Help Mark decide on...

[Mark]

A new gadget.

Okay, so this is my predicament: I've been using a CD-player to listen to music on the go for around five or so years now and a Gameboy Advance to play on the go. I just a got a cellphone recently.

Translation: I need to step up to something newer, and preferably shiny(er).

So, here's what I'm looking at: a music player, Creative Lab's Zen or Microsoft's Zune. In the case of the Zen, the Zen Vision M or the Vision W? While my cellphone can play MP3s, I'd have to buy a MicroSD card for it and a Bluetooth headset. Worth it? I don't think so, personally.

OR...I could get a Nintendo DS Lite or a PSP. There's games on both systems that I like a lot. The DS Lite can play my GBA games, and if I buy a special cart I can play roms/music/videos/etc. The PSP can do some of the same stuff, from what I've heard. I don't know very much about the PSP other than it too has some games on it that I really want to play.

So here's where you guys come in. What should I get? I'm so lost. I can't decide!

[Myz]

I use a Zune, and would highly recommend it to anyone searching for an MP3 / video player / w/e else it does.

Though, I know people with PSPs, and they are great as music players as well as they are for gaming.

[Rioken]

As a PSP owner, my advise is to get the DS Lite. I've played my PSP maybe once this entire year. I offered my PSP to a friend if he buys me a DS Lite :P

[Mark]

I'm really leaning towards a DS or PSP just because of the simple fact that they can play games and music and movies.

[Diablo]

Ds Ftw!!!!!

[Mark]

If I got a DS, I'd have to spend anoth $100 on a flashcart, MicroSD card, passcard. :l

What's the PSP scene like?

[Zio]

Funny, i thought i posted here before... well, I bought a PSP a long time ago, i dont know how the DS is, so i wont talk abouth it.

Since i have the PSP, i use it everyday, when i go out i listen some music (i cant go with some music on my ear ) with the psp, i only had to buy a 1Gb memory card (and i am start thinking on buying another one with more capacity) And when i have some time i just play a little with one of the games i have, o i just wach some series (Anime, like Death Note).

And now i am waitig to the server on the Ps3 on Spain to have the Download option, from a cheap price you can download a PSX game to your psp (FFVII is the one i want).

In short words, in a psp you can have, music/videos/games/photos (you can also select your own background image) it depends the use you will going to give it, but as a PSP user i would recomend you to buy it.

*edit: oh, i forgot the Internet, with psp you can navigate throught the internet if you can find a Wifi conection.

[Empyreal Rhapsody]

What's the PSP scene like?

Homebrew: good
Licensed games: awful

[Mark]

Well, there's two games on the PSP that I can think of right now that I really want. One is the launch game, Darkstalkers, and the other is the Megaman X collection, whatever it's called. I'm sure there are a few others I want to play too.

Does the PSP have many stable/good emulators yet? For the GBA, SNES, etc.?

[Empyreal Rhapsody]

Well I know you can run PSX ROMs, and I believe there is N64 support too, which is quite impressive really. I would think it's safe to assume that there would also be emulators for GBA, SNES, NES and what not as well. As for stability, I'm not too sure. I think the PSX emulator would be pretty good, as it was written by Sony. Not so sure about the others.

If you can put up with the bulk, and don't mind not having all of your music with you at once, the PSP is a decent enough portable music player.

It's also the best the portable video player I've ever come across (in terms of portability, battery life and quality). You just download the movie file or rip it onto your PC, and then follow the frankly bizarre ritual necessary for getting it onto the damn thing. It's counter-intuitive and awkward, but for someone who's even vaguely capable with computers it's a doddle. There's also software available to smooth out the process (don't even think about paying for Sony's software solution (especially when it should, without any doubt, be supplied for free), as there are good, free options available).

It also have a web browser, but I'm not sure how useful that is in the States. Here in the UK it's an utterly pointless feature, what with the lack of free wireless net access, coupled with the widespread and relatively cheap availability of cellular Internet access.

I've heard that the homebrew community is very strong and very productive, with **** loads of apps (most likely all useless) and emulators and ROMs available.

However, when it comes to games... well, I've never gotten into the homebrew side of things, I own and iPod and don't watch videos whilst on the move, and I haven't touched my PSP for about eighteen months, and I got it nineteen months ago (well, that's a lie -- I imported it from Japan about two years ago, but it was un-usable until the UK release, due to Sony's peculiar software regionalisation) and my unwillingness to buy Japanese games. So yeah, the games on it suck. Also the design of the unit itself is nothing short of appalling. It's easily the single most poorly designed object I own. However, I think the terrible ergonomics can be dealt with as long as you don't play a game that requires the use of the analogue stick.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Empyreal Rhapsody

It's also the best the portable video player I've ever come across (in terms of portability, battery life and quality). You just download the movie file or rip it onto your PC, and then follow the frankly bizarre ritual necessary for getting it onto the damn thing. It's counter-intuitive and awkward, but for someone who's even vaguely capable with computers it's a doddle. There's also software available to smooth out the process (don't even think about paying for Sony's software solution (especially when it should, without any doubt, be supplied for free), as there are good, free options available).

Care to elaborate on that ritual? It's the first time I've heard of it.

[SilverNight]

You have to convert the video file into the video type that the PSP takes. I forgot what the name is but I think it's MP4, it can take a few other video types aswell but unforetunately nothing mainstream yet.. Anyways to do this you need to basically google the video type and you can find converters.. Simply convert, create the folders needed and drop and drag. Not hard at all.

I myself use my PSP all the time, you can get upwards of a 4gig stick for it that I know of, maybe larger. It can manage pictures, videos, music and it can hold text files but can't read them.. So you can sort of use it as a portable drive, possibly. The UMD's are interesting seeing as you can get a decent amount of UMD music AND movies, and they are good quality. This thing has alot of good features that made me get it over the DS, it's alot easier to deal with than getting add-ons and all that for the DS. If you're looking for just a music player, go with an actual music storage device. iPod or whatever, but if you want something that can do alot of different things, the PSP to me is good.

The browser on the other hand leaves alot to be desired -but- it does get basic things done, you can check your email and most websites display perfectly fine on it. Also the PSP has a RSS client built into it.

Hoped that helped abit Mark. ^^

[Mark]

I really can't make up my mind. I keep on going back and forth between wanting to a Zen and not getting a Zen (because it can't play games). Between wanting to get a DS and not wanting a DS (because it's pretty expensive to get it to play music, movies, roms, etc.).

[SilverNight]

Yeah, I liked the PSP cause it covered just about everything I could think of. There's games for both the PSP and DS that are good but I got the PSP and my fiance the DS. In the end I would stick with my PSP though. I don't even know how much it costs to get it to do everything the PSP can already do but it probably will cost more than a PSP.

[Empyreal Rhapsody]

Originally Posted by SilverNight

You have to convert the video file into the video type that the PSP takes. I forgot what the name is but I think it's MP4, it can take a few other video types aswell but unforetunately nothing mainstream yet.. Anyways to do this you need to basically google the video type and you can find converters.. Simply convert, create the folders needed and drop and drag. Not hard at all.

I seem to remember it being quite fussy about the names of files and what folders they were put into. It all just seemed pretty strange. Plus I can't believe that Sony charge for the software to do it.