Sony PSP GO is a post from: Stuffworks.com

It has been 4 years since Sony introduced the PSP and now as of  last Thursday Sony launched the new PSP Go, and judging by the early reviews, opinions are mixed. In one hand, you have a slick, more portable device with a crisp screen and new game formats. But legacy PSP owners will be dogged with some crossover issues, and most Sony PSP Go content is available through only one retail source.

PSP Go

The PSP Go is a sleek-looking device, which is 16 percent lighter and 35 percent smaller than its predecessor, the PSP 3000. The screen has shrunk to 3.8 inches from 4.3 inches. The Go supports Bluetooth but, most importantly, the UMD drive is gone. That means all content, including games, must be saved to the device’s 16GB internal memory or a Memory Stick Micro (M2) card. The Go retails for $250, and it looks like a 16GB Memory Stick Micro card will set you back somewhere between $60 and $80.

All About Sony

If you own a big collection of UMD games or movies for the PSP, they’ll be worthless on the new PSP Go.  All of those games and videos are now stuck on your old PSP. Sony has not created a way for the old games to be read and transferred to the new UMDless PSP Go, according to Ars Technica.

On the one hand, that’s to be expected when a new system comes along. But really, the PSP Go is just a refreshed system; nothing is very new about it. It has no jump ahead in graphics, no new gaming capabilities, and no substantial new features other than Bluetooth connectivity. So why not create a mechanism to transfer games?

Games aren’t the only legacy problem, either. The PSP Go now has a proprietary mini-USB cable, which means any old cable just won’t do. The new cable is included with the device, of course, but if you lose or break that cable a new one will set you back at least fifteen bucks. That may not be the biggest deal in the world, but it’s just one more hassle that doesn’t need to be there. Then there’s the memory stick. The Pro duo format is gone, so transferring your old data from a legacy PSP to the new Go has to be done through a PC or PS3. Again not a big deal, but it is another hassle.

Go Games

Instead of buying games from your local video game shop, all PSP Go games must be purchased online from Sony’s PlayStation Store. Early reviews are complaining about the download speeds when you buy a new game from Sony. The average time seems to be at least an hour if not two to download a title directly to the Go. The problem may be the fact that the PSP Go’s wireless connectivity is 802.11b. Why Sony didn’t go with faster choices like 802.11g or the newly approved 802.11n connectivity is puzzling. Another downside: no background downloads. If you’re downloading a game to the Go, the device will be busy for a few hours. The alternative is to download games to your PC or PS3 and then transfer them later on.

PSP Go Feel

Reviews are mixed about how the PSP Go feels in your hands. Most of the reviews floating around are complaining about the positioning of the controls, but there are a few of the reviewers say that they love the new placement. The new analog stick is reportedly more accurate, but it is smaller and early impressions say it takes some time to get used to.

Overall, people like the new device, but some significant problems like slow download times and a closed system could be problematic for the new system. What do you say? Are you picking up a new PSP Go to call your very own?