4800 PSP returned due to malfunction

[pahcman]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/0...ws_6116985.html

TOKYO--About 4,800 Japanese PSPs have been returned to Sony due to problems with the handheld's square button, according to a recent interview with Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi in Nikkei Business magazine.

Kutaragi acknowledged that the button is less responsive than the others, in part because it's so close to the PSP's 480x272 screen. Because there isn't enough room to put the square button's detection switch directly underneath, it's off to the right, making it less responsive--and sometimes causing it to stick.

Nikkei Business reported that, to date, .6 percent of the 800,000 shipped units have been returned to Sony for repair. Kutaragi was unapologetic about the issue: "This is the design that we came up with. There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to. I didn't want the PSP's LCD screen to become any smaller than this, nor did I want its machine body to become any larger.

"The button's location is [architectured] on purpose," Kutaragi added. "It's according to specifications. This is something that we've created, and this is our specification. There was a clear purpose to it, and it wasn't a mistake."

Offering additional testimony praising the handheld, Kutaragi said, "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."

While we have always been wary about Sony QA, but isnt Kutaragi getting too arrogant for his own good?

"The button's location is [architectured] on purpose," Kutaragi added.

Look like a inherent design flaw of all PSP, if Sony have accpeted these 4800 units, theroetically, ALL PSP owners are able to RMA with Sony. To think this is but one problem when we not forgot dead pixel and popping UMD lever yet Kutaragi still seem so higher upped...

 

[see colon]

Offering additional testimony praising the handheld, Kutaragi said, "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."

umm... yeah that's funny. the gate would have to be functional, just like the button. the button isn't functional, and it was apparently designed not to be.

 

[Phil]

The button works fine for most users... Until each and every unit out there has this problem - I really don't see why the above should be called arrogance. In the end, almost every unit has some faults in it. Would it arrogance on Sony's part as well that the initial launch PS2's are that noisy (when in fact, they're simply as noisy as required to keep the internals at an acceptable temperature and reduce chances of overheating). This button-problem is obviously a design choice in order to keep the design as it is and the size of the screen and it really doesn't seem to be affecting all units in the first place.

 

[YeuEmMaiMai]

great just what we need, more releases of sub-standard hardware... just what we need "lets make our cash now and worry about the problems later....didn't S3 try that with the Savage2000?

 

[passerby]

Let me do this again.

Early Adopters

0.6% is ~4800? So they're at > 760K sales now.

 

[Farid]

great just what we need, more releases of sub-standard hardware...

Sub-standard hardware? To characterize the PSP?
That's a huge overstatement, especially for a button that doesn't function quite correctly with ~0.6% of the PSP sold.

 

[PC-Engine]

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/button.jpg

Truth hurts....

KK is a master BSer and I have a feeling some of his disciples post on this board.

Yes we designed it that way....

Heh it's not the position of the gate...it's the position of deadbolt that doesn't align with the hole on the frame therefore forcing you to push the gate harder in order for the lock to work.

 

[Clashman]

0.6% is ~4800? So they're at > 760K sales now.

Not exactly, it said .6% of their 800,000 shipped units, not sold to end-users.

 

[V3]

This is funny. The misalignment is by design ? Which moron think of that design ?

 

[cthellis42]

I've known three people so far who've returned their DS's for dead pixels so far... I wonder what their return rate is like, the arrogant bastards!

Chill out, people. It's a new product launch. Flaws are a part of the game. If you want assurances, wait six months.

 

[gokickrocks]

i hope the psp's buttons dont end up like sony remote controls where i have to jam the button in for it to work

 

[PC-Engine]

I've known three people so far who've returned their DS's for dead pixels so far... I wonder what their return rate is like, the arrogant bastards!

Chill out, people. It's a new product launch. Flaws are a part of the game. If you want assurances, wait six months.

PSP has button issues, dead pixel issues, and frame flexing issues.

 

[passerby]

Not exactly, it said .6% of their 800,000 shipped units, not sold to end-users.

I think it's very safe to assume that with high demand and low supply, any 'shipped' PSP may as well be considered 'sold'.

 

[Ty]

PSP has button issues, dead pixel issues, and frame flexing issues.

Frame flexing certainly is not an issue with the latest devkits. Not sure about button placement but I doubt that's been addressed.

 

[Phil]

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/button.jpg

What is this? A "Photoshop" solution or something that is being integrated into PSP units as we speak? If it's not the later, what makes KK 'a master BSer' as you so maturely put it?

 

[PC-Engine]

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/button.jpg

What is this? A "Photoshop" solution or something that is being integrated into PSP units as we speak? If it's not the later, what makes KK 'a master BSer' as you so maturely put it?

What is it? It's a picture showing why the button gets stuck and/or doesn't align with the carbon contact patch.

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=4010'

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/psp/square.jpg

 

[GwymWeepa]

Quite simply, they designed it the way they did because they wanted a big screen and a gba like orientation, so that a few years down the road they can do a clamshell design and sell millions more as the unit becomes truly pocketable. Sneaky.

 

[one]

Look like a inherent design flaw of all PSP, if Sony have accpeted these 4800 units, theroetically, ALL PSP owners are able to RMA with Sony.

No, Sony accepted 0.6% of PSP not by the misaligned button issue. It's a 2-folded problem,

(1) There was a bad die to cast a PSP case in certain production line
(2) The inherent position of the Square button

Sony accepted PSPs with defects caused by (1). The problem (2) is what is argued about now

 

[hey69]

0.6% is a very good failure rate no?

 

[London Geezer]

Wow, look at the Sony haters... I mean, 0.6% of all PSPs must be something Mankind will never forget. I wonder what's the number for DS, and PS2, and PS1, and GC and Xbox and all other consoles ever released. Or any other electronic product.