Me not being one of those people that feels like I have to have the Vita

ayStation Vita excels with its excellent graphics, a superb 5in screen, dual-analogue and touch screen controls and a host of other goodies. The PlayStation Vita narrows the gap between console and handheld, and reminds you why a dedicated mobile gaming device is a good idea.

PlayStation Vita design

The physical design is an evolution of the PSP Slim and Lite, the front dominated by the whopping 5-inch screen, with the dual analog pads to either side, the D-Pad on the left and the face buttons on the right, in a layout that will immediately seem natural to anyone familiar with a dual-shock 3 controller. Of course, PlayStation Vita has only two shoulder buttons, modeled in clear pespex to maintain the unit’s elegant lines, but - as we’ll see later - this is less of an issue than it might seem. Vita feels light and comfortable in your hands, and while the position of the sticks takes a little getting used to, it’s a very easy handheld to use for long periods - much more so than the rather cramp-inducing 3DS.

Sony did a good job at giving you a lot of useful items in the 1st edition bundle. You get of course the Vita itself, a very nice carrying case, power adapter, memory card and a pack in game. I was slightly disappointed in the fact that Sony didn't include something a little more beefy game wise like Wipeout or even swung for the fences with Uncharted as the pack in. The PS Vita at first glance looks just like its predecessor and it took me awhile to figure out that all of the buttons and switches have been moved. It doesn't feel heavier than the original PSP but at the same time it doesn't feel plastic like and cheap. This system isn't for the casual Angry Birds or Plants vs Zombies player.

I was impressed that upon start up, there was at least a good 3/4 charge to get you off and running.

Set Up

Despite some negative reviews that claims that it took forever to get setup, I only took 15 minutes to get up and running and although I got caught in a snag trying to log in to my PSN account, I found that if you go thru the trial period, the Vita will allow you to finish the set up and then you can go back into the settings and put your PSN info in. I had no problems connecting the Vita with my home network and since I have no plans on using AT&T, I had no problems hooking the Vita up to my mifi device. The touchscreen is very responsive and the screen itself is bright, thus far, I have had no problems at all jumping right in. Near is setup and could prove useful as well as Google maps although it won't replace your GPS. Netflix isn't available yet but from what I hear, it will be out next week at launch. However Sony's video rental service is already up and running should you want to get some movies on the go.

Playstation store

Going into the store, I noted that it's sectioned off for Vita games only, PSP games and PSP minis. If you aren't all that crazy about the launch lineups or want some older games, they are all there for you. My only concern however is that 1. There were hardly any FPSes in the store. Games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty weren't in the store on the Vita side. 2. Some games like God of War: Ghost of Sparta were still full priced at 30 bucks. I am hoping that as time goes on, Sony starts to cut prices for their PSP games especially if they are asking consumers to spend that same amount on PS Vita titles.

Portability

Me not being one of those people that feels like I have to have the Vita in my pocket

Excellent portable console, with some monetary drawbacks.

The Vita is a handheld console unlike any other. The display is beautiful, and the two analog sticks are refreshing for handheld play. If you are in the market for a handheld console, I would consider the Vita. That being said, there are a few things that I do not like. The battery life is poor to say the least, but that is to be expected for such a piece of technology. The rear touchscreen is revolutionary, but it definitely takes a little getting used to. Don't expect to pick it up and be great at it. The UI leaves something to be desired. I feel that the home screen could have used some more well thought out design. Cross play is amazing, but the trophies that you earn on your Vita do not cross over to your PS3 trophies, something I was very upset about. The game selection is not great, but that is to be expected for release. Don't expect a deal if you want to use cross play. 100 dollars for a new release Vita and PS3 game. The 3G also leaves something to be desired. The pricing for data plans is outrageous and the download is capped, so don't expect to be able to play online over 3G. All in all though, Sony has made some great strides in portable gaming with the Vita. If you are not put off by the price tag, I would recommend purchasing the Vita, but perhaps just stick with WiFi.

An AMAZING Next Generation Portable with a wide variety of games!

The Playstation Vita was first codenamed the Next Generation Portable (NGP) and it lives up to the name. With high-end graphics comparable to the PS3, dual analog, OLED multi-touch screen technology and a back touchpad, the Playstation Vita really is next generation compared to abysmal hardware like the 3DS, which relies on a 3d gimmick to sell and has an awkward control scheme.

Contrary to belief, the Playstation Vita has a wide variety of games available in the Playstation Store. Want an action adventure? Uncharted: Golden Abyss can solve that. Want a racer? Wipeout 2048 and Need For Speed Most Wanted can help you with that.

Not only that but 2013 is going to be even better for the Vita, in terms of game selection. Killzone Mercenary, Tearaway, Soul Sacrifice, Warrior's Lair, Phantasy Star Online 2 (a Free2Play), and Bioshock as some notable exclusives that will be coming out.

There is virtually no complaints on my part on the Vita's hardware. The LiveArea Menu is intuitive, the apps are easy to navigate and YouTube works amazingly well, even better than on Android.

Are you a gamer interested in gaming on the go? Then the Vita is for you!

Great Product - well worth the investment

This was a great buy! My son cannot put it down. We are very pleased with the product. The technology, clarity, color and functionality is great, especially for the younger generation who have the dexterity to navigate all of these gadgets. We love the fact that you can download and save your games. This is one of the best investments I have made in the world of game technology for my son. I highly recommend the PSVita.

Fell in love with it, cant wait for some more games to come out!!

PRO's:
for a handheld, this thing rocks! just like having a ps3 on the go. love the graphics. the xmb is faster to navigate with the touch screen. while in game the touch screen inables the developers to add additional buttons along the sides of the screen closest to your thumbs for easy access.

CON's:
not enough games(no worries though there will be more to come). felt the touch screen doesn't respond on the spot. you need to tap the screen a number of times. i can see this being a problem in some online competitive gamings. memory cards cost half what the systems worth. analog sticks are going to need some getting use too.

overall- give it some time but i feel like this system is going to be something worth investing in