Just a few things to think about before purchasing a PSP for this shopping season: 1. Name 10 games you would like to own: If you own a PS2, you've already played three quarters of the games that have been released. Grand Theft Auto is nice, just like it was in 2002. Daxter is alright if you don't mind how obnoxious he is. Untold Legends is terrible. Lumines gets boring quickly. I haven't played Loco Roco because it seems a little too esoteric for my taste, and Katamari Damacy is a bit old. 2. Ask yourself if those titles are still worth buying even after you discover they are compromised by the systems technical flaws: Thinking that Tekken: Dark Ressurection would be fun? You might want to reconsider after you discover that the d-pad doesn't actually recognize diagonal movements. Same with the other fighting games. Having a winning eleven game on the go is fantastic, if you don't mind the minute and a half wait time that sabotages any enjoyment you might derive from the game.

3. Consider the rather short leash: One of the best advantages that portable devices have are the mobility, but really the range is defined by the battery, and when your battery lasts just a little over 2 hours, your options are a bit limited.

4. Weigh these against the versatility: There is no denying that, if invested in, the PSP suddenly has a world full of life. A larger memory stick makes the PSP a media center, full of music, videos, and an internet capable device. These are great, but they also require some context; it can play mp3's, but the device is still fragile, and can't be used in a physical setting. In addition, any videos you put on require large amounts of memory, still expensive even today, and is limited in function once again by the short battery life. Having the internet on your device is cool, and adds a great deal of versatility, but the interface for the internet is terrible, you can't stream videos or flash, and you only have three tabs, which is alright but limits your use. 5. Now consider the price: I'll give you a hint, it's not a little Some perspective for potential buyers before you leap into an investment you regret. Personally I wish I had seen something like this before I purchased my PSP, but I'm still looking forward to Final Fantasy and Metal Gear PO. Still, it would have been nice...