128bytes

I have never had a problem with it. Like others said, though, it could be the disc and not your drive, so if there is any way you could try a different UMD disc I would go for it. You could also blow air on the umd disc if you see any dust in there. I would also try a full shutdown - the kind where you hold the power button for 4 or 5 seconds. It's the PSP version of a system reboot.

Today's Engadget has a link to a Jakks 10-in-1 Atari controller modded into a TV remote control. This page on hackedgadgets.com has the directions and the video howto.

I can't resist the urge, so here goes: Millipede, Centipede, and Ladybug ok, now that is out of my system. Madden has bugs every year, but I don't care - I still find the series great fun.

Of course it has. Happy birthday, Figgler!

I own one of the Logitech ones and it is outstanding. Pure Lexan goodness.

It's not a pain in the ass at all if you have half a brain in your head, or bother to read the instructions. way to insult Kondre, since he can't figure it out either and I don't agree with you at all, it is much harder than it should be, I tried it back when my PSP was 1.5 firmware and it wasn't worth the time and effort even back then when it was easy to do, and this is the main reason why I've never tried it since. No way around it, it's a pain in the ass, just because it may be easy for you doesn't mean you have to insult other people looking for help. Kondre, i didn't mean to piss you off, i'm just trying to tell you it's not worth bricking your system for and i'll say it again, ANYTIME YOU MESS WITH FIRMWARE YOU RUN THE RISK OF BRICKING YOUR SYSTEM. Trust me, i've seen many of people attempt flashes with the GP32 to totally kill the system. Sometimes stuff happens you don't expect or power bumps or something. Just becareful. I'd hate to see you ruin a system that is already pretty damn good without fiddling with it. Kondre is all set. He successfully downgraded and upgraded earlier this afternoon. He just hasn't posted the fact here yet.

Kondre's problems are not as common as you are posting. I, and many others on this board, had no problems downgrading or upgrading. If I gave up every time I installed software on PC's, Macs, Linux boxes, AS/400's, Cuttle Carts, PalmPilots, Geos devices, Apple II's, etc., I wouldn't have ever done much computing! 128bytes- So are the proceedure steps i am taking correct? Is there some odd issue with my unit that is making it different? According to the image that Danno posted, I have the Ta-081, but it doesnt seem to be behaving like a Ta-081. I guess What I need is a step by step proceedure. but for somereason none exist, If its so easy to do, i can see why, but if its that easy i dont understand why i am having issues. Kevin Danno has really tried to help you out here - it's never easy giving tech support advice, and it certainly gets frustrating for everyone involved. If you don't succeed with your upgrade on your next shot, don't give up. I recommend opening an account on a more specific PSP related board (like psp hacks) and posting there. I don't have the time to walk through step by step, but here's one last shot. My best advice is to remember that you WILL succeed, so start 100% over (by that I mean literally start over) , and follow the steps here . It will point you to [here]http://homepage.eircom.net/~pspcalo/2.80downgrader.html[/url] Read the directions in the .zip file linked on the second page I referenced above (I just read them myself - note the wording in step 3 - you may need to try step 3 several times) and take it from there.

Kondre's problems are not as common as you are posting. I, and many others on this board, had no problems downgrading or upgrading. If I gave up every time I installed software on PC's, Macs, Linux boxes, AS/400's, Cuttle Carts, PalmPilots, Geos devices, Apple II's, etc., I wouldn't have ever done much computing!

When I bought my PSP new last fall (I wanted a pristine screen and battery), I bought it from a place where I figured the PSP was sitting around unsold for a while. Yep - I bought it at Sears. And yep - my plan worked better than anticipated - sure enough it was an older system with 1.5 firmware out of the box. Today, you can have much later firmware and easily downgrade, but the tip still stands, as PSP's out for a few months are always easier to downgrade and reupgrade.

Toronto has sure been giving you some rain delays and shutouts lately!

Yes, you can downgrade 2.80 to 1.5. Here's a link for PSP downgraders. Use at your own risk, of course.

Congrats! Thanks for the reminder - I still haven't gotten all the way through Link to the Past - I put it down over a year ago.

Good question. After you downgrade to 1.5, you can reupgrade to the "Special Edition" of newer versions that have the web browser. It is true that the PSP's resolution is not ideal for emulation - it is widescreen and will letterbox games where the GP2x won't. I 100% agree that the GP2x's 320x240 resolution is superior for emulation. I also agree that for an emulation machine alone, I would prefer a GP2X to a PSP. It's really a tradeoff between the letterboxing for emulation against the higher native resolution (420x272), which is much nicer when the PSP is being used for web browsing or for playing games designed for the PSP.

