PSP Import Hardware Issues???

[Kain]

(From IGN news)

The dark side of a game system launch follows on the flipside of all the anticipation, eagerness and expectations -- if gamers get their system and it doesn't work properly, all that gets thrown into a tailspin. The PSP is no different, as many who have tuned into the various gaming message boards have discovered from import impressions -- errors are being reported with a minority of the systems distributed at launch. There is not documentation yet as to how the PSP is doing in regards to launch system hardware quality evenness, but one is one too many for anybody who's the recipient of that failed hardware, and as far as the Japanese launch goes, PSP is already far past just one instance.


The most common problem reported is dead pixels, where one or more of the dots that make up the screen fail to light up. This issue is usually a manufacturing flaw -- LCDs rarely, if ever, burn out from general use, but minute flaws in clean-room manufacturing can sometimes introduce sub-pixel anomalies (each pixel is made up of three color sub-pixels, any of which can fail) across the multiple millions of transitors that make up a LCD screen. The problem is a common one for TFT LCDs, even in the case of high-definition television sets, but on handheld devices such as gaming systems and cellphones, the dead pixel problem is particularly noticeable because of the distance between users and the machines.
On the 480 x 272 screen of the PSP, that's 391680 sub-pixels to go wrong. Import buyers and Japanese gamers are reporting that some PSPs are experiencing pixel problems -- a dead pixel, a stuck pixel (where the pixel is always lit) and even multiple pixel failures. It is unknown how common this problem is with the first batch of PSPs in Japan. Sony has not issued a statement yet as to how it plans to deal with the problem or what tolerance level (how many dead pixels the screen has) will be required for warranty return; Nintendo of America issued a zero-tolerance policy for a similar problem of the Nintendo DS. The widespread shortage of the PSP may be a factor in how Sony handles the problem, as screens with dead pixels cannot be repaired once they've left the assembly floor, and there may not enough PSPs to hand out brand new ones fpr problem-prone systems.

Other problems attributed to launch PSPs in Japan include:

Unintentional UMD drive opening - By twisting and wrenching the system, users have been able to make the UMD drive open without sliding the latch.
(This error, we can confirm -- the latch for the UMD drive is on the system's metal casing, and the catch for the latch is attached to the plastic outer shell for the drive, so by applying a twisting pressure on the two surrounding panels melded to the system, the hard plastic pieces can be tweaked enough to slip the UMD slot catch past its latch.)
Dust or air bubbles in between the screen and the protective layer
Non-responsive analog nubs
Broken analog nubs, where the nub has completely snapped off
Failing or stuck buttons
UMD slot not closing
System failing to start up
Game lock-ups and other performance glitches
Sony Computer Entertainment was not able to respond by publishing time on its plans to address such problems, or cite how often errors are being reported with the launch units so far. PlayStation Portable in Japan is covered by a one-year warranty, and a Repair Request card is enclosed along with a phone number and website link for general info.

IGN's editorial PSP units have so far come through unscathed as far as major system-killer flaws, but besides the documented cases in print, photo and even video, we have a friend in Japan who can personally vouch for the dust problem on one system purchased. As always, be VERY careful when purchasing on eBay or through an import dealer to make sure the seller is reputable and will be able to honor the warranty conditions of the system.

We will have word on how Sony plans to address these issues, as well as if SCE America intends on changing the PSP hardware in any way before the upcoming North America / Europe launches, as it becomes available.

[Dante18]

No problem from my PSP so far.

[bubblegum]

I wonder who will twists their PSP on purpose? I wouldn't for sure....