( 
)
So, you've decided to buy a Sony PlayStation Portable. Congratulations! I think that you will really enjoy your PSP system since you can do so much more with it than just play games. You can listen to music, watch movies, view pictures, and surf the web all with this device. But extolling the PSP's features isn't what this guide is about. It's about which PSP system to buy: the Core System or the Value Pack. "Huh?" you say. "I thought there was only one PSP!" Well, there is indeed only PSP system, but there are two bundles of the PSP -- the Core System which has the bare minimum of accessories and the Value Pack which has a bunch of accessories. In this guide I will try to explain which pack you should choose to buy with your hard earned pennies and dollar bills.
Okay, let's start with the basics. What is the difference between the Core System (CS) and the Value Pack (VP)? The CS contains just enough to get started:
First up is the the headphones. Got a MP3 player already? You probably do, and you probably already have a good set of headphones or earbuds. The included earbuds are okay, but you're unlikely to use them if you already have a good pair. CS one, VP zero....
Next is the remote control. Why would you need a remote control with this? Good question. Believe it or not, it's actually a really handy accessory! Let me explain why. To save battery power and extend the battery life, it's a good idea to turn the screen off while playing music because there nothing to see on the screen except for the track name (which you already probably know). But what if you want to adjust the volume or skip a track? If you hit the appropriate button on the PSP, the screen turns back on, and then you have to turn it back off manually which is annoying. With the remote control, the screen doesn't turn on by itself. Also the remote control has the added advantage of letting you put your PSP in your backpack or purse while listening to your music without having to dig it out to change tracks or whatever. The remote now sounds really useful, doesn't it? Well it is very useful, and I would recommend every PSP owner to buy one. But is it worth $50 extra? No! Save your money and buy it on eBay for less! I bought the PSP remote for just $1.50USD here on eBay. Two to zero.
Up now is the soft case and strap. You don't want to scratch your system up, do you? And you don't want to accidentally drop your PSP, do you? The case and strap sound like great accessories too, but they are nothing you can't make or improvise. For example, I cannibalized the strap from an old cell phone and bought a cheap, but still good soft PSP carry case for just $3. Another round lost by the VP.
A cleaning cloth is next. Trust me, a paper towel and a tiny bit of water do just as good a job. The VP just had its clocked cleaned by the CS.
A game demo disc sounds fun doesn't it? This is one thing I can't honestly comment on since I have never seen or used it. I really don't know how much or what is on the disc. So all I can say is this: sure, the demo disc would be fun at first, but really be honest with yourself, would you ever use it again once you buy a game? The answer is probably not, and it will likely just get lost or something. Why pay more for something you will likely use just once?
And last but not least, the 32MB memory card is up. In case you don't get the joke, please laugh now at this accessory. Laugh long and hard! [grin] What is this? Who is Sony trying to con? Is this the floppy days or what? 32MB doesn't cut it anymore. A memory card of just 32MB is completely inadequate in this day and age. The only thing it is good for is for a few game saves since you can get no more than a few minutes of high quality video, or a few MP3s, or dozen high resolution digital camera photos. And who wants to constantly switch between memory cards so that you can have access to your digital media? Save your money and get a real MemoryStick Duo -- at least 256MB or 512MB of space. Even a 512MB card isn't very expensive if you search around. Again, I bought one here right on eBay for just $15 including shipping. The ridiculously small memory card threw the knock out punch in this match and the Core System won the match with the Value Pack six to zero!
I'm not trying to be too harsh on the Value Pack. Yes, it does contain good accessories, but is it really worth an extra $50? Sorry, but my answer is most definitely "no"! The $50 extra is just not a good return on the investment in my opinion. Unless you can win a Value Pack system on eBay for a reasonable amount more (in the $10-$15 range), I would urge you to stay clear of the Value Pack and instead pick up a Core System and use the savings to invest in a higher capacity MemoryStick and pick one or two of the accessories. Or go for broke and buy a really big MemoryStick (1GB) to store all your digital goodness on your PSP. Trust me, as a fellow PSP owner, you will really miss a good MemoryStick. You won't miss a bunch of accessories you can get for a loss less.
