INQ finds Sony PSP clear and bright

WITH THE PSP released yesterday, the net is abuzz with reviews and information on Sony's stunning new piece of kit. The INQ was on hand to pick up one of the units, and has found it absolutely satisfactory.

The screen is as huge and clear as has previously been supposed, and the general feel of the hardware is top-notch. With that said, the analogue stick could be implemented a little better, we feel. It doesn't always stay comfortable to use for prolonged periods.

The games are PS2-quality, which is frankly astounding for a handheld console. It kicks the Nintendo DS into a cocked hat.

The video playback is also exceptionally good, and the PSP makes a great portable media player. The MP3 support, however, is pretty atrocious - the playback app really isn't particularly user friendly. Even when playing video, you can get a good 5-6 hours of battery life out of the unit.

The UMD disc format is pretty intruiging. It's clearly just a mini-DVD, but the plastic caddy makes it a lot more rugged - perfect for portability.

You can find plenty more coverage of the PSP at these esteemed sites:

Wired - Take your porn on the road
Bytesector covers the launch event
Joystiq - the dead pixel problem
Eurogamer - comprehensive games coverage

In the meantime, have an ogle at our pics. This is one desirable bit of kit. µ