Don't sweat it. I would love to play with a GP2X, but if I had to choose one, I would easily choose the PSP based on its awesome screen alone. And I am saying this as an experienced Linux user. You only paid $100 for your PSP, and it is easy to downgrade. I did it myself. The Atari emulation is now first rate on the PSP, and you can get official compilations like Activision Anthology. And did I mention that the screen blows away the screen on the GP2X. And the GP2X lacks wifi. I love the Wifi for web browsing and for Madden/MLB07 multiplayer. And there are lots of PSP accessories around - like the awesome Logitech PlayGear case.

No, the 7800 emulator won't play the roms from 2600 games. Remember that a real 7800 plays 2600 games because it has a full set of 2600 hardware sitting inside. No big deal though - the emulator code is quite small and a bunch of emulators (and tons of roms) fit easily onto a single memory stick.

Still none. All my post Atari-7800 machines are portables.

None. I have no plans to buy a new console that isn't portable. Nothing newer than an Atari 7800 has ever touched my TV screen. ...that is, other than the Flashback 2. Does that count as a current console?

Gameboy Advance talk currently straddles classic gaming and modern gaming, because it has been around a long time, but is still for sale. Yes, you can link the 2 together with a cable. You can even link up to 4 systems together if you have 3 cables. Some games need only one game cartridge for multiplayer; others require that each player has his/her own cartridge for multiplayer. There are threads here on single cartridge multiplayer - what games are you thinking of doing this with? Mario Kart is a great single game multiplayer cart. Yes, a gameboy advance can link with an SP. They use the same cable. You cannot link to a Game Boy Micro unless you get a special adapter, as the Micro uses a smaller cable slot. Nintendo DS machines cannot play Game Boy games in multiplayer mode at all. Look around on ebay yourself - Game Boy Advances are very cheap. Try to avoid units with scratched screens. SP's are relatively cheap - the "version 2" ones with the backlit screens cost more - and are still available new today.

I find my Treo to be the most useful PDA I have ever used because I can type quickly with the built-in thumb keyboard, with more accuracy than using Graffiti and the stylus (and I was pretty good at using Graffiti, I must say).

I love my PSP and although there is freeware PDA software for it, it is not practical at all for use as a PDA. I use my Palm Treo for a PDA. A used or demo Tapwave Zodiac or a new or used Palm Lifedrive could be exactly what you are looking for. They run Palm OS and are fantastic PDAs and movie players, and can do most of the other things you are looking for. A Treo smartphone (if you can find a good plan - I know there aren't too many choices for cell coverage in the land of gear grinders and shapers, Idlenot nostalgia, and the Hartness Telescope) can also do most everything you are looking for, though the Treo is less of a killer gaming machine.

The official PS2 Guitar Hero II controller is quite good (though a little small - it is really built for kids) - but it's the only one I have tried. At least if you get really good on it with the official controller, you can just walk up to any Guitar Hero setup and feel comfortable. By the way, Gene Simmons was playing Guitar Hero in NYC earlier today

You aren't imagining it. That happens to me sometimes in 2600 Asteroids with difficulty in the "A" position. So, joeybastard, any chance for a Vegas trip report in Entertainment & Sports? I could use a shot of vicarious high roller enjoyment!

Microsoft is probably thinking that the Wii is a nice gateway drug for the next version of the Xbox. Microsoft's history suggests that they tend to have their biggest successes in their third try. I wouldn't be surpised to see a simpler, motion sensitive controller, which doubles as the remote for the media extender functions, be hailed as the "great advance" of the next Xbox. I also wouldn't be surprised if the user interface of the media extender function, in response to the Wii Connect and Apple TV, is also simplified to attract the older, nontechnical audience.

If you don't like hearing "DUDE" so much, why is your signature the tagline from Bad Dudes? "The President has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are YOU a bad enough dude to rescue the President?"

Thanks for the link to that great writeup on your site about Adventure. Another great article is here, on Warren Robinett's own site I think Adventure is more gratifying than Secret Quest, and certainly historically more significant. You can even figure out Adventure without reading the manual - I have seen kids do exactly that on my system without any prompting.