Sony PSX - The Pulse 2

Japan, Inc., Feb, 2004

Sony has already updated the PSX. The PS2 in angel's clothing (incorporating the game machine, a DVD recorder and a hard disk) has been changed--and not for the better, from what we can tell. The changes were hastily made to meet last year's holiday rush. Haste makes waste, of course. Before this "update," we would have said that if you don't have a game machine yet and have been thinking of buying one, this would be a good time. The altered specs are:

-- Dubbing speed from the hard drive to DVD has fallen from 24X to 12X.

-- DVD RW, CD-R, MP3, TIFF and GIF playback are now no longer possible.

-- You can now no longer play back Cybershot movies.

-- It's now compatible with the upgrade via PlayStation BB Internet service.

-- It's gotten heavier, so now the 250GB DESR-7000 is 5.8kg, and the DESR-5000 is now 5.7kg (both up from 5.6kg).

Well, it would have been the time to pick up a PS2 if Sony hadn't decided to drop all these features. Apparently, the Sony men in white coats couldn't squeeze the above-mentioned elements into the PSX in time for launch, but, they say they may be able to provide the MIA features by way of a future software update. No guarantees, though, which is a bit weak, no?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

More info: www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200311/03-1127/