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[refreshZ]

Yeah, another PSP appreciation thread.

So there I am listening to my MP3s on my shiny new PSP, reading the paper. We reach a busy terminus where the train normally stops for 5 minutes. But this 5 minutes turns into 15. I pull an earphone out to hear that we're indefinitely delayed. I hear sighs all around the carriage and numerous people reach for their cellphones and call their work. I roll up the paper, whip out my PSP and watch Kung Fu Hustle for the next 1 and half hours. By the time we look up we're on our way, a train full of frustrated dejected Monday morning rush hour commuters and one guy grinning inanely at Stephen Chow's madcap masterpiece and my PSP's ability to deliver me that experience whenever, wherever.

I just love the damn thing. : )

 

[captmcblack]

 

[Wario64]

Spoiler

.

Gaf needs a journal.

 

[bionic77]

Do we need a new thread everytime someone uses their PSP?

 

[mashoutposse]

I've had a few of those moments, as well. A PSP with a fully loaded 512MB+ DUO is a wonderful thing to have during unexpected delays and such.

 

[Axsider]

Do we need a new thread everytime someone uses their PSP?

Yep! Because it is the happiest day in their lives

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I played my PSP today, bit of Lumines, this game is awesome. That is all.

 

[DDayton]

I can understand carrying around books. Or games. Or music.

It's portable MOVIE WATCHING that I can't understand.

 

[Tabris]

I can understand carrying around books. Or games. Or music.

It's portable MOVIE WATCHING that I can't understand.

What about it can't you understand.

Know what's even better than portable movie watching. Portable "acquired" tv show episodes!

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

The thing about watching movies on the go is, you either need vast amounts of storage with you at all times, or you take a very limited selection with you at any given time. Which means you'd probably already need to be planning to watch a movie to have it with you, or have a few that you'd always love to watch when you have unexpected 90 minute pauses in life. The tininess of things like text are nice for keeping entire libraries in your pocket indefinitely, though.

 

[dark10x]

I can understand carrying around books. Or games. Or music.

It's portable MOVIE WATCHING that I can't understand.

Wha? What's not to understand?

 

[nitewulf]

Yep! Because it is the happiest day in their lives

 

[DDayton]

The thing about watching movies on the go is, you either need vast amounts of storage with you at all times, or you take a very limited selection with you at any given time. Which means you'd probably already need to be planning to watch a movie to have it with you, or have a few that you'd always love to watch when you have unexpected 90 minute pauses in life. The tininess of things like text are nice for keeping entire libraries in your pocket indefinitely, though.

See, that's sort of tied to it. I can understand carrying around a vast supply of books, or music, or a few games... but movies and television? If you haven't watched it before, it would be better to watch it on television. If you have watched it before, why would you want to carry it around with you to watch it several more times?

I can understand carrying around a few short video clips for specific reasons, but I still don't understand the appeal of carrying around a movie or two on a regular basis. I mean, it's neat that you have the ability to do so... I just can't imagine how often it would really be all that handy.

 

[Baron]

If I ever see someone so bereft of culture, so baptized in the MTV music television, and so utterly unable to handle a bit of free time that they have to fill the infrequent quiet, empty times in their lives with constant media bombardment...I will share my displeasure of this with others on the internet.

You just keep on truckin with your ADD, daddy-o.

The rest of us have had virtual movie-things-to-go in our pockets for hundreds of years now. It's called a book. Learn to read. The batteries last forever...

 

[Pedigree Chum]

If I ever see someone so bereft of culture, so baptized in the MTV music television, and so utterly unable to handle a bit of free time that they have to fill the infrequent quiet, empty times in their lives with constant media bombardment...I will share my displeasure of this with others on the internet.

You just keep on truckin with your ADD, daddy-o.

The rest of us have had virtual movie-things-to-go in our pockets for hundreds of years now. It's called a book. Learn to read. The batteries last forever...

What if I read a manga on the PSP, does that count?

 

[Baron]

What if I read a manga on the PSP, does that count?

Get off my lawn, you crazy kids.

 

[StrikerObi]

Music, text, comics, games: All of these make sense to me for the PSP. They all work well in short bursts to some degree.

Movies or TV shows don't really. I find it very annoying to watch half a TV show at one point and another half at another point. However, I will still probably use the PSP a lot for this. I have an hour and a half of free time every Monday and Wednesday. I will probably have episodes of 24 on my PSP (I often miss them becuase of work) to watch during this time.

However, that's a specialized situation that I would be planning for. I don't see the point in carrying around random movies, mostly because I would plan out watching them, and not watch them randomly.

 

[kaching]

You just keep on truckin with your ADD, daddy-o.

Topic starter did say he proceeded to watch the movie for 1.5 hrs...where's the ADD in this scenario?

 

[dark10x]

The rest of us have had virtual movie-things-to-go in our pockets for hundreds of years now.

