My PSP is over two years old - I got it in December of 2004 from Japan. Over the course of that time, I've:

- Dropped it on linoleum from waist height, hard enough to eject the memory stick AND battery.

- Had it fall out of its case onto CONCRETE STEPS (landed on its back).

- Dropped it on hardwood flooring, this time hard enough to eject the UMD GAME, battery and memory stick.

- Left it in a car during the summer heatwave last year here in California, hot enough to melt a portable DVD player into its nylon bag. The PSP was too hot to hold for about 15 minutes.

...It still looks practically brand new, not a scratch on the screen (thanks, Martin Fields) and hardly more than the slightest scratch or wear on the black casing.

The PSP may not survive the sticky, clumsy fingers of a careless child as well as a DS (phat moreso than lite), but it's no slouch in the durability department, especially considering its design.

Reply

My PSP did fall on the ground a couple of times, but it survived both accidents. Don't want to push my luck though...

I saw a very funny story on the DSFanboy site, BTW:

"I love playing NDS on the toilet after coming home from school. On afternoon I got careless and I dropped it right into the bowl! fortunately i was only doing #1 so i was able to rince it off and let it dry. Still works today.. my touch screen seems to be a little yellowish compare to the top screen, but i read that it was normal! *whew*"

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Reply

My first PSP looks like shit and that's although it isn't even two years old. I tried to clean it with a micro-fibre (dunno what you native speakers really call it) piece of cloth and it scratched the display *bad* time. That's why I bought a second, white PSP, which still looks totally neat. I had to learn the hard way.
Oh by the way, I cleaned the frontplate from the *inside* because dust somehow settled behind it and it was even more disgusting than the scratches it now has.

Reply

I've always head loads of smack about the PSP's so-called 'durability', but never have I had a complaint. Hell, mine's done fine.

Anyway, back on-topic: Gaming machines aren't meant for abuse, regardless.

Reply

I have had my PSP one year now, most of the time I have owned it have had a shield for it, still looks pretty much brand new, this is after quite a bit of use almost every single day. The only nod I ever give the DS is the built in screen protector, the PSP I wish would have had this as well.

Reply

In all fairness, no matter how "high tech" a portable devise is, it should be able to withstand a good beating. The frailness and large size of the psp are the only things that stop it from being a regular part of my commute.

That and I can't read e-books while listening to mp3s.

Reply

Why would they need to build an accident-safe plasma TV, something thats meant to stay indoors and stationary? Thats a bad comparison. PSP is meant to be portable and taken outside, where its more likely to get banged up.

Reply

Except the PSP isn't frail, relatively speaking.

You want to talk frail? iPOD. Sneeze on that thing and you scratch it. The whole thing, from the scratchprone front to the delicate finish of the mirror chrome back, screams DO NOT TOUCH ME! Even the new disc pad has a gap that allows fluid inside, so if you're using a protective cover that requires a spritz of lubricant to apply, you can (and people have) short out your pod.

What's my point? Does that mean the PSP is utterly bulletproof? No, you really need a screen protector (like the iPOD). You need a case. But with a MODICUM of care, the thing is fine. You can't chuck it into a man-bag with your keys and cell phone, but you can't do that with just about anything else, either - including a DS Lite with its glossy finish (mine is starting to look a bit rough because I did exactly that - at least its screen isn't exposed).

I've owned one holy crapload of handheld gadgets... About 12-14 or so PDA's, smartphones, games, etc. - Other than the display being so big on the PSP (like any PMP), it's not really below the average in terms of durability. If anything, it's been surprisingly resilient.

Reply

The screen on the psp is so nice, it's a shame that the designers didn't think it needed to be protected when thrown into a backpack or cargo pocket. I have one of the those clear, hard-plastic shields for it. Wish I didn't need it though.

Reply

#7
The PSP can take a good beating I guess it really matters how well you take care of your things. So, are you saying there are many kewl High Tech devices that you don't own simply because you don't feel they will hold up to how you handle them?

Reply

Yes treker! There are plenty of PORTABLE devises I just don't own because I think they are too delicate. The iPod (as pixelator noted) is one, the razr is another; but those are specifically made for everyday use. I've seen too many people waste too much money on these things only to see them get messed up too easy, lose functions, or just break outright.

I like my psp but it's more of a travel devise for me rather than a commuting devise because, let's face it, I can be as careful as a cat and treat my psp like a kitten but you're not always in control of everything that happens to you during a commute. I handle my delicate toys quite well but I don't trust the shmucks I ride the subway with (or the crackhead driving the thing) to care about it. I guess it's not much a concern if you live in a bubble.

I will definitely agree with you guys that it's not the worst portable devise sony has come up with. There are plenty more that are much worse and far more fragile, like those laptops, and that mini disc line they were so proud of for a while. I just feel sorry for anyone who bought any of THAT crap.

Reply

Uhm , what would happen if the DS would be open ?

Reply