Okay, let's start with the basics. What is the difference between the Core System (CS) and the Value Pack (VP)? The CS contains just enough to get started:
- the PSP gaming system
- a battery
- an AC adapter power cord
- the PSP handheld system
- a battery
- an AC adapter power cord
- headphones (earbuds actually)
- a remote control
- soft carry case and strap
- cleaning cloth
- a game demo disc
- a 32MB MemoryStick Duo memory card
First up is the the headphones. Got a MP3 player already? You probably do, and you probably already have a good set of headphones or earbuds. The included earbuds are okay, but you're unlikely to use them if you already have a good pair. CS one, VP zero....
Next is the remote control. Why would you need a remote control with this? Good question. Believe it or not, it's actually a really handy accessory! Let me explain why. To save battery power and extend the battery life, it's a good idea to turn the screen off while playing music because there nothing to see on the screen except for the track name (which you already probably know). But what if you want to adjust the volume or skip a track? If you hit the appropriate button on the PSP, the screen turns back on, and then you have to turn it back off manually which is annoying. With the remote control, the screen doesn't turn on by itself. Also the remote control has the added advantage of letting you put your PSP in your backpack or purse while listening to your music without having to dig it out to change tracks or whatever. The remote now sounds really useful, doesn't it? Well it is very useful, and I would recommend every PSP owner to buy one. But is it worth $50 extra? No! Save your money and buy it on eBay for less! I bought the PSP remote for just $1.50USD here on eBay. Two to zero.
Up now is the soft case and strap. You don't want to scratch your system up, do you? And you don't want to accidentally drop your PSP, do you? The case and strap sound like great accessories too, but they are nothing you can't make or improvise. For example, I cannibalized the strap from an old cell phone and bought a cheap, but still good soft PSP carry case for just $3. Another round lost by the VP.
A cleaning cloth is next. Trust me, a paper towel and a tiny bit of water do just as good a job. The VP just had its clocked cleaned by the CS.
A game demo disc sounds fun doesn't it? This is one thing I can't honestly comment on since I have never seen or used it. I really don't know how much or what is on the disc. So all I can say is this: sure, the demo disc would be fun at first, but really be honest with yourself, would you ever use it again once you buy a game? The answer is probably not, and it will likely just get lost or something. Why pay more for something you will likely use just once?
And last but not least, the 32MB memory card is up. In case you don't get the joke, please laugh now at this accessory. Laugh long and hard! [grin] What is this? Who is Sony trying to con? Is this the floppy days or what? 32MB doesn't cut it anymore. A memory card of just 32MB is completely inadequate in this day and age. The only thing it is good for is for a few game saves since you can get no more than a few minutes of high quality video, or a few MP3s, or dozen high resolution digital camera photos. And who wants to constantly switch between memory cards so that you can have access to your digital media? Save your money and get a real MemoryStick Duo -- at least 256MB or 512MB of space. Even a 512MB card isn't very expensive if you search around. Again, I bought one here right on eBay for just $15 including shipping. The ridiculously small memory card threw the knock out punch in this match and the Core System won the match with the Value Pack six to zero!
I'm not trying to be too harsh on the Value Pack. Yes, it does contain good accessories, but is it really worth an extra $50? Sorry, but my answer is most definitely "no"! The $50 extra is just not a good return on the investment in my opinion. Unless you can win a Value Pack system on eBay for a reasonable amount more (in the $10-$15 range), I would urge you to stay clear of the Value Pack and instead pick up a Core System and use the savings to invest in a higher capacity MemoryStick and pick one or two of the accessories. Or go for broke and buy a really big MemoryStick (1GB) to store all your digital goodness on your PSP. Trust me, as a fellow PSP owner, you will really miss a good MemoryStick. You won't miss a bunch of accessories you can get for a loss less.
Guide created: 08/22/06 (updated 07/19/08)
Thank you for voting. If your vote meets our 