Paperbacks can be pretty small, but pocket small?!

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

The rest of us have had virtual movie-things-to-go in our pockets for hundreds of years now. It's called a book. Learn to read. The batteries last forever...

Pssh, the batteries last so long because they skimped on the lighting.

 

[radioheadrule83]

When I get mine, I'm gonna get a memory stick thats big enough for game saves and thats it.

I too fail to see the point. To each their own I guess.

 

[dark10x]

When I get mine, I'm gonna get a memory stick thats big enough for game saves and thats it.

I too fail to see the point. To each their own I guess.

...which means you can just use the included memory stick (which is plenty large for saved games).

 

[bobafett]

PSP rules. I've been playing Lumines for hours and I've started dreaming with those damn blocks.

BTW, Lumines is one of the best games released in the last years. Very fancy and cool.

 

[Deku]

I wanted to ask how many times he had to switch the batteries and I don't understand how a 15 minute delay turned into an hour and a half of watching a movie. That's not a technology working for you, seems like the guy's life revolve around the technology which kind of defeats the purpose of having a portable. In anycase, The same can be said for any number of portables that let you pass the time and you can actually stop using them at any time and go on your real business rather than being enslaved by it.

There is a name for this effect, and it has nothing to do with appreciation, its called cognitive dissonance. You mentally try to align your attitudes and actions with your belief system.

 

[kaching]

See, that's sort of tied to it. I can understand carrying around a vast supply of books, or music, or a few games... but movies and television? If you haven't watched it before, it would be better to watch it on television.

And if that were *always* the most convenient thing to do, then I'm sure people would do it.

I just can't imagine how often it would really be all that handy.

Well, in this particular scenario, it sounds like quite a few people would have probably welcomed the option. Not like delays associated with public transportation are an uncommon occurrence for many people in this world. That's just one scenario.

 

[Stinkles]

Plus, Kung Fu Hustle is teh awesome. "The Beast" is now the greatest sad-faced villain of all times.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

And if that were *always* the most convenient thing to do, then I'm sure people would do it.

Sure, sometimes it might be more convenient to watch something for the first time when away from a television/monitor... but needing to premeditatedly go through the conversion process on a PC hurts the convenience advantage.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Plus, Kung Fu Hustle is teh awesome. "The Beast" is now the greatest sad-faced villain of all times.

I'm looking foreward to it. Shaolin Soccer blew me away!

 

[Insertia]

I've never seen so many attempt to try and rationalize portable video, ever.

It's like the concept of watching video while away from a home television makes their brain melt.

 

[Socreges]

I always have a book with me on transit.

 

[Great King Bowser]

I don't get what needs to be rationalized.

I encoded the whole of Scrubs season 4, and can fit 12 episodes on my 512mb memory stick. Many of which I haven't seen yet.

If I've got nothing to do for 20 minutes or more, be it time between classes, travelling time etc. I'll kick back and watch an episode of Scrubs. It's the best way to fill time, and thus it rocks.

 

[M3wThr33]

Well, you PSP users are finally caught up. I've been doing this since high school (5 years ago) on my Palms. Right now on my Zire71, I have the Pikmin 2 commercial and usually before plane flights I put on 3 tv shows to watch on the flight.

 

[Lord Error]

Nothing better than the episode of Sealab during the boring ride to office or home Yes, you have to prepare them in advance and have them ready, but that's the whole point no? You know you are going to watch them there and then, so what's the big deal? Very often I just don't have time to watch any of that at home, so it really comes in handy to have those episodes on a handheld.

Yeah, I've been doing that with a Pocket PC for a long while. PSP has just replaced it though, as it's screen is better than any PDA - and the games... ohh the games ))

 

[Vibri]

Maybe in Japan or a commuter-centric culture I can see using this thing regularly as a movie player. Everywhere else - I mean when the hell would you use it? On a plane journey? Boy that's a regular occurrence!

And really it's too big for a music player, hardly easy to run with or take on the go.

The games luckily, rock.

 

[bionic77]

Maybe in Japan or a commuter-centric culture I can see using this thing regularly as a movie player. Everywhere else - I mean when the hell would you use it? On a plane journey? Boy that's a regular occurrence!

And really it's too big for a music player, hardly easy to run with or take on the go.

The games luckily, rock.

Well it is probably nice for the people who commute (even in the US, a lot of people still commute). I still feel weird playing handheld games outside of my house, not sure why. I never feel weird watching movies on my laptop on the plane though (which is of course 100X better then using a PDA or PSP). If I commuted daily I could see myself watching movies on my PSP or PDA though, as carrying around a laptop can be a pain in the ass.

 

[Swat]

I think a lot of you are ragging on this guy too much. I'd understand if he maybe had his head buried in the PSP 24/7 neglecting all other social life - but a 1.5 hour train delay? That would be a life saver.

