http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/12/17/news_6115293.html
Might want to wait til the second batch(or until the U.S. release) before taking the plunge.
PSP defects declared "Not Bogus" by Gamespot
- Thread starter Hardknock
- Start date
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/12/17/news_6115293.html
Might want to wait til the second batch(or until the U.S. release) before taking the plunge.
Amir0x said:Of course it's not bogus. Every time some new piece of hardware with semi-advanced technology ramps up production for the first time you will find defects. It's the nature of the beast
Very true. Sony is pushing technology to the limits with the PSP pretty much. Just want to make people aware of what the "first" batch is like. I for one can't wait to get it, but will wait until the kinks are worked out.
hyp
Member
many of these defects are petty anyhow. almost, if not all of the GAF members who own a PSP have a non-defective unit (see the official thread). if that's any example on a small scale of how many good PSPs are out there, then i wouldn't be worried. i think this defective nonsense is blown out of proportion. for the most part, i think the majority is happy with the import psp. it's the haters, envious, and people who can't afford it who like to amplify the issue.
i'll find out tomorrow if i'm part of the minority. i highly doubt it.
i'll find out tomorrow if i'm part of the minority. i highly doubt it.
mashoutposse
Ante Up
Mine is perfect. I guess I should feel lucky or something :lol
Anyone who really wants to import should do so. It's nice that the launch units will be the few that will not have been subject to any cost-cutting measures during manufacturing. The current implementation of the hardware is already all but completely devoid of flaws, anyway.
It's early; maybe in 1 month, something will crop up.
Anyone who really wants to import should do so. It's nice that the launch units will be the few that will not have been subject to any cost-cutting measures during manufacturing. The current implementation of the hardware is already all but completely devoid of flaws, anyway.
It's early; maybe in 1 month, something will crop up.
Spiritreaver
Member
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cf6y-oot/umd/fly_004.aviCVXFREAK said:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cf6y-oot/umd/fly_003.avi
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cf6y-oot/umd/fly_005.avi
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cf6y-oot/umd/fly_006.avi
The UMD ejection is something that every PSP can do to a certain extent it seems, a lot of people downplay and up play this as an issue. Personally, I think it's a problem regardless, though not a very serious problem as you really have to actually twist the unit for it to happen. Accidents happen though, and I'm always a damned nitpicky person when it comes to spending hundreds of dollars worth of money. Simply put, don't pay much over the normal price of this thing. I don't care how much people want to put down the rarities of these defects, it's still a gamble, and not everyone's happy with gambling their money.
If these issues aren't fixed by the US launch, and Sony has a nice support system set up, heh, then I'll be happy personally. I wish we could really get an idea of just how many units are like this, but I doubt we'll see much more than the ones we've seen. Much like the touch screen issues with the DS. Still though, you'd be a fool to spend $200+ more dollars (on top of the normal price) for hardware you're unsure of.
mashoutposse said:
Right, because the first batch of units are always nicer than the later units where the "cost-cutting measures" results in lower quality products.
That was entirely relevant in the PS2 and GBA SP, both of which had far superior initial models and the later "cost-cut" models featured poorer performance and stability.
I just hope these issues are resolved, to a certain degree, for the US launch.
The dead pixels are a known issue with LCD technology and nothing can be done. I only hope that SCEA adopts NoA's zero-tolerance policy in regards to exchanges. I'm currently suffering from an NDS dead pixel, and the only thing keeping me from going to NoA about it is Target's 90 day return policy. The problem? No Target in the NY area seems to have any more units in stock to exchange! I'm patient though.
What does worry me are the dust, air bubble, analog nub, and drive issues! I imagine those, however, are NOT wide spread. (Except for that funky disc-shooting thing. But who the hell is gonna be twisting their PSPs anyway, right?)
The dead pixels are a known issue with LCD technology and nothing can be done. I only hope that SCEA adopts NoA's zero-tolerance policy in regards to exchanges. I'm currently suffering from an NDS dead pixel, and the only thing keeping me from going to NoA about it is Target's 90 day return policy. The problem? No Target in the NY area seems to have any more units in stock to exchange! I'm patient though.
