If you want a PSP, the core system should be sufficient. There is a $249 valube pack but the core system is a good purchase for this reason. The value pack comes with a 32 meg memory stick which isn’t much space. At the same token, you pretty much need a memory stick to do anything with the PSP, so if you purchase the PSP, buy a memory stick at the same time or in the very near future. I purchased a 1 gig memory disc for around $50.

The PSP is very easy to use from the beginning and this is my first handheld system. I will admit I was playing a game (Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories), and the instruction book said use the analog stick and I couldn’t find the analog stick. It’s flat on the PSP console, I actually thought it was a speaker.

The sound on the PSP is quite good, you can hear quite well even without headphones. However, I will say that you can use any headphones you already have and it will fit in the console, I use the same headphones I use with my iPod.

How well you enjoy your PSP depends on what you plan to use it for. If you want to do the all in one (pictures, movies, games, music, Internet) you may have different feelings or frustrations with various components.

I use my PSP for gaming and I’m very pleased with it. The PSP comes with a huge instruction booklet that I haven’t had to read too in depth yet because if you understand basic computer/gaming operations you can get the PSP up and going. The screens are nice. It’s a slightly heavy system but seems very durable.