Is it OK to buy a PSP now ? Or should I wait more ?

Guys, I am new to the PSP scene, so please bear with me ...

First Part:

After looking at the transitions between the PS2's models (v1...v4..v5...v9...v12, etc..), I have come to know that its probably not worth getting the earliest build of a console, as its probably bugged a lot...and its much wiser to wait for some time, so that better models come out, with better, more sophisticated chips, etc....

Because of this reason, I have not bought a PSP yet....But I dont know if its worth waiting more or not......For example, there is only one chip out for the PSP..and even that doesnt guarantee 100% compatibility....and the only other way available is to roll back the firmware version .........

What do u guys think about this....Is it worth waiting some more so that better chips come out, that dont require rolling back to an older firmware, and allow the use of the updated firmwares, while also allowing to play games from the memory sticks ? Or should I just cash in now and buy the unit..

Second Part:

I know that to be able to play most of the homebrew stuff on the PSP, I need to downgrade to 1.50......but are there any disadvantages to downgrading...apart from the warranty....Like I think that you cant play a variety of media files on a 1.50, but you can on later models right ??

Now I know that you can use a program called Devhook to emulate later firmwares....but are there any disadvantages to running devhook ?

Also, regarding devhook:

for example, if i have 1.50, and i am emulating something like 2.71, and while running 2.71, i change the wallpaper..........now when i go back to 1.50, will i still have that wallpaper on, or will it all be back to the 1.50 settings ?

also, say there some extra settings in 2.71, which i set while in 2.71 mode.....not when i go to 1.50, and then come again to 2.71, will i still have those settings ??

and what if i set some settings in 1.50.....will i still have those settings when i switch go into 2.71 mode ??

also, is there any danger, damage to the PSP, or generally any disadvantage to running the devhook program ??

and basically, how is devhook able to 'emulate' a firmware....i just cant wrap the fact around my head

help..........

i phoned up the local PSP suppliers in my region and asked them if they had any 1.50 PSPs.....they said they had lots of 'em.....i asked 'em hows it possible, cuz 1.50 is old, and they probably should have run out of them by now....turns out that since 1.50 was the most famous FW...every FW they got, they downgraded it to 1.50 ....... for no extra charge.....so it looks like that i dont have to do the risky business myself after all ..... btw they also had the latest 2.8 ones, if anyone's interested.

the only thing is, that the sets they have are Asian models...in other words, Japanese. Now, I know that the PSP doesnt have any regions,... so will these JAP models be any different to the US / EU ones ??

Regarding Devhook, I have a general question: How is devhook able to 'emulate' another firmware ? Does it set up a virtual machine or what ?

and can anyone tell me whats the meaning of 'DAX ISO' in the PSP world ?

OK, I have heard that the LCDs made for the PSPs are manufactured from two different companies: Samsung and Sharp .......and people are saying that one is better than the other....

So which manufacturer is better at making PSP screens ?

Secondly, does the PSP come with a warranty card or something ? Or something else that is required in order to claim your warranty ?

Thirdly. does downgrading come under piracy ? And does it void the PSP warranty ?

Lastly, Do you know any websites giving PSP's Packaging pictures ? That is, pictures of how is was packed when you bought it ??

wow man..................... u really need to learn how to use the edit button. double posting if forbidden on this site and u quadruple posted... wow.

ok... my suggestion to u is buy a psp on ebay. there is no way of knowing the psp u are buying in a store is downgradeable or not.

you do not need a chip to downgrade there are plenty of ways to downgrade wihout a chip.

1.50 has the best homebrew, using homebrew on any other firmware is just silly.

using devhook and emulating a firmware is almost like having 2 seperate psp's. any settings will stay seperate and not change (including wallpapers: so u cant see wallpapers on 1.50 unless u use pspersonalize)

devhook wont do any damage to ur psp if u install it right. (which is a breeze)

devhook emulates firmwares by simply running the firmware off ur memory stick.

japanese models require different firmwares so i think u need special downgraders for that too.

i have honestly never heard of different lcd's made for the psp and i doubt it will make a big difference.

psp comes with whatever warrenty the store u bought it at gives u. downgrading doesnt void it but bricking ur psp does.

and for your PSP packaging pictures just do a google image search.






if i missed anything let me know

yeh thanx guys for the info man........i sure do my research .....

ok, where can i find tutorials (videos/animations preferably) on my to install devhook, and how to put games on a memory stick, and how to play them on the psp ??

