PSP-versus-DS Comparison: Surfing the Web

DSPSP

As everybody knows by now, both Nintendo DS and Sony PSP let you surf the web. The PSP got browser-power early on, but thanks to the Opera browser, the DS can surf the web, too.

But are they equal?

On the one hand:
To surf with the DS you need to buy the Opera cartridge for the DS cartridge slot and a RAM pack in the GBA slot (the RAM pack is for cache storage). We haven’t heard any official word if Opera has an update in the works, but if there was an update…well, think about it: the Opera browser is lurking within the DS cartridge slot, so you’d probably have to take out that cartridge and buy a new cartridge with the update in it (maybe by trading in your old one?).

But on the other hand:
To surf with PSP, you only need a firmware update (as reader j commented in a previous article, “the psp is betta because its free”). If Sony has an update for your browser software, all you need to do is get it from Sony. Of course, for a number of you PSP users here at QJ, being forced to update firmware threatens your homebrew games and apps.

But on the other hand (assume I have four hands, OK?):
Surfing with the DS touchscreen is a magical, uplifting, and healing experience that paints rainbows in the skies. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but the point is not only can you surf with the touchscreen, you can see the whole web page on one screen and a zoomed-in part of that page on the other. The only people who can experience that kind of two-screen surfing here at QJ are those whose PCs have two monitors. To use NonPartisanCon’s words from a previous article, “it might push the mobile internet envelope as far as the handheld market is concerned” (that’s a bit out of context; NonPartisanCon was just talking about DS browsing in general, but the words apply here).

But on the other hand (I’ll have to start using my feet next):
Surfing with the DS is a slow process. Some pages don’t load completely (maybe because they’re timing out?). Or so they say (I haven’t gotten a chance at it yet).

Finally (since I’ve run out of hands):
To end this PSP-versus-DS comparison, there’s NonPartisanCon’s very good point: “The real question, I suppose, is do you really need a browser built in to everything? This isn’t a necessity but a luxury; so why even bother making comparisons?”

DSPSP

As everybody knows by now, both Nintendo DS and Sony PSP let you surf the web. The PSP got browser-power early on, but thanks to the Opera browser, the DS can surf the web, too.

But are they equal?

On the one hand:
To surf with the DS you need to buy the Opera cartridge for the DS cartridge slot and a RAM pack in the GBA slot (the RAM pack is for cache storage). We haven’t heard any official word if Opera has an update in the works, but if there was an update…well, think about it: the Opera browser is lurking within the DS cartridge slot, so you’d probably have to take out that cartridge and buy a new cartridge with the update in it (maybe by trading in your old one?).

But on the other hand:
To surf with PSP, you only need a firmware update (as reader j commented in a previous article, “the psp is betta because its free”). If Sony has an update for your browser software, all you need to do is get it from Sony. Of course, for a number of you PSP users here at QJ, being forced to update firmware threatens your homebrew games and apps.

But on the other hand (assume I have four hands, OK?):
Surfing with the DS touchscreen is a magical, uplifting, and healing experience that paints rainbows in the skies. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but the point is not only can you surf with the touchscreen, you can see the whole web page on one screen and a zoomed-in part of that page on the other. The only people who can experience that kind of two-screen surfing here at QJ are those whose PCs have two monitors. To use NonPartisanCon’s words from a previous article, “it might push the mobile internet envelope as far as the handheld market is concerned” (that’s a bit out of context; NonPartisanCon was just talking about DS browsing in general, but the words apply here).

But on the other hand (I’ll have to start using my feet next):
Surfing with the DS is a slow process. Some pages don’t load completely (maybe because they’re timing out?). Or so they say (I haven’t gotten a chance at it yet).

Finally (since I’ve run out of hands):
To end this PSP-versus-DS comparison, there’s NonPartisanCon’s very good point: “The real question, I suppose, is do you really need a browser built in to everything? This isn’t a necessity but a luxury; so why even bother making comparisons?”

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