What does worry me are the dust, air bubble, analog nub, and drive issues! I imagine those, however, are NOT wide spread. (Except for that funky disc-shooting thing. But who the hell is gonna be twisting their PSPs anyway, right?)
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
I guess I should feel lucky that I have enough money to not really give a crap about small issues like this, as I can always re-purchase a new revision of PSP later on when it's released here. I simply want PSP in my hands now, and with some luck, soon I'll have it!
Funny, the DS launch was completely smooth save some random dead pixel complaints (which Nintendo totally will fix unquestionably).
And I'm not a Nintendo fanboy, I want a PSP badly...I'm just saying.. Don't excuse Sony with the excuse of "it's new technology." That's a load of crap. An analog stick falling off? Dead pixels? Ejecting UMDs? The first of these is trivial and should have been discovered at QA. Dead pixels should be replaced at no charge, and ejecting umd's should not be an issue at all.
Bottomline, Nintendo's QA > Sony's QA
fugimax said:
What? The DS problems weren't videotaped and plastered all over the internet, no, but it had various reported problems besides dead pixels. I've read accounts on everything from second screen failing to turn on to GBA games no being recognized by the DS and in one extreme case on GAF itself someone reported that the DS games won't "click in" to the slot already.
Which was more widespread? I'd put my money on PSP by far, simply because the technology is significantly more advanced and the there's more things going on to go wrong.
fugimax said:
If you change "load of crap" to "it's a fact", you'd be on the right track. Every single roll out of new technology no matter what company will have defects. This is a proven fact. Doesn't matter who you are. The point is whether the defects are in the majority of the products. Only if they are in the majority of products does it become a problem beyond the norm. And since this isn't the case here it's pointless to continue to play on like it's "OMG UNBELIEVABLE." I'm not claiming you're a fanboy so stating you're not seems a bit defensive on your part, but it happens with everything. It happened with Gamecube. It happened with Dreamcast. It happened with PS2. It happened with GBASP. It happened with DS. It's going to happen with PSP. So it goes...
fugimax said:
Well, that remains to be seen. I would like to see what Nintendo could do if they released advanced/convergance technology at cutthroat prices in time for an insane Christmas season despite insane shortages. When Nintendo actually does something like that we'll see whose quality assurance is better.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
There were tons of people here complaining about dead pixels and other problems on DS... not something i'd call smooth. What makes you think Nintendo will fix those screens? They are not even making them, and that problem has not been fixed, well, ever since LCD technology was invented.
Btw, analog stick falling off AFAIK originated from one of those fake reports - same one that had the cardboard PSP photo as a 'proof' of it's screen malfunction.
Amir0x said:
I generally agree with you, up until here. Nintendo's always been careful with hardware, in my experience. The fact is, they'll DELAY before they launch something that they feel isn't ready, and that's really part of their generally awesome customer service. They didn't HAVE to institute a zero-tolerance policy in regards to NDS dead-pixel problems. I've read here that manufacturers of other LCD products, for example, have a "threshold" for dead pixels, below which they won't replace the product. NoA will replace an NDS with even 1 dead pixel (like my unit has.) I don't think we have to wait for Nintendo to release a product under the conditions proposed above to be able to judge their QA or customer service. Preventing/minimizing the problems is really the first step.
fugimax said:
Obviously you don't have a laptop. Dead pixels are very common, and more often than not will NOT be replaced. I went to a digital theatre some months back, there was a dead pixel in the middle of the screen. Sucks? Sure, but there's nothing you can do about it. Have you SEEN Nintendo fix/exchange any DS units with dead pixels? Or are you just assuming, you know what you say about assuming.
The DS is simply a GBA with an extra touch screen as far as being "new" on the outside is concerned. It has no moving parts and yet it already has dead pixels. What does that tell you about technology?
Analog sticks falling off? Please don't fall into the "riddled with problems" camp or people will just start ignoring you, it simply isn't true. Ejecting UMDs -is- an issue and no one is denying that and I don't see anyone saying it doesn't matter at all. There's no excuse, "it's new technology" is a fact. You can choose to ignore that but that doesn't change the fact.
