I got this just months before the newer, upgraded PSP (the 3000) was released. Just the same, I've very much enjoyed the console. This particular bundle comes with the game "Daxter" (a Jak and Daxter title set between Jak I and II), and a UMD sampler of Family Guy episodes. It also has a small memory stick, just to get you started.
It's interesting how the console wars have played out: Nintendo's DS is, like the Wii, an excellent gaming device, but little else. The PSP follows closely in the PS3's footsteps by trying to be less of a gaming console and more of a media player. It's much bulkier than a Zune or an iPod, but if you're someone who plans on playing games, you can't ask for better. The PSP's screen is bright and colorful. Its "cartridges" are actually tiny optical discs called "UMDs" (for "Universal Mini-Disc"), but Sony planned ahead and assembled them in plastic cartridge cases to cut down on dust and scratches. The unit runs for a decent amount of time on the batteries, varying depending on how bright you set the screen and whether you're playing a disc or reading directly off a Memory Stick.
And that's where the potential grows: by using Memory Stick technology to enable you to store files, you're now capable of putting together a collection of just about any media you wish: I have a small stick of photos and a large stick for videos that also holds my savegames.
I've been very impressed by the quality of most of the games I've played on the PSP, and I was pleasantly surprised at how many games there are out there to choose from--I really had no idea. All the same, there are cons: UMD movies never really took off, so they're on their way out as a format. While there is wireless networking, it's really not good for Internet use: online multiplayer gaming works fine, but the browser is not so good, and trying to type even a password to log into your e-mail can get downright infuriating. You can subscribe to RSS feeds and read content using the PSP, but it's going to take you some time and tinkering to get it going.
There are some interesting extras to the PSP, however. Not only has Sony been trying to improve the quality and features with product updates, but the integration with the PS3 is pretty tight: I can sit at home and access media files through the PS3. I can read shared media on any multimedia server in my home network (for instance, my Vista machine has made it very easy to listen to my music collction). I can use a media reader to transfer files of any kind back and forth, I've used both the PS3 and a PC to buy games online and download them to the unit, and as if that isn't enough: if I load a PlayStation (PS One) game into the PS3, I can play it from anywhere--even away from home--by "connecting" to my PS3 over the Internet. I'm not sure why only PS 1 titles work, but it's still an interesting extra feature: I actually have some pretty good PS 1 titles still around.
If you're looking for portable fun, and you have a PS3, the PSP is really the logical choice for you. If you have no interest in media, or you're thinking of something for smaller children, you might want to go with the Nintendo DS: it's a little less fragile, and there are more games for all ages. As for this grown-up gamer and his 9-year-old daughter, we've had a hit on our hands.
Some add-ons you should consider: a larger Memory Stick, a plastic carrying case (the official Sony case is bulky, but very good), and if you want to have some fun on the big screen, you can buy an audio-video cable to connect to your television (again, Sony's brand-name has turned out better than the aftermarket cable I tried).
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