, use linux, play NES games etc. Let me remind you that the DS was not made for this purpose and so listening to music will not have the best quality unless you buy a device that was built for music. You've probably heard of the playan micro with it's own headphone jack. Videos have to be converted too if you're using it with the R4. You'll probably lose some quality here too.

You can also browse the web using opera, but you'll need a RAM expansion pack (basically a GBA cartridge that acts as extra ram)

However the best for homebrew support would be the DS-X, which is a lot more expensive than the R4 but has the best homebrew support. BTW, no I dont have a R4.

Anyway, back to the DS.

There are a LOT of games available. Keeping in mind that the total number of images of DS games available include multi-dumps (e.g. mario kart has a Japanese, US, EUR, Korean versions) there are over 1018 or so atm. Some of the good games would be Mario Kart, Advance Wars, Mario Kart, Final Fantasy III (if you like FF), Lunar Knights, Super Mario 64 DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Super Mario Bros. , Phoenix Wright Series, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl ...etc. Coming games include Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings, Dragon Quest...(cant think of any others at the top of my head).

So yeah, lots of games, but a lot of them may not appeal to you.

In conclusion, the DS is a great device for games, with being able to listen to music and play videos as well. Homebrew is decent as well. I'll just mention a battery life of 18 hrs on the lowest brightness setting. Which is handy.

The PSP has good titles as well. Just the DS had more titles that I wanted. It's probably superior with music and video though.

Both the PSP and DS can connect to wifi hotspots. The PSP has connectivity to PS3, while the DS has connectivity with the Wii.

If I were you, I'd find list the PSP and DS games I want, side by side. Choose the list that you want more.

If you really only want music, then just go for a mp3 player. Nothing beats the portability of one. the DSL is quite light though.

Woo massive post. Sorry, this makes the post 527 words =|

[Mark]

Lol, nice.

If I got a flash cart/kit for my DS, it would have to support GBA emulation. I saw the R4/M3 Simply and I liked it a lot, until I saw it couldn't play GBA homebrew/roms. I'd have to buy something like this: Supercard Lite Superkey Bundle

Not cheap.

[osric]

wtf? can't people just get a portable device and use it without having to add $200 worth of extra crap?

[Trevyc]

Personally, if it were me deciding between the three, I would go with the PSP. Why?

It plays games with pretty decent graphics for being handheld,
It plays audio files (music for example)
It plays video files (music videos for example)
Its shiny.

And I think its more prettier than the DS :P

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Mark

Lol, nice.

If I got a flash cart/kit for my DS, it would have to support GBA emulation. I saw the R4/M3 Simply and I liked it a lot, until I saw it couldn't play GBA homebrew/roms. I'd have to buy something like this: Supercard Lite Superkey Bundle

Not cheap.

Yep you're right. I Forgot to mention the lack of GBA Support for slot 1 solutions. If you are wanting GBA support, I'd wait for the M3 Real, which is a slot 1 card that has been rumoured to miraculously have GBA support. But actual information/pictures of the M3 real is even more scarce than Aion information :3

The difference between R4/M3 simply and supercard lite is that the R4/M3 uses only the slot 1 of the DS (the small DS game slot). The supercard lite has to use both the DS slot and GBA slot. This drains more power.

I know nothing about the PSP though so I cant help you decide =P

EDIT: ooh my information is slightly wrong. the M3 Real has been rumoured to use both slot 1 and slot 2. You know how slot 2 solution cards (like that supercard lite you mentioned) use a passcard to trick the DS into running DS games from the GBA slot? Well apparently the M3 real does the opposite thing for GBA. Interesting ^^

[Mark]

Then I guess I'll hold off on buying anything until I see something about this M3 Real.

[Koji]

PSPs can do what you want. Just gotta rub them the right way.

I use my PSP for games, music, video, internet and even composing music. It's homebrew is very good when you've got the knowhow.

Sony have recently released an offical PSX em for PSP but you have to do some fiddling about with cracked versions if you also want to play NES, SNES, Amiga, Atari etc em's.

A friend of mine did all this recently and even wrote a tutorial on how to do it.

This can be found here

It's a lengthly read but it gives you links, tips and step by step instructions about how to fully kit out your PSP with homebrew using the latest firmware.

NOTE: You need GTA Liberty City Stories to do it. It's also a good game anyway...but a handy tool

All in all go for a PSP.

[Mark]

...Well, Capcom vs SNK card game just came out on the DS. :l

I think I'm going to sit on my *** and wait for something amazing to happen...

[Ether]

hehe alright =P So I hear the forum is getting an upgrade sometime soon instead :P

^^''

[Mark]

What?

Anyhow, HALO 3 ZUNE! MY MIND HAS BEEN MADE FOR ME!

[Yakuzan]

Originally Posted by Koji

PSPs can do what you want. Just gotta rub them the right way.

All in all go for a PSP.

Amen to PSP, I am the proud owner of a limited edition white PSP which has been modified(carefully lol). I got a couple 2gb and two or three 4gb memory's for it most of them are full I need a new one .

Anyways, I use it all the time, but what I think makes the difference between PSP's and any other system is it's screen who wants to watch a movie on an ipod screen?