Amongst all the PSP bashing I have read in recent months, I notice something missing. Every writer describes how bad the PSP is as a game playing console, particularly compared to Nintendo’s DS. No doubt, the DS is a better handheld gaming system. I feel Sony has not done a good job of setting the PSP in a unique niche. Let me count what I consider to be several winning features of the PSP:

1. At the time of its launch, it was one of the few that had built-in WiFi
2. It allows for browsing the web using it’s (rather clunky) web browser
3. The PSP lets you play Flash games and watch Flash videos
4. You can subscribe to podcasts through the RSS feature of the PSP
5. The display is gorgeous despite being a smudge magnet
6. The USB interface enables an industry-standard ready to be exploited

Now to some of the features that are not all that alluring:

1. That terrible UMD disk – DOA is the word (or is that a phrase??)
2. Poorly designed controls for gaming – leads to finger and hand fatigue within a matter of a few minutes
3. Sony’s constant “upgrades” to the operating system that prevents or hampers the creation of third-party applications
4. Lack of a podcatcher software – Sony’s basic assumption that everyone has an always-on, always-available WiFi connection is highly suspect at best, and ludicrous at worst
5. The “Sony crawl” with respect to add-ons to the PSP – where is the GPS, the camera (yes, yes, I know we’ve all heard that these are “available”; that’s Sony speak for we will get it to you when we desire)
6. The horribly difficult virtual keyboard that one uses with the browser, for instance

Ok, let me not get carried away. I think the PSP is a versatile device that needs a few things to make it a serious competitor in many ways to the iPod, the iPhone, and several other similar devices. Let’s hear what you have to say.