The "phat" PSP is just better...

[zektor]

I purchased a PSP Slim awhile back and had issues with the analog stick. I exchanged it and had dead pixels. Again exchanged, again, dead pixels. Exchanged AGAIN, and got one dead pixel free (yay), although the UMD drive would randomly not read discs.

Yeah, this can happen (or has happened) to the original PSP models as well, but there is no question in my mind that the original unit is built more solidly. The only things going for the slim is obviously that it is slimmer, and the fact that it can output to the TV.

I returned the slim unit and purchased a brand new original PSP (I can't believe the Walmart by me still has these) and with a stroke of luck, dead pixel free, no screen bubbles...just perfect. I went back to buy a second unit (as I can imagine these will be darn near impossible to find brand new) just to store away and this one ALSO has no dead pixels and it perfect in every way. Are the PSP gods on my side for once? :)

Yeah, I am going to miss the Tv-out, but not a big deal. I am so glad to have the original unit back again...brand new nonetheless.

Which one do YOU like better, and why?

[heybtbm]

Agreed. I still have my launch PSP and love it. All pixels intact and zero problems.

[Trebuken]

TV-Out wins...

[norkusa]

I'm still playing with my original PSP and never felt an urge to upgrade to a slim. Unlike the DS Lite, slim just doesn't seem like that much of an upgrade from the old model. Sure, it has video-out but to me it seems redundant playing portable games on a TV.

[Daria]

I guess it depends on how you want to use the system. Dead pixels aren't going to matter much if you only plan to play the system on your TV screen.

That said my fat PSP has a sticky analog stick that lists to the right. It's fairly annoying but while nothing I'm going to rush out and replace.

[zektor]

And for the hackers:

The old PSP does have one up for the ability to run 1.50 kernel mode homebrew (via 1.50 addon for 3.71 M33-3 CFW). This means this unit can run ANY of the apps available. The slim needs these apps to be updated, and I didn't find out about this until after the fact. It meant that many of my favorites (namely the TG16 emulators) wouldn't run on the slim.

[geneshifter]

TV-Out wins...

Except that most games on the thing are bad ports of PS2 games, lol. You're better off getting a PS2 for most of these games.

[monkeysuit]

I think the slim has a much better dpad than the original "fatty." Maybe that's just me though.

[zektor]

I think the slim has a much better dpad than the original "fatty." Maybe that's just me though.

You are probably right. I do remember having an issue with diagonals that I didn't have on the slim. I'll have to try these units out regarding that. Good point.

[Damion]

And for the hackers:

The old PSP does have one up for the ability to run 1.50 kernel mode homebrew (via 1.50 addon for 3.71 M33-3 CFW). This means this unit can run ANY of the apps available. The slim needs these apps to be updated, and I didn't find out about this until after the fact. It meant that many of my favorites (namely the TG16 emulators) wouldn't run on the slim.

eloader from noobz doesn't work?

[Jimid2]

I've got both... I have to agree that the phat certainly feels better built, but I haven't had any problems with my Vader-graphic white slim, and I do prefer the slim's D-pad with SF Alpha, Dark Stalkers, Tekken or Guilty Gear - hell, even Mortal Kombat feels better! ;) It's funny, because a lot of the issues I hear about the slim mirror the problems Sony was having with the original phats - my first phat had four dead pixels! I lucked out with my slim though, and hope it lasts as long as my replacement phat has...

[Trebuken]

Except that most games on the thing are bad ports of PS2 games, lol. You're better off getting a PS2 for most of these games.

What? The PSP has a ton of original games...

The TV-Out looks fantastic on my PC Monitor, which happens to have component inputs...

[geneshifter]

What? The PSP has a ton of original games...

The TV-Out looks fantastic on my PC Monitor, which happens to have component inputs...

Well, maybe so, but what's the point of having a portable, handheld system if you hook it up to a TV? Kind of defeats the purpose of having a handheld, doesn't it?

[zektor]

Well, maybe so, but what's the point of having a portable, handheld system if you hook it up to a TV? Kind of defeats the purpose of having a handheld, doesn't it?

Well, again, it depends on what you are using it for. I was personally using it to TV-out UMD and MP4 downloaded movies. It was kind of cool to grab the PSP and cable, go over my brothers house, plug it in and watch a flick. The quality for the movie output (especially UMD) was great.

As for the games, I didn't tv-out them at all.

