PSP turns out to be a Buzz Killer

[Thirteen]

first the shoddy square button, now this... looks like Sony should of took a little more time on the drawing board

Sony responds to PSP dead-pixel reports

SCEA downplays widespread reports of LCD screen problems, says warranty is still in effect and defective units can be exchanged.
Soon after the PSP launched in Japan last December, reports began to surface that some units' LCD screens suffered from pixels that were either permanently light or dark. Within 24 hours of the portable's North American launch, similar complaints began to reverberate around the Internet. The locus of the complaints was, ironically, the official PlayStation forums, which was temporarily down yesterday following heavy traffic.

Some gamers' outrage over the perceived issue was fueled by an e-mail allegedly sent out by Canadian game retailer Video Games Plus. The e-mail said the company was "informed by Sony that they will not be warranting any dead pixel units. They are only warranting hardware defects ie [sic] broken buttons, malfunction with drive, and so on."

An informal survey of the dozen-odd PSPs in the GameSpot offices found half had at least one pixel that stayed white or dark constantly. While these dots were almost all invisible while playing games, they did stand out when displayed against a black or white screen.

While commonly referred to as a "defect," Sony says the off-colored pixel problem is common in all LCD screen. "A very small number of dark pixels or continuously lit pixels is normal for LCD screens, and is not a sign of a malfunction," a representative for Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) told GameSpot.

Page 13 of the PSP manual puts it this way: "Red, blue, or green spots (bright spots) or black spots (dark spots) may appear in certain locations on the LCD screen. The appearance of such spots is a normal occurrence associated with LCD screens and not a sign of malfunction. LCD screens are made using highly precise technology. However, a very small number of dark pixels or continuously lit pixels exist on each screen." The manual also warns against exposing the LCD screen to direct sunlight and leaving still images on the screen for an extended period of time, as both could damage the display.

The Sony rep suggested PSP owners who encounter the pixel issue to try the device "for a week or two" to see if it continues to bother them. "If you find the spots are interfering with gameplay/video viewing during this period, we will support the various elements of [the PSP] warranty," the rep said. Each PSP comes with a one-year limited warranty, which is on page 125 of the PSP manual. If a PSP is "determined to be defective" by SCEA, the company will see to the "repair or replacement of this product [the PSP] with a new or refurbished product at SCEA's option."

According to a technical support associate contacted by GameSpot, PSP owners who encounter a persistent and aggravating dead-pixel issue should contact SCEA's customer service line (1-800-345-7669) for instructions on how to exchange their unit after a week or two of using the unit. "We will work with you," he assured. The associate said the process would work much like exchanging PlayStation 2s that suffer from the dread "Disc Read Error" problem: Gamers will mail their PSPs in to SCEA and receive units with new screens. The associate was unsure if the customer would receive an all-new unit or their old unit with a new LCD screen.

By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot

[Sikotic™]

The reason why I haven't dropped $300 on one yet. I mean, it looks great and more practical than DS, but too many fuckin bugs.

[Wild_Elmo]

i dont understand what the hype is about. i was never really into these portable games. i only had an old school gameboy and the only game i played was tetris.

[Jome]

That's why I won't buy a LCD screen yet, I'm staying with CRT until pixels issues and sideview issues is sorted..
I'd never accept a PSP with a dead pixel, it's hella annoying even on bigger screens, Sony better solve this with a full guarantee..

[Suffice]

That's why I won't buy a LCD screen yet, I'm staying with CRT until pixels issues and sideview issues is sorted..
I'd never accept a PSP with a dead pixel, it's hella annoying even on bigger screens, Sony better solve this with a full guarantee..

the sideview issues have been resolved with plasma monitors. They come on laptops too nowadays

[Trauma-san]

Hmmm... if it's common on LCD screens, then howcome the Gameboy Advance SP & the Nintendo DS don't have the same issues?  On top of that, the DS also has a touchscreen that hasn't had widespread complaints about shoddy workmanship. 

SOUNDS LIKE BULLSHIT TO ME

[Sikotic™]

Hmmm... if it's common on LCD screens, then howcome the Gameboy Advance SP & the Nintendo DS don't have the same issues?  On top of that, the DS also has a touchscreen that hasn't had widespread complaints about shoddy workmanship. 

SOUNDS LIKE BULLSHIT TO ME

Unfortunately, DS sucks ass

[Jome]

Hmmm... if it's common on LCD screens, then howcome the Gameboy Advance SP & the Nintendo DS don't have the same issues?  On top of that, the DS also has a touchscreen that hasn't had widespread complaints about shoddy workmanship. 

SOUNDS LIKE BULLSHIT TO ME

PSP uses a superior, bigger, and more advanced screen.
DS is capable of showing 260.000 colors, PSP is capable of showing 16.77 million colors.
DS have a 256x192 screen, while PSP have a 480x272 screen.

And the more advanced, the more things can possibly go wrong, Nintendo went the safe route and used a simple common screen, while Sony tried to be cutting-edge and have the newest and best in LCD-screens, but I guess it's not tested enough, maybe Sony took a too big chance.

[Da WCC Hopar!]

Hmmm... if it's common on LCD screens, then howcome the Gameboy Advance SP & the Nintendo DS don't have the same issues?  On top of that, the DS also has a touchscreen that hasn't had widespread complaints about shoddy workmanship. 

SOUNDS LIKE BULLSHIT TO ME

Unfortunately, DS sucks ass

fortunately i agree DS is a pretty wack ass system man it has da gayest games and who da fuck really plays games wit the touch screen i mean ive played it and all but its just a peice of shit IMO

[Trauma-san]

At Least it works 

& at least you can play for more than 2 hours without needing a cigarette lighter near by! 

& the system's cheaper, the games are cheaper...& there's no load times. 

[MANBEARPIG.]

The DS is a system for gamers PSP is for looking state of the art, when comes donw to it Nintendo is the better system for gamers on all aspects of gaming.

[Trauma-san]

Well, I guess if you don't mind waiting half of the battery life for the game to load, with fucked up graphic spots everywhere, the PSP would be the better system.  I like my shit to work, though.