Sure Nintendo QA > Sony QA without a doubt. But Sony Technology >>>>>>>> Nintendo technology. Oh in general you KNOW what people value more (hint: 75 million PS2s sold!). :lol
Marconelly said:
Dead Pixels are hardly a "big problem." Every LCD product since the dawn of mankind has had these problems. And whether or not Nintendo fixes it isn't the point since they have already promised a zero tolerance policy toward dead pixels - therefore they will replace them.
Marconelly said:
Well, can you confirm this with a source?
Mejilan said:
Nintendo customer service is way better than Sony customer service, that's not something anyone is disputing.
But releasing technology that is way behind the curve with limited problems is not exactly the third wonder of the world. When Nintendo releases a product with extremely advanced technology and completes it with a host of other features and then releases it with limited problems I'll be significantly more impressed. And even then the DS was not without problems, so again... it remains to be seen.
Spiritreaver
Member
Quite true, this seems like it has to be reiterated in every topic pertaining to the subject. I try not to focus on it at all myself, it's going to occur and even more often on the PSP, get used to it basically. Other hardware issues I can't exactly say the same for, but the PSP comes at a very nice pricepoint, and I'm totally willing to shell out that for the unit, it's the people paying twice that much or more that I'm just not understanding. Regardless though, it would be nice to hear that some of this will be fixed by the US launch just to ease the worry a bit.Amir0x said:
yes, nintendo's handhelds lag their home consoles by a generation, by then miniature on chip solutions become stable, easy to produce at mass quantities.
what sony just did with the PSP is far advanced, its far more likely for the PSP at this point to run into production problems. not to mention it has an optical drive, ie has mechanical parts (well actually GBA/DS are completely solid state) which in turn makes it more prone to mechanical failure.
these issues are eventually ironed out though, its all pretty normal.
what sony just did with the PSP is far advanced, its far more likely for the PSP at this point to run into production problems. not to mention it has an optical drive, ie has mechanical parts (well actually GBA/DS are completely solid state) which in turn makes it more prone to mechanical failure.
these issues are eventually ironed out though, its all pretty normal.
Amir0x said:
Well, the NDS certainly represents a bigger step for Nintendo. I wouldn't exactly call it way behind the curve (something the GBA absolutely WAS). 2 screens, touchscreen, microphone, short range wireless, full on WiFi, etc. The DS has its strengths and features, some of which ARE new to Nintendo.
Nintendo also has an established history of releasing relatively cheaper priced, though sturdy, hardware. Sony, on the other hand, has (an overblown, imho) reputation for releasing more fragile hardware. But I do believe there is a basis of truth in both company's respective reputations.
Spiritreaver
Member
How much is this going for? I've yet to preorder one (I really want to wait till I know when it's being launched) so I still have my options open.Amir0x said:
Amir0x said:
Agreed. However, GB to GBC, GBC to GBA... those were all very "comfy" baby steps, as far as I'm concerned. The NDS is much more than that, by Nintendo's standards... well, by any standard really. I mean look at the various iPods as they progressed, from generation to generation, or PDAs, or cell phones. Granted, game systems are way different than those, but portable technology HAS been progressing in a series of baby steps (for the most part) and Nintendo wasn't any different. I would have considered the 2 screens and mic to be baby steps also, but Nintendo also saw fit to to add additional technology, exciting technology, even somewhat unique technology. The NDS is bold and experimental in a way that nothing except for the Virtual Boy (lol) was.
And happily, they even provide a nice level of protection. The GBA SP style clamshell was a GREAT step as far as screen protection goes. I'm not sure WHAT they did to that bottom screen that makes it resistant to scratches with (responsible) stylus use, but that's pretty nifty too.