secondly, I know there are fake memory cards out in the market....so, how can I spot a fake one from a real genuine Sony one ?? This is also relating to the 32MB ones,....some people swap out the originals, put in the fakes, and sell the originals seperately to make extra bucks....

as always, thanx in advance

if u dont have a psp yet its going to be extreamly difficult understanding how to install things like devhook.

as far as mem-sticks go, i recommend getting a scandisk cause they run much smoother and dont waste ur money on anything lower than a gig.

well thanx for all the help guys....its really helped me a lot and I mean that....

the reason why I am asking so much stuff, is cuz the people selling locally in my area, are not authorised dealers, and sometimes give the details with complete honesty....they will try to make refurbished goods look like brand new...and so on......this is precisely why I was asking for pictures of the packaging......e.g. foam, box etc......so that I can figure out the right stuff from the wrong.....

I went out today and met a couple of PSP unauthorised dealers...... and they let me see the PSP boxes and the stuff inside them.........And I think I spotted several fake packaging boxes......e.g. refurbished goods being sold as 'new' with fake boxes, manuals, etc....

I have taken the courtesy of taking some shots of the boxes, mem sticks, battery packs, etc...So that you guys can have a look, and tell me which ones are fake, and which ones are real......

So please have a look at the pics in the RAR file:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QB9U6RRV (436KB)

Please tell me that stuff that you think is real, and one that is fake....

thanx in advance...

EDIT:

I would also like to request those guys here who own a PSP, to please take some snaps of their PSPs box, and put them up here.....please dont forget to mention the region of your PSP........

I know all this sounds very absurd, but please try to understand my situation....I dont wanna end up buying a PSP with 'fake' stuff ...

ok, I have again gone out, and taken much better pics this time.......all pictures are now 640 x 480....so you should be able to see eveything clearly..........please tell me which boxes you think are fake/refurrbished, and which one look real....

here is the link: www.geocities.com/ahmad.najeeb/psp_packs2.zip (2.5MB)

also, pleeeeeeeeeease upload your own PSPs box pictures ....... pleeeeeease........just take your mobile/digital/web camera, take some qucks snaps, and then send them my way..............it would reeeeally help me a lot.....

u got a broken link and PLEASE dont double post...
and who is this "guys"? im the only one helping u...
lol...

if ur gonna double post,

1) DONT DO IT
2) use the edit button on ur last post

ok dude sorry for double posting

about the link, well, if u click on it, for some reason it doesnt work, but if you select the text (URL) and copy paste it in the browser, then it works .....that is, without the 'http://' it works....

ok man, i think ur developing a phobia cause all these psp boxes seem fine

haha....you have to look carefully to spot the fakes ......i spotted something funny.....have a look at the cp4.jpg in pack 9 (PSP Packs 2)...if you look carefully, you will see the Marvel comics, and the Columbia Pictures logos on the back.....apparently this box is a look a like of the PSP package that came with the Spiderman 2 game.....but there was no such game with this pack...........see how tricky this can be ??

Also, like in Pack 12, can you actually get the PSP earphones/remote control seperately ??

lastly, in pack 8, i tried to take a picture of the back of the PSP remote control, so that you guys can see if this is an authentic remote control or not........but the focus is not correct ......but i think it mentioned the phrase: PSP-120 on the back......does it say this on back of your remote control ??

Ok, coming back to the general PSP topic...

1) I know that ISO, CSO, and DAX are file formats for storing game images on the PSP....but can someone explain to me in a little more detail, what their respective pros and cons are ? and can they be converted between each other ?

2) Does the PSP have analog buttons ? or digital ones ? and does the PSP have a rumble feature ?

3) and whats so special about the UPDATE folder that is included in the PSP games ?

1.

Pros: ISO's/DAX Files Can Be Formatted Into CSO's to prevent Huge File Size On You're PSP's Memory stick
Cons: ISO's Are HUGE Files and Must Be Used At Caution When Shrinking Using A Compresser

2.

The PSP Has An Analog Stick, but its not Pushable Like the PS1 Or PS2, and it only has one, plus it can easily come out so be careful. Plus Its Hard To Look for.
The PSP Also Has A D-Pad (digital Direction Pad)

3.

Theres Nothing Special About it since it updated you're PSP Firmware which is not good in my opinion since not updating means playing homebrew, which is fun. The only "special" term or as I should say, thats in the UPDATE folder would be that its used to downgrade Firmwares.