The handheld portable game has evolved from boy to adult with Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld unit. Intimately known as PSP, this unit takes mobile gaming into a whole new dimension.

The PSP uses software that rivals the performance of TV console games, thanks to a fast 333MHz processor and an integrated proprietary UMD optical drive. It has a built-in 4.3-inch color flat-panel (measured diagonally) and built-in stereo speakers. At about 8 ounces, this true handheld is far more than a game. It's powered by a rechargeable battery or with an AC adapter. It has an Infrared (IrDA) wireless interface for simultaneous communication with other PSP units in the same room plus an integrated 802.11b wireless WiFi adapter to allow online playing over wireless networks. You can even use the PSP to listen to your favorite MP3 files, view movies, and store digital photos and videos, in addition to playing advanced games. What's really stunning is that all this technology has been incorporated into a super compact 6.7" wide x 2.91" deep x 0.91" high, jacket pocketsize unit.

The UMD is the Universal Media Disc. It holds up to 1.8GB (that's 1.8 billion bits of information) of data storage, which translates to powerful game action and visuals. It can also play movies, released on the UMD format. When connected to a computer (and Internet connection), through the USB 2.0 port, it can record ATRAC and MP3 music files, MP4 video files, and JPEG digital photo files. Each UMD disc can hold up to two hours of DVD-quality music videos or four hours of standard quality. At this point, Sony and other developers are creating game and video software for this format.

It's also MemoryStick friendly. This popular digital-media memory format is used in Sony digital-cameras, PDAs, computers, camcorders, and other devices. Sized smaller than a stick of chewing gum, the MemoryStick Pro Duo memory card can be inserted into a slot of the PSP. At this writing, this memory format is available in models with up to 1GB capacity. It's a great way for saving and transferring memory from one compatible device to another.

The 4.3-inch screen uses the same technology found on flat-panel HDTV and computer monitors. With the capability of displaying up to 16.7 million colors, it offers widescreen viewing in a 16:9 perspective, just like a movie theater screen. The TFT LCD panel produces image resolutions up to 480x272 and offers selectable brightness modes of up to 200 nits (cd/m2) brightness, depending on the power source. This means that it's bright enough to comfortably view in virtually any lighting situation.

The core of the PSP's superior performance lies in its MIPS R4000 processor that employs 64-bit wide technology at speeds up to a blazing 333MHz, which is breathtaking for a dedicated unit of this size and weight. It provides a solid high-performance base that will support optimized execution of high-level languages and logic operations in a three-operand format to optimize complex expressions. What that means is that the range of game performance that the PSP can handle is enormously high.

In addition to its built-in, performance friendly control panel, the PSP offers a wide rang of connectivity input and output options. This includes 1 audio output to connect to external speakers or sound system, 1 microphone input, 1 control connector, 1 USB 2.0 high-speed computer interface, 1 Memory Stick Pro Duo expansion slot, and IrDA wireless remote compatibility.

A really unique PSP feature is integrated 802.11b WiFi connectivity. WiFi, or Wireless Fidelity, is allows you to connect to the Internet from your couch at home, a conference room at work, a bench at the park, or from your car without wires in somewhat the same way as a cellular phone works. WiFi enabled computers or other devices can send and receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. Many restaurants, including select McDonalds and Starbucks stores, offer WiFi connectivity. Many parks and airports are WiFi compatible and, each day, more and more towns and cities are expanding their WiFi friendly areas. What this means is that, with your PSP, you have the potential to play online games with multiple players from virtually anywhere where WiFi is available.

So while everyone can enjoy the PSP, it provides features and opportunities that high-performance gamers and mobile professionals can really appreciate. It's a new plateau of portable entertainment. Portable gaming has matured without losing the spirit of impetuous youth. That's the essence of PlayStation Portable from Sony. That's why you and the PSP are a perfect match. Get yours today.