I cannot wait for the PSP to arrive, but I know I'll be as nervous a worrywort with it as I am with my iPod. Unfortunately, I doubt the PSP will have a complete-protection case/solution like the iPod, one that provides constant and total protection WITHOUT limiting functionality. (iSkin, for the iPod savvy.) That's really my biggest worry with the PSP... not the dead pixels or the Flying Discs (awesome comic, btw), or broken analog nubs or whatever. I took very good care of my standard GBA, but that thing ATTRACTED scratches the way glass attracts dirt and dust. It's a bit disconcerting that Sony didn't follow Nintendo's lead with the clamshell design. But that's another issue entirely.
Mejilan said:
I agree that the NDS is definitely a bigger step than GBA was. Except for Virtual Boy! (lol)
Mejilan said:
The clamshell design was quite brilliant. Although I must say I never had any scratches on my GBA and GB screens either... even to this day. But I've always been very compulsive with protecting my handhelds.
Mejilan said:
I wish the PSP had some sort of screen cover and also I wish it didn't have that ridiciulously gaudy shine because I am going to be wiping my fingerprints off of it every two minutes. I don't think I'll scratch my screen either because I'm very good at protecting these things but a clamshell would have definitely been desirable. That said, I guess we don't know yet how prone to scratches the screen is yet... last we heard it was using some new scratch-resistant coating that was supposed to be really good. Guess we'll know in a few months to a year when the thing has undergone some extensive use.
Agreed about the PSP casing gloss. And I didn't know that any screen protection measures were in place. This is good. I'm usually very careful with my technology too. But, admittedly, I do require some kind of protective help. I use my handhelds and iPod mostly during commuting, and sometimes the subways get cramped, and people or their carried object bumping into you (sometimes quite forcably) can't be helped... particularly if you're distracted by a song or a game. 
Someone really gave one of my iPods a nasty smack with a piece of furniture they were carrying. It was totally an accident, but I almost FLIPPED. Thank G-d it was protected by the beltclip case it was in at the time. A PSP, being played, will be much more vulnerable. Like my GBA was.
Someone really gave one of my iPods a nasty smack with a piece of furniture they were carrying. It was totally an accident, but I almost FLIPPED. Thank G-d it was protected by the beltclip case it was in at the time. A PSP, being played, will be much more vulnerable. Like my GBA was.
Mejilan said:Agreed about the PSP casing gloss. And I didn't know that any screen protection measures were in place. This is good. I'm usually very careful with my technology too. But, admittedly, I do require some kind of protective help. I use my handhelds and iPod mostly during commuting, and sometimes the subways get cramped, and people or their carried object bumping into you (sometimes quite forcably) can't be helped... particularly if you're distracted by a song or a game.
Someone really gave one of my iPods a nasty smack with a piece of furniture they were carrying. It was totally an accident, but I almost FLIPPED. Thank G-d it was protected by the beltclip case it was in at the time. A PSP, being played, will be much more vulnerable. Like my GBA was.
I guess it just depends on how you're using the thing. With my GBA and GB I purchased a case for it. So whenever I was done I would just slip it back in carefully and make sure to put it away when I arrived home. It was also helped along by the fact that I'm extremely stingy with my portable devices and I never allow anyone else but me to hold them.
nintendo can afford "zero tolerance" of dead pixels because their portables are built cheaply and sold at a premium. the psp is new technology at an aggressive price, and the financial burden of replacing every unit with a dead pixel is, as a consequence, probably unbearable.
Amir0x said:I guess it just depends on how you're using the thing. With my GBA and GB I purchased a case for it. So whenever I was done I would just slip it back in carefully and make sure to put it away when I arrived home. It was also helped along by the fact that I'm extremely stingy with my portable devices and I never allow anyone else but me to hold them.
Same here. When I first got the GBA, I got a case that secured the system and had a nice pouch that could store many games and even some accessories (link cables, wireless adaptors, etc.) When I retired my GBA, I used that same case/pouch thingie for the SP. And, luckily enough, the system-portion of it JUST fits the NDS (closed). Barely, but it closes and secures the entire system. Actually, it'll easily fit the PSP. Perhaps I'll get a new one, if they still make em. It'd be ironic, though, storing a PSP in a Nintendo -emblazoned case!