Gaming gear

The good: Lighter, slimmer, and sleeker update of the original PSP; AV output for video and game playback on TVs; improved load times for games; retains all of the impressive media and online features of the original PSP; deep lineup of great game titles that offer better graphics than Nintendo DS games.

The bad: Despite improvements, problems and annoyances remain: UMD load times still poky compared to Flash-based DS games; volume levels still less than optimal; limited gameplay options via video output; USB charging option is cumbersome; screen is still too reflective and a magnet for fingerprints; subtle redesign missed the opportunity to add even more features.

The bottom line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.

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