Read a book? It's just another form of media. People use media to relax and make commuting more interesting. Granted, reading has more benefits and isn't "junk food" for the brain as most TV/Movies are, but there are equally trashy books, and movies such as Life is Beautiful are contemporary works of art.

Or you know, you could just stare at all the irate passengers on the train. :lol

 

[Odnetnin]

hm. so the next time your PSP helps you through a particularly tough bowel movement, you'll keep us posted?

 

[Lord Error]

but needing to premeditatedly go through the conversion process on a PC hurts the convenience advantage.

That's why sleeping rocks. You just leave batch to convert and in the morning it's all ready!

 

[The Faceless Master]

Maybe in Japan or a commuter-centric culture I can see using this thing regularly as a movie player. Everywhere else - I mean when the hell would you use it? On a plane journey? Boy that's a regular occurrence!

And really it's too big for a music player, hardly easy to run with or take on the go.

The games luckily, rock.

new york!

 

[newsguy]

hm. so the next time your PSP helps you through a particularly tough bowel movement, you'll keep us posted?

Everyday... it's my potty station portable.

 

[kaching]

Sure, sometimes it might be more convenient to watch something for the first time when away from a television/monitor... but needing to premeditatedly go through the conversion process on a PC hurts the convenience advantage.

As long as it doesn't completely remove the convenience advantage, the potential remains for portable access to such content to be of benefit. And the issue of conversion is one that can be addressed in a number of ways, some more efficient than others, and will continue to improve with time.

 

[Miburou]

I can watch episodes of Seinfeld, Married with Chdilren, South Park and Family Guy over and over before getting bored. I can also batch convert 10-20 episodes and store them on a DVD or my HD, and quickly transfer them to my PSP whenever I'm going to spend time on the train, bus or plane.

 

[Sho Nuff]

It's a fad!

(Goes back to watching House MD on PSP on train)

 

[Prine]

I can understand carrying around books. Or games. Or music.

It's portable MOVIE WATCHING that I can't understand.

Portable movie watching is THE reason im buying a PSP. Its complete genius

Im not interested in the launch games (non of them) but the ability to watch my downloaded episodes of anime, niptuck, O.C, WWE programs and 24 make a must buy.

Its worth $250 im paying, and a further $150 for a gigabite memory stick

 

[Ironclad]

Portable movie watching is THE reason im buying a PSP. Its complete genius

Im not interested in the launch games (non of them) but the ability to watch my downloaded episodes of anime, niptuck, O.C and 24 make a must buy.

Its worth $250 im paying, and a further $150 for a gigabite memory stick

I agree with the last line. I can easily validate that purchase. What I can't agree with is your use of the PSP to watch the O.C.

 

[Prine]

I bet you'd watch it if OC was dubbed in Japanese NERD!

 

[Ironclad]

I bet you'd watch it if OC was dubbed in Japanese NERD!

It surely would make it more interesting and I wouldn't understand the horrible writing. :lol

 

[chespace]

Yup, I've been saying this for a while now.

Portable media/PDA devices are only as useful/essential as your lifestyle dictates. For me, the PSP is an amazing portable entertainment device, combining all of my main interests into one somewhat bulky but amazing to look at media player. And really, I can't think of anything I love more -- outside of my wife -- other than music, manga, movies, and games. The convergence of all these hobbies into the PSP complements perfectly my lifestyle, including a daily commute, and after hours geeking out in bed with the lights out (I've fallen asleep many nights reading manga on the PSP... luckily, it turns itself off after a user determined idle period!)...

I guess I'm a nerd.

 

[demi]

Portable movie watching is THE reason im buying a PSP. Its complete genius

Im not interested in the launch games (non of them) but the ability to watch my downloaded episodes of anime, niptuck, O.C, WWE programs and 24 make a must buy.

Its worth $250 im paying, and a further $150 for a gigabite memory stick

Same here brotha!

Spaced / Shaun / Danger on my PSP!? Dear god so sold. The games are a farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr distant fourth.

And when I lose or break my PSP, you can be sure I'll be on GAF to rant about it! YAR HAR HAR HAR

 

[aoi tsuki]

Yup, I've been saying this for a while now.

Portable media/PDA devices are only as useful/essential as your lifestyle dictates.

You know, the same could be said about the PSP. Frankly, i prefer having my PDA for my portable music/video viewing, because i can just as easily type out an email, write down some things on my to do list, or work some numbers on my budget. i'm a nerd too. i guess i'll have to see the screen for myself, but i really can't justify getting the PSP (as much as i want Wipeout Pure) seeing as how the main function i'd get it for is games given the fact my PDA does the rest.

Portable movie watching really has no purpose with me, since i usually don't have a two-hour block of time to watch something on the go. And i understand the curiousity, but it's really annoying to have everyone ask you what it is you've got, which happened at least once a day when i watched videos in public.