Julius Pecson tries out the new PlayStation Portable, which plays movies as well as games. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

From its jet-black color and glossy finish to its dominating screen and familiar PlayStation button layout, this is one beautiful, sleek, high-tech piece of hardware.

Speaking of the screen, the PSP boasts a huge (by handheld gaming standards) 4.3-inch high-resolution display employing the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The presentation is absolutely spectacular.

Depending on the game, the graphics are almost if not just as good as in PlayStation 2 software, which is very impressive considering the size of the machine.

The colors are rich and vibrant, and the display is crisp and detailed.

Even when using the protective case that comes with the PSP value pack, I wouldn't risk putting this high-tech device in any precarious position. I am not sure how scratch-resistant the screen is, and since my PSP was a loaner from Sony, I didn't test it out.

However, the interface is prone to fingerprints and smudges, so unless you wear soft cotton shirts, I would suggest getting a small cloth (preferably the kind used for eyeglasses) to wipe down any blemishes. The analog stick underneath the d-pad takes a while to get used to — a lot of people will probably opt for the more comfortable d-pad.

The main reason to purchase any handheld gaming device is the games. Twenty-four are already out, with more on the way. Eight of the 24 are