PSP on the Outside
Sony’s PSP-2000 model was the most powerful handheld game console when it launched, and thanks to its redesign, it was lighter and smaller in size, leading Sony to market it in many countries as the “PSP Slim & Lite.” It was also the nicest looking, with a sleek, rounded industrial design aesthetic. The button configuration matched that of its big brother, the PlayStation 3, except the PSP only had one shoulder button on each side and had only a single analog nub instead of the PS3’s dual sticks.
PSP’s Sights and Sounds
The PSP’s screen was larger than other handhelds, with a higher resolution, so playing games and watching movies was a visual feast. The stereo sound wasn’t especially loud through the built-in speakers (third-party manufacturers offered small external speakers to make up for it), but with headphones on you could hear every sound effect and crank up the volume to buffet your eardrums.
Multimedia for PSP
Games and movies were available on Sony’s UMD (Universal Media Disc) format and are DVD quality, according to Sony. There was also a Memory Stick slot for a Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo. The PSP could playback audio and video saved on a PSP-formatted Memory Stick and could display saved photos or other image files. Each firmware update supported more audio, graphics, and video formats, expanding the possibilities.
PSP Power
A lithium-ion battery pack offered a decent length of playtime (playing graphics-intensive games or movies drains a battery faster than playing music with the screen dark). The AC adaptor allowed you to play and charge the battery at the same time.
PSP Hardware Specifications
Here’s all the technical info about what the PSP-2000 had inside and out:
Color: Piano black, mystic silver (with Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters entertainment pack), ceramic whiteDimensions: 6.7"/170 mm wide x 2.9"/74 mm high x .9"/23 mm deepWeight: .62 lbs/280 g (including battery)CPU: PSP CPU (1-333 MHz)Memory: 64 MB Main Memory, 4 MB embedded DRAMDisplay: 4.3", 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD screen, 480 x 272 pixels, 16.77 million colors, maximum luminance 180/130/80 cd/m2 (when using battery pack), maximum luminance 200/180/130/ 80 cd/m2 (when using AC adaptor)Sound: Built-in stereo speakers, headset connectorConnectors, Ports, and Drives: IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi), USB 2.0 (mini-B), AV out, Memory Stick Duo, DC in 5V connector, headset connector, UMD drive (Read only)Buttons and Switches: D-pad, analog nub, triangle, circle, cross, square, right and left shoulder, Start, Select, Home, Power/Hold, display brightness, sound, volume up, volume down, and wireless LAN on/offPower: Lithium-ion battery, AC adaptorAccess control: UMD region coding, parental control
UMD (Universal Media Disc) Specifications
Here are the specifications for the PSP-2000’s UMD format:
Dimensions: 65 mm tall x 64 mm wide x 4.2 mm deep, 60 mm disc diameterWeight: 10 gCapacity: 1.8 GB (single-sided, dual layer)Wavelength: 660 nm (red laser)Encryption: AES 128-bit
(Source: Sony Computer Entertainment)