Back to the dead pixel thing. I am not sure why Sony has not had this problem solved by now. I mean, you can buy monitors and tvs that have a much larger pixel count and not have a problem. I have never purchased a monitor that had a dead pixel myself. But, yes, you will get one with a dead pixel if you are unlucky. It's really a crapshoot, and while many people will just deal with it, I cannot. I have returned multiple times in the past just to get one without dead pixels....amazing.

[zektor]

eloader from noobz doesn't work?

1.50 compatible kernel mode was removed from the slim. The programs will need to be updated to take advantage of hardware features (ie: run in kernel mode, not user mode)

Some apps have been updated tho. Picodrive (Genesis emulator) works great on the slim.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While your personal experience sounds VERY frustrating, and the logical possibility of newer, less-expensive-to-produce hardware proving to have higher instances of "defects" is ... well ... logical ...

I disagree with the sentiment that the "fat" PSP is "just better".

When the fat PSP was the only option, there were plenty of gripe posts on forums about dead pixels ... it's simply something that has plagued the PSP line since the beginning, as well as LCD technology in general.

Pixels die and get stuck in many many devices that use LCD technology, and unless you've lost a solid LINE of pixels in the PSP's you've owned, I don't think that you're in any different boat than many many PSP owners of both FAT or SLIM PSP's.

The disk read errors on the one unit sound troubling, and evidence of a genuine defect, however, I own both a fat and slim PSP and have never encountered any disk read errors (but I've got stuck pixels in both units!).

The short short is that PSP's are subject to dead/stuck pixels. PSP owners usually just live with it. In the midst of a game, I never notice them anyway.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I disagree, and I think that the slim PSP is a great hardware revision. The AV out is great, and there really never was much of a need for a complex spring-loaded UMD eject feature.

[zektor]

Well, of course I didn't expect everyone to agree, and I do like to hear other opinions...which is why I started the thread :)

You mention the spring loading UMD door. Funny, because this was one of the things I thought was kind of cheesy about the slim...not having it that is. I didn't like one bit how you have to manually pull open the door (which by the way feels uncomfortably fragile) and how the UMD is just kind of laid in there. Just my opinion of course, but I MUCH prefer the quality spring load door.

[otaku]

I have both and here is the deal:

I like that the slim is in fact slimmer and lighter its much easier to travel and play with (though it also sorta feels cheap because of this) I also like the tv out and the faster load times

However as I said the fatty seems better built and I like the way the umd drive opens better.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Well, of course I didn't expect everyone to agree, and I do like to hear other opinions...which is why I started the thread :)

You mention the spring loading UMD door. Funny, because this was one of the things I thought was kind of cheesy about the slim...not having it that is. I didn't like one bit how you have to manually pull open the door (which by the way feels uncomfortably fragile) and how the UMD is just kind of laid in there. Just my opinion of course, but I MUCH prefer the quality spring load door.

Don't get me wrong - the overall construction of the fat PSP does seem to feel "better" or "more solid" ... but, just like most hardware revisions, the aim was to produce a more ergonomic (in this case lighter and slimmer) product at a lower cost. (And pass along some savings to the consumer.)

The spring loaded drive door/eject function was nicely made ... but, at the end of the day, not crucial to keep if it shaved a few bucks off the cost (or more importantly the WIDTH) of the system.

I don't think that your gripes are unfounded, especially the load errors - I just think that both the fat and the slim PSP's are both great portable systems, BUT both suffer from random dead/stuck pixel issues ... so calling out the slim as being worse for that reason is a bit harsh.

[zektor]

Absolutely understood. I wasn't actually calling the slim inferior because of the dead pixels, but rather progressing my story as to why I returned it and decided to go another route. I knew that there would be a VERY good possibility that the original PSP would come along with bad pixels...and I just lucked out.

I probably should have just started it with how I feel the slim feels overall cheaper than the original unit. It is understood however. Lower production costs means value to the customer as well as margin increase for Sony. It is a matter of evolution I suppose...sadly...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Most 2nd gen hardware always cuts a corner or two, even if they're not adding features or passing along savings.

Thankfully Sony gave us the AV out, and some hardware architechture for developers to utilize for future faster-loading games. (There really isn't an increase on current releases.)

Honestly, If the slim didn't have the AV out, I probably wouldn't have picked one up.

[meancode]

Agreed. The new PSP 2000 is not an upgrade at all. It is crap. Ask Gamereviewgod what he thinks about his PSP 2000, for which he sold is original PSP to get.

[monkeysuit]

Agreed. The new PSP 2000 is not an upgrade at all. It is crap. Ask Gamereviewgod what he thinks about his PSP 2000, for which he sold is original PSP to get.

Why do you say that?

