-Accessories

Because I got a PSP Value Pack, I received a Memory Stick, case, strap, headphones, and remote control with my PSP, in addition to the standard battery and charger. Neither Value Pack nor standard run PSP includes a cradle -- something I expect to be introduced in time. It did not include a Demo Disc, as some sources had led me to believe.

The case that comes with the PSP isn't what I'd call a case. I'd put it more along the lines of "protective sleeve." It's nothing more than a black case with the PSP logo. I'd have asked for at least a little pocket o­n the back to hold an additional UMD, or perhaps even a small pocket for another Memory Stick Duo, but I'm not in charge of SCE. As such, don't expect the Value Pack's included case to be your final PSP case. It does, however, fit the PSP like a glove. Also, because of the positioning of the power connector o­n the PSP itself, you can connect your adapter to the PSP while it's still in its case. You certainly wouldn't want your ultra-glossy screen to get all dusty while the PSP recharges overnight.

On to the included remote control, which is sub-par. There is no LCD, and it features buttons for play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track. It's also got a clip o­n the back, but being the American that I am, I know nothing of clipping remote to any part of my body. As such, I expect my remote to forever sit at the bottom of my PSP box. I already own an MP3 player, and don't intend to use my PSP as o­ne. Because I can't find a use for the remote other than MP3 playback, I don't think it's very useful to me for the time being.

Here's a good point to bring in the included inner-ear type earphones. Plain and simple, these are Sony's own just rebranded with a PSP logo. What did you expect? I find their quality to be acceptable, but I'm a headphones man myself. Regardless, I've taken a pic of them for you.

I'd like to point something out about the PSP's design here. The positioning of the headphone/remote port o­n the PSP is, like the power port, towards the outside. If you use the included setup, it will plug in looking like the first picture. But if you don't use the included headphones, and have some with the "L-shape" at the end, it would serve you best to move the L towards the inside of the PSP, so that you don't accidentally knock it out while playing. Just a pointer.

A 32MB Memory Stick Duo is included with the PSP Value Pack, which may or may not give you enough space. Note that the pictured Memory Stick Adapter is not included, and is pictured o­nly for comparison purposes. Moji Pittan's packaging lists 192KB of required free space, and Lumines' packaging lists 96KB of required free space. Averaging these two (because that's really all I have to go by) gives you 144KB -- presuming every save game you save to the PSP is around this big, you'll be able to fit about 227 games' save data o­n a 32MB stick. Still, 144KB is a bold assumption. Even so, because of the PSP's multimedia capabilities (more o­n these later), you'll likely want to pick up a larger stick. I got a 512MB Memory Stick Duo from NewEgg for about $75, so if you plan o­n using your PSP for video playback and so forth, certainly invest in something larger. I also purchased a 64MB Memory Stick Duo. I plan o­n using the 64MB stick for save games, and the 512MB stick for multimedia. But those are just my habits, so certainly see how things pan out for you with the included 32MB stick before you go buying anything larger.

The PSP also includes a leather strap, for o­ne reason or another. I expect this has something to do with the Japanese obsession with straps, whether they be o­n cell phones, PDAs, or people. o­nce again, my American-ness shows here, and I don't expect a white strap to be hanging from my PSP anytime soon. The strap has the four Playstation buttons "engraved" (if that's the correct word) at the end, and is intended to be hung from the lower left of the PSP by the headphone connector.

One final "accessory" to mention is the USB connection. A USB cable is NOT included with the PSP. You'll need to pick o­ne of these up. The connector type is "USB Mini," I believe. My suggestion here is to get a cable prior to getting your PSP. Vendors such as Best Buy, Fry's, and Circuit City wanted to charge me like $20 for the same cable I got for $3 from NewEgg. I recommend getting o­ne before you get your PSP, so you won't be driven to splurge when the time comes. Here's a pic of the connector o­n the PSP itself, and a cable I got that fits it. Note that if you have a digital camera that connects by USB, you may want to take a look at its cable before going and buying another -- you may be able to use the same o­ne. The PSP connects by USB 2.0, and because of the "PRO" in Memory Stick PRO Duo, transfers between PC and PSP are very speedy. o­ne thing I wish Sony had included, however, was some sort of server functionality for the PSP. For example, why couldn't the PSP simply be recognized as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, eliminating the need for a USB cable?

And that's your standard battery and adapter. I took a pic of the adapter because I've had some difficulty coming across another adapter that does 5V. Would 4.5V be too little, or 6V be too much? Anyone know?

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