Comments on: Sony reveals some specs for PSP handheld

The PlayStation Portable is going to have one complex processor running the show for games and multimedia.

[jamie.p.walsh]

Why does Sony insist on their own propietary formats

And why do they always seem to survive. For instance, how does MD still hang around?? Now UMD for the PSP and BluRay for the PS3. Its not that I don't think these are good products, but NO ONE ELSE SUPPORTS THEM. Aside from Samsung on occasion. Media Stick....WHY, why can't Sony support xD or SD?? Are Media Sticks better??? in what way??? I, for one, would just like to see more collaboration on products than the competition ... in this particular arena. I know that market pressures are better with more similar products out there, but has it really benefitted the consumer??? Will prices drop significantly when BluRay and HD DVDs become mainstream?? Probably not and then we'll still have to suffer through the decision of buying for one or the other, or, in the case of flash media, buying for the other, or the other, or the other, or the OTHER.

[Andrew J Glina]

It isn't just Sony

Why did the xD and the SD format come out when there were CF and SmartMedia? I agree that there should be standards, but it isn't just Sony's fault. Sony invented the best video tape format, but JVC had to make another that was worse. It has been going on for years. Don't forget that some of Sony's stardard have actually succeded. The 3 1/2 inch floppy is probably the most notable.

Andrew J Glina

[David Arbogast]

Why? Its simple.

Once you've bought a camera that uses memory stick storage, you are more likely to buy other products that will work with your existing memory sticks. Like... a Sony TV that can read your memory stick and display your photos. Its Sony's way of tying it's products together to encourage sales. So long as you have a house full of Sony equipment, everything plays nicely.

[rpms]

Sounds like an exciting device; standards not too important in *this* case

Well, the device itself sounds interesting, even to non-gamers like me.

Although I am generally in favor of standardization, it doesn't seem particularly important in a portable game device. Standardization certainly should be used as a barrier to the introduction of new technology. Let's wait and see whether the new optical disk format sticks.

Side note, not related to the game device in question:

What you call "Media Stick" is actually Memory Stick", and it's nothing to sneeze at. According to NPD, Memory Stick represents 25% of the U.S. flash memory market, and CompactFlash and SmartMedia are actually losing market share (see http://news.com.com/Sony+makes+gains+with+Memory+Stick/2100-1040_3-268460.html ). According to Sony, Memory Stick represents 23% of the worldwide market (see http://www.memorystick.com/en/support/faq.html ). Sony is an innovator in the flash memory field, both in terms of form factor and data transfer speed. Memory Stick Duo is among the smallest memory cards available, making it ideal for cell phones. Memory Stick Pro has offered high data transfer speeds, suitable for video, for some time now; competitors are just now entering the high-speed field.