Sony will start selling its portable game computer, the Playstation Portable (PSP) in Europe and the Middle-East on September 1. Sony had originally planned to launch in March, but postponed in order to be able to reserve more devices for American buyers.
Meanwhile, Make Blog advises existing customers not to upgrade to PSP 2.0, as all existing mods will cease to function. Not owning a PSP in either incarnation, I couldn’t tell if this version dance has an impact on folks who would like to use the PSP for reading ebooks.
Earlier posts on Teleread discussed how to use the PSP for reading comics, for reading ebooks (specifically Cory Doctorow’s Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town) and what small generic ebook reading devices should be like in general.
With regard to the 2.00 upgrade issue, I guess it depends what format your ebooks are in. If you’ve already converted them for use with one of the homebrew ebook reader applications then yes, you’ll probably want to avoid the 2.00 update. However, the 2.00 update does add the web browser, which does have some support for displaying HTML files from the memory stick. This should mean that it is usable for ebooks, though I haven’t tried it yet myself.
Also, European PSPs come preloaded with 1.52 firmware (with 2.00 on the demo disc) so they can not be used for homebrew applications anyway.
Thanks for the update, Dan.
Glad to see you both connecting and comparing notes! A useful post AND comment! – David
The situation with the PSP highlights the difference in approach that Sony and previous manufacturers have taken in contrast with the open-source approach taken by Nokia with its 770.
With the PSP, Sony gives with one hand (web browser) and takes away with the other (homebrew methods for loading e-reading apps).
Using Linux and leaning on the open-source community to port apps to fit its device’s hardware constraints, Nokia keeps adding to the 770’s usability.
Sony wants to be like Disney and own everything about its product. Nokia wants to revolutionize the arena and capture the innovator’s share of the new and burgeoning demand.
— Roger Sperberg
PSP for reading ebooks sounds great.
Sounds like it will boost sales of ebooks and therefore helping my bottom line.
Thanks John M
hi, iam from lebanon, i really want to buy PSP but please please please if you can decrease the total price of it to about 250 $$