It's recommended to buy a new PSP?

[yuki-chan]

Well, my PSP is 4 years old and the buttons are worn. So next week I'm going to NY and I was thinking to buy a used PSP there because the PSP aren't expensive. It's better to buy a PS Vita when it comes out or buy a used PSP and wait like 1 year more to buy the PS Vita?.

[Ryos]

Well, near as I can tell the PS Vita isn't going to be particularly backwards compatible for a good portion of the PSP game library (particularly UMD only titles). Since a new PSP 3000 is going for $130 brand new, you should be able to get a reasonably good used system for around or below the century mark. Personally, as much time as I put into the PSP, I'd say it's worth getting another, but that's your call.

Or...you can wait for the PS Vita release and then the PSP stock will be cut to bargain prices.

[Sgt Phantomizer]

If you use your PSP a lot or plan to, i'ld say go for a new one, if you want it for that occassion every now and then, go for a used one then.

[Wyrdwad]

Agreed with Phantomizer -- though if you do go for a new one (and either own an HDTV/480p-capable SDTV or have little interest in outputting PSP games to your television), I'd actually recommend buying a 2000-series model instead of a 3000-series model. As someone who's owned all three non-Go models of PSP at one point or another, I can honestly say the 2000-series model was my favorite, as it has a much clearer display (the 3000-series looks like it's permanently interlaced) and is apparently much less prone to catastrophic failure (my current 3000-model PSP is unable to play UMD games for long periods of time without the "Do you want to quit the game?" prompt suddenly popping up every 2-3 seconds -- a flaw that's apparently been reported both 2000- and 3000-series models, but seems far more common in 3000-series models).

-Tom

[conurebleu]

I seem to have difficulties with auto-save with my 3000 model too

[Chaosblade]

Or...you can wait for the PS Vita release and then the PSP stock will be cut to bargain prices.

This is what I'm hoping for, my PSP is awful. Bought it used online, and it seems like the previous owner spilled soda or some caffeinated/sugary beverage on it, took it apart and tried to clean it, then put it back together. At least it works.

Not sure if I'd want a 3000 though. I've heard about the "interlacing" Tom mentioned, supposedly it only affects 2D games, but I play a lot of those. On the other hand, it's supposed to have better color and contrast too. Choices, choices.

[yuki-chan]

Then I'll buy a new PSP 2000. I play a lot and I use to play 2D games. Thanks

[Wyrdwad]

Not sure if I'd want a 3000 though. I've heard about the "interlacing" Tom mentioned, supposedly it only affects 2D games, but I play a lot of those. On the other hand, it's supposed to have better color and contrast too. Choices, choices.

Honestly, it affects 2D and 3D games equally -- at least in my experience. Even the XMB menu looks interlaced, along with any and all videos I've attempted to play from it. If I'm not playing via TV-out, I find it genuinely distracting -- though other people barely seem to notice it, so I dunno, maybe I'm just really picky.

The color and contrast IS better on the 3000-model, though... sort of. It's actually kind of weird, because the 3000-series has two color settings: regular, and vibrant (I forget what they're actually called, so I'm going to go with regular and vibrant for now). Regular looks washed-out compared to the 2000's display... whereas vibrant looks brighter and more colorful, but DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT. The colors aren't even quite the same, and in a few cases, look TOTALLY WRONG. A good example of this is one of my wallpaper images -- on the 2000, the background is this really light shade of pale pink, which is what it looks like on my computer as well. On the 3000, in regular mode, it looks almost gray... and in vibrant mode, it looks like baby blue!

-Tom

[Ryos]

Agreed with Phantomizer -- though if you do go for a new one (and either own an HDTV/480p-capable SDTV or have little interest in outputting PSP games to your television), I'd actually recommend buying a 2000-series model instead of a 3000-series model. As someone who's owned all three non-Go models of PSP at one point or another, I can honestly say the 2000-series model was my favorite, as it has a much clearer display (the 3000-series looks like it's permanently interlaced) and is apparently much less prone to catastrophic failure (my current 3000-model PSP is unable to play UMD games for long periods of time without the "Do you want to quit the game?" prompt suddenly popping up every 2-3 seconds -- a flaw that's apparently been reported both 2000- and 3000-series models, but seems far more common in 3000-series models).

-Tom

I've only ever owned the 2000 but have heard conflicting reports about the quality of the 3000 model. Although I've had my 2000 model RARELY give me issues (including bricking once), it's mostly been pretty reliable. There is a way to output your 2000 games to a TV with exceptional quality though (it's the only way I play PSP games anymore)...

[Chelli]

I have a 2000 and a 3000 and I never really noticed a difference between them. Although since I got my 3000 I don't think I ever went back to the 2000. I do remember seeing ghosting on the 2000, though.

I know you've already made up your mind, but here's something I'd consider that doesn't seem to have been brought up yet. Are your games mostly UMD or download? If you have all download games then I would definitely wait for the Vita regardless of how often you play your PSP, but if you have a good number of UMD games then I'd get a new one.