Sony PSP, a toy or gadget?

Is the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) a toy or an electronic gadget? Well, it depends on the person using this device, but most of the persons I've met who owns one usually consider this as a plaything. Few ones in the Philippines like the community in http:\\www.pinoypsp.com knows it's a lot more.

Standard PSP features or capabilities using official firmware (currently version 3.93):

• View pictures from your memory stick (Jpg, gif, png, & bmp)
• Play MP3 & WMA audio music files
• Play videos in MP4 format files (converted from pc)
• Play games/movies from the UMD drive
• Play downloaded demo/purchased games online from the memory stick.
• Remote control of PS3 console
• Web browsing using it's built in wifi
• Listen to Internet radio (shoutcast)
• Read RSS feeds
• Voice, video, text Chat using Go messenger with go!cam or skype.
• Watch videos using Location Free Player thru streamed video by using Sony's expensive Location Free Base; with this device, you could connect satellite receivers, or any video player device and stream its output thru wifi and still have remote access to the device like changing channels, etc.
  

But, if you are using a custom firmware (currently 3.90 m33), its like unleashing the full potential & capabilities of the sony psp, like:

• All features from the official firmware except Location free player (removed to save memory. Besides, theres a cheaper better way of streaming videos from your pc to the psp)
• Run your legally owned games from the memory stick to save the PSP's UMD laser from wear and tear. (Remember PS1 & PS2 laser problems)
  
• Run homebrew applications made by lots of people from all over the world which extends the psp's capabilities
  
• Play ogg, flac, mod, stm & other audio file formats.*
• Play PSX(PS1) games by converting your psx iso images to eboot
  
• Watch videos from youtube.com*
• IRC chat*
• Plug-ins or add-ons*
• Use the psp as a universal remote control*
• Emulate different old computer systems, game consoles & scientific calculators like the amiga computers, Texas Instruments calculators, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis/Megadrive, PC-Engine(Turbo-Grafx 16), Capcom Arcade System, Neo-Geo, etc..*
• Manage files in your memory stick**
• Stream video/audio files from your pc thru wifi just using your pc and wifi router.***
  
• And a lot more thanks to homebrew and the people who made them.
  

* Possible with homebrew apps
** PSPFiler (homebrew too)
***PimpStreamer (what do ya think, its also homebrew)

If you want to learn more about the psp, google it. I also suggest you visit pinoypsp.com and qj.net .