PSP fails as iPod shines

First there was Creative's Zen and soon there'll be Microsoft's Zune, and no doubt there'll be many more – one of which might actually succeed in "killing" Apple's iPod.

Sony tried and failed with numerous versions of its Walkman digital-music player, but its portable PlayStation game device (PSP) was yet another iPod killer that was better at video and could also play games better than Solitaire.

Well, it ain't – because it too appears to be withering in the dazzling light of the iPod. Sony has this week admitted that PSP shipments are well below expectations.

Sales this year were apparently always to be below 2005's levels, but they're actually falling much faster and sooner than initially anticipated.

The PSP was launched in Japan on Decemeber 12, 2004, and 3 million units were shipped by the end of March 2005. In the financial year from April 2005 shipments jumped to 14.1 million units as the machine went on sale in North America and Europe. For the current fiscal year, from April 2006, Sony initially said it expected shipments would decline to 12 million units, but this week revised that figure to 9 million units.

Apple sold nearly that number of iPods in July, August and Sepetmber of this year.

Of course much of the PSP's decline is down to Nintendo's DS, and its highly popular brain-training games. But it's kinda satisfying to see another much-vaunted killer tripped up and firing blanks.

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Comments received

Matthew Allen said on Friday, 27 October 2006

Keep on firing blanks Sony, as you seem to be enjoying it. The infamous PS3 is the next fumble to be made by such a typical company. Yes Microsoft, I as well as everyone else can see that you'r feeling the crunch as Apple closes the gap. Soon you will strike with the Zune and your new OS. Sadly you don't know what what you'r up against.
I think that both Microsoft and Sony should just stay on the sideline and be a couple of spectators.

Ishmam Ibtida said on Saturday, 28 October 2006

Matt, I can understand your ranting about Sony, but Microsoft? Microsoft is the king of software. How many percent of the world's computers runs on Windows? How many on OS X? I dont know how successful the Zune will be, but there is no doubt that Vista will be greater than any previous OS.

russdogg said on Sunday, 29 October 2006

I'm a huge PSP fan/ Mac user, and I agree that the portable sales are doing poorly. Remember though, this the first gen PSP. Do you remember the first gen iPod? I had it. It was terrible! However by the time the 3rd gen came out, I knew they had it right. And it keeps gettiing better with each gen. I really think that Sony will get the next-gen PSP right.

Ben Treston said on Monday, 06 November 2006

It is a pity to hear about the PSP failing, as I own one and a Mac and I think the PSP is a fantastic bit of kit. I can record TV on the Mac and easily get it onto the PSP (using PSP Ware or EyeTV) and although lacking the shine of iTunes integration, this is the present solution for the 'true video iPod' gap, and the games are great as well.

The problem is, because of the hardware, it is just too expensive for most people. The PS2 is easily cheaper right now!