While I agree that the slim isn't a true "upgrade," it is however a good revision with a few bonuses tacked on.

[heybtbm]

The thread seems full of people getting all defensive and trying to justify their PSP slims.

B-b-b-but it has TV out!

Buy what you want, play what you want. Who cares what other people think? If you feel $170+ is worth playing PSP games on a portion of your TV/monitor...great. Enjoy whatever PSP version you have.

[meancode]

Why do you say that?

While I agree that the slim isn't a true "upgrade," it is however a good revision with a few bonuses tacked on.

OK... off the top of my head:

TV out is gimped. Games only use a portion of your TV (the higher your resolution, the smaller the game is on your TV). Movies and XMB use the entire thing. You will need to mod your PSP 2000 if you want your games to looks as big as the XMB. I am sorry but when homebrew does that, and Sony *still* has not fixed the problem, I take issue.

Also unless you have a modded PSP 2000, you will need a TV that supports component and 480p.

TV out cable is not exactly in a good spot for actually playing games. The analog numb is in the way. Or rather, the TV Out cable is in the way of the analog nub.

The PSP 2000 is nice and light, but it feels like a toy knock off PSP. The old PSP has a nice metal bezel, PSP 2000 has a craptacular plastic one.

UMD door on PSP 2000 is not spring loaded. I personally do not like that. The UMD just "sits" in there, it doesn't slide into the slot like the old PSP. Since it is no longer spring loaded, you have to manually open it, I don't like that, either.

Because of the new TV Out port, my PSP headset is useless on he PSP 2000, thanks a lot Sony.

So, you ask, what do I like about it? It is lighter, the speakers have been moved to a better position, it has more memory so you can cache games, better d-pad, USB charging, better battery.

The positives do not outweigh the negatives. Not for me, and not for a lot of people. Sad, and a waste of a golden opportunity for Sony IMO.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The thread seems full of people getting all defensive and trying to justify their PSP slims.

B-b-b-but it has TV out!

Buy what you want, play what you want. Who cares what other people think? If you feel $170+ is worth playing PSP games on a portion of your TV/monitor...great. Enjoy whatever PSP version you have.

Mmmm ... "getting all defensive" ?

I think the thread started out pretty provokingly "aggressive".

Enough to trigger at least the most basic of defensive explanations from people who think the slim is worthy of at the very least being called "as good as or equal to" the fat PSP.

[monkeysuit]

.

Most of your points are opinionated. Some may like the UMD door, some people have tv's capable of outputting the PSP nicely, some people like a lighter hand held, etc. etc. I'm not trying to argue. I was simply trying to find the reasoning behind your post.

Personally, I don't even have a PSP. I just like reading the impressions from owners of both.

[meancode]

Most of your points are opinionated. Some may like the UMD door, some people have tv's capable of outputting the PSP nicely, some people like a lighter hand held, etc. etc. I'm not trying to argue. I was simply trying to find the reasoning behind your post.

Personally, I don't even have a PSP. I just like reading the impressions from owners of both.

Yes. I am an opinionated person. Actually, I thought I mentioned that "I personally don't like" the UMD door.

Still, I would argue that the TV out is a flaw with the system. It kills the one feature I would plunk down the money to buy the thing for.

[Leo_A]

Would you all say the slim is a good idea for someone who mostly plays classic collections on their PSP? The analog stick is useless on the original, and the d-pad isn't much better. Games like River Raid are unplayable due to not being able to use the diagonals very well on the d-pad. I mainly just want a nice d-pad, is it a significant improvement?

[meancode]

PSP D-PAD MOD SERVICE
http://www.ufighterx.com/dpadserviceindex.htm

[norkusa]

PSP D-PAD MOD SERVICE
http://www.ufighterx.com/dpadserviceindex.htm


Here's DIY d-pad mod instructions with pics if you're brave enough to try it yourself:

http://ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/pspdpadfix/pspdpadfix.htm

[DeputyMoniker]

Unlike the DS Lite, slim just doesn't seem like that much of an upgrade.

Why? What's the difference?

[Wolfrider31]

I bought the "phat" (why don't people call it "fat" wouldn't that be more accurate?) PSP a few months before the slim was released. I considered waiting for it but the TV-Out feature just wasn't a big enough draw and I really like how solid the original feels. I think it's just down to personal preference, I don't like light electronics, it always makes me feel like I'm going to break them.

As far as the games, I think the PSP has long passed the point where game quality can really be considered an issue. There's tons of great original stuff (it's a BEAUTIFUL system if you're an RPG fan) and of the port jobs - well, there's just as many PSP - PS2 ports as there are PS2 - PSP ports. And two words: Crisis Core.

I dunno how many of you use the multimedia features, but I love them. So there's a bonus in that as well.

[norkusa]

Why? What's the difference?

Better, brighter screen is the biggest difference between the original and the DS Lite. Slimmer, sleeker design that's more comfortable.

The slim's design basically the same as the old one. Only major differences is the wifi switch and speaker placements. It's only marginally slimmer/lighter than the original too which is why I don't feel the urgency to upgrade as I did from the DS.

Of course, the new PSP has the video output going for it which is big for some people but not me. Don't understand the point of keeping a portable tethered down to a tv set.

[josekortez]

I'm just glad the slim PSP still fits comfortably in the soft case that came with the original PSP. I keep the Daxter sticker over the cover all the time to make sure the screen stays unscratched, but I found a clean soft case at Gamestop for $3 and that really does the trick.

The slim does feel lighter in weighter, but I wouldn't say that it feels fragile. Actually, the screen seems a bit brighter, too, but I never really adjusted the screen on my fat PSP, so I don't know...

[zektor]

Well, I can say I am SO glad I returned that slim in favor of the good ol' model. There were so many homebrew apps and emulators that simply would not run on the slim due to no 1.5 kernel support. I can get over the loss of tv-out in favor of all of the emulation goodness I am experiencing.

[gepeto]

bump I have 2 fat ones and will trade for a slim if anyone wants to get rid of there slim psp .

[norkusa]

I'm having a lot of problems lately running some emulators on my fat PSP for some reason. SMS Plus and NesterJ start up fine but will ALWAYS crash on me after I select a new rom. A few other emulators are like that too and they seem to be the ones written by ZX-81 and uberjack. Asked around for help on a bunch of PSP forums but I nobody could figure out what the problem is.

It almost makes me want to switch to a slim.

[RyanMurf]

Slim psp wins hands down.

[jonjandran]

Slim psp wins hands down.

+1 :)

[zektor]

Wow, I have to retract my statement(s)! Some time after starting this thread, I did miss the tv-out I had with the slim. I have a decent UMD movie collection now, and I really did like outputting to the TV. I know I know, I could just watch DVD's, but there is just something cool about outputting a portable for me. Not only that, but the screen did look a little brighter on the slim.

That said, I returned my original model and once again went with the Daxter pack. One thing I do have to say is that Sony's production has gotten sloppy to say the least. Got one with a completely scratched bezel. Another with a monster scratch on the screen. Another with what looked like a box cutter slice along the back of it. These were all new in the box, sealed in the clamshell. After some returning, I got ahold of a nice one with no defects.

I do love it, but I still think that Sony paid more attention to production on the original model. Yeah, dead pixels are everywhere, but I never got a scuffed up original PSP right out of the box. I guess these things do not bother most people, but I am a perfectionist (or have a disorder) when it comes to the quality of my equipment.

I guess I can now say that the slim is better, providing of course you can get one without any defects :)

[Damion]

1.50 compatible kernel mode was removed from the slim. The programs will need to be updated to take advantage of hardware features (ie: run in kernel mode, not user mode)

Some apps have been updated tho. Picodrive (Genesis emulator) works great on the slim.

Um.. yeah I understand that. eloader still launches 1.5 subset based programs regardless if you have a slim or not. everything I've thrown at it has worked so far for both types running 3.71 m33 -4.

and for the record. the added "function" does not make up for the cheap feel and look the slim now has. I'm sorely disappointed. not worth 170us imo. In fact when I opened it up I hadn't realized it was the psp untell I opened the box with the charger.

I'm Frankly stunned at the difference in part quality. So much so I gave it to my son for Christmas instead of giving him my old one like I had planned to.

gah I'm disgusted thinking about it.

[mnbren05]

I enjoy the phat and the slim models. I just got the slim vader version and it works well, feels comfortable, and has no significant problems. (Plus the tv out if a nice little feature.) However, the phat model my buddy has has a nice weight to it and feels a bit more together. I really do not know which one is better or really care. Both have their strengths and I wouldn't mind having one of each to compliment my growing PSP/UMD collection.

[Goblin]

I've got the Silver Daxter pack slim and I think it's great. No dead pixels, no scratches just perfect. I'm working on getting the supplies to mod it, once done I'll be able to comment on the homebrew apps. To me this is what a true handheld should be. I've been playing portables since the original gameboy, and I'm so glad technology has advanced to the point where we can get a thin system with killer battery life with such a large screen.