PSP hardware

[MonkeyWrench]

I use a couple of the normal PSP cases, you can fit three games in each (one clipped in and two loose).

[mr_fantazmo]

Samsung and Sharp are probably as good as each other at making screens.

I disagree, Sharp make the best LCD panels in the world, they invented LCD and they are the ones who push the boundaries i.e - Worlds first wireless LCD, biggest LCD etc

To my knowledge samsung are a korean manufacturer and are below par compared with the japanese!

[Fire]

A few comments about PSP having sat down to play mine this morning.

First of all, the screen really is great. I had a niggling feeling that I was going to be slightly underwhelmed having owned an iPAQ PDA which had a lovely screen, but the colours are so vivid and sharp that all the hype really is justified. The pixels are absolutely tiny compared to what you might be used to on a TFT monitor, combined with the fact that they're so tightly packed, I imagine you'd be hard pushed to notice a dead pixel if it was present. Even the Everybody's golf menu screens at brightness level three or four are a sight to behold for a minute or two. I did notice some ghosting straight away but it's not too bad, I'm hoping it will become less noticable after a few weeks - as it did after moving from a CRT monitor to a 16ms TFT on my PC.

I think I will keep the unit in a state of eternal August so I can have the lovely deep blue XMB background though, some of the colours are horrible

The build quality seems solid. Out of the box, mine had the annoying squeaky d-pad right but it went away after waggling the d-pad in full circle motions for a minute. I suspect the squeaking may be related to the unit being excessively cold during transit. Not that the d-pad is getting much use at the moment - playing Ridge Racers with the analogue disc is great! I'm finding the disc a joy to use, very comfortable to hold and a nice feel and responsiveness while playing.

The front face of the unit is not as reflective as I thought it was going to be and although it does pick up fingerprints, I find they're not really noticable unless you tilt it to the correct light. I've not had any marks on the screen because... I don't put my fingers on the screen! (I think I may make my flatmates sign a declaration or wear surgical gloves before playing as some people seem to really like poking at any screen, much to my annoyance).

My only complaints are that the L shoulder button wobbles back a bit when you press it's front face, the R button is perfectly firm so this is a bit annoying. I guess I could wedge a little piece of paper behind it, pity they are transparent.

Also, when you open the UMD slot an alarming amount of inner workings and circuitry seems to be on display. I'd of liked if they had lined it a bit instead of having all these holes and ribbon cables out in the open. That's the price you pay for such compact casing I guess. The PSP is basically a thin screen with buttons on the side. I'll definately be keeping it in it's pouch when in a pocket or bag incase the slot gets knocked open as well as to protect the screen.

Anyway, I'd better get back to driving on the circuits.... and the fairway

[NeilMcRae]

I disagree, Sharp make the best LCD panels in the world, they invented LCD and they are the ones who push the boundaries i.e - Worlds first wireless LCD, biggest LCD etc

To my knowledge samsung are a korean manufacturer and are below par compared with the japanese!

You are talking bollocks, first most stuff these days is made in china and:

1988: Fridrich Reinitzer, an Austrian botanist discovered liquid crystal phase transition Phenomenon
1889: Otto Lehmann, Physicist in Germany, coined the term "liquid crystal"
1968: A reseach group at RCA in US, headed by George Heilmeier, developed the first LCDs based on DSM (dynamic scattering mode)
1969: James Fergason, an associate director of Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University in Ohio, discovered the TN (twisted nematic) field effect.
The guy above holds the patent for LCD.

1972: S,Kobayashi in Japan produced first defect free LCD.
1973: G. Gray of BDH Ltd in UK invented biphenyl liquid crystal material to make stable LCD possible.
1983: T.Scheffer and J.Nehring discovered STN (super twisted nematic) field effect.
1986: NEC produced first laptop LCD computer
1995: Sharp produced 28" TFT LCD.
2001: Samsung produced 42" TFT LCD.
2002: LCD overtook CRT as desktop monitors.


Hmm.

Neil.

[NeilMcRae]

Good idea Neil, are the discs held firmly in the middle with no rattling?

Also, has anyone actually managed to fit a screen protector properly? Mine was already covered in dust and fibres before I even had a chance to put it on the PSP. I've tried to wash it and dry it by suspending it over a radiator but it's completely manky and ruined. I don't know if I'm going to bother ordering another one as I suspect it's impossible to fit it perfectly.

Yes. its hard but the key is preperation [i must have wasted about 100quid on PDA screen protectors, dust free area, lots of space. tape the PSP down with masking tape in tate mode, have plenty of light. Remove about an inch of the backing apply to the bottom ensuring no bubbles, then with a cloth along the bottom of your hard whilst holding the backing rub upwards to push more of the protector down. Forget washing it - its a bin job. I strongly recommend installing a screen protector and those with a DS would be nuts not too esp on the touch screen.

Neil.

[MikeF]

stupid fool I am, only bought the wrong cable from ebay the first time round (was a 4 pin connector)

Just bought the right 5 pin one now.

Still looking for a memory card though

[NeilMcRae]

which cable did you buy?

[MikeF]

This is the new one

[NeilMcRae]

what was the old one?

[MikeF]

pretty much the same but it was only a 4 pin model. If it works I can keep one of them at work

[NeilMcRae]

I think it should work. I think the 5th pin is for power.

Neil.

[mr_fantazmo]

You are talking bollocks, first most stuff these days is made in china

HMMMM! Is Kameyama in china??? Because thats where Sharps new LARGEST multi million pound production facility is based.

1973: G. Gray of BDH Ltd in UK invented biphenyl liquid crystal material to make stable LCD possible

HMMM, in 1973 Sharp released the first commercial LCD application in a calculator!

1986: NEC produced first laptop LCD computer

Ok first LCD laptop computer lcd screen, whilst a year later sharp had designed the first 3" LCD TV

Samsung produced 42" TFT LCD

2004 Sharp release 45" LCD panel, largest ever made!


And anyway, think what yo like, but if you offered me a sharp lcd or a samsung lcd, like most others i would take the sharp anyday!!

Maybe we're both talking bollocks!!

[sj33]

This is a bit of a random question, but when cleaning my PSP's screen, it almost seems as if there's a layer of oil over the screen... and as a result, any cleaning I do just smudges.

I'm going to have to clean it, as my screen protector will some any time now... does anyone else have this problem? I might have to put a dab of water on the thing but y'know... paranoid me doesn't wanna break the PSP...

[Taka]

I just use a tiny bit of the lens cleaning spray I bought for my glasses, gets rid of any grease or residue on the surface. If its safe for the special anti-glare and scratch resistant coating on them then I guess it should be fine for my PSP.

[MonkeyWrench]

A bit of breath and some spec wipes from Muji work wonders.

Whilst on the subject, anyone have any recommendations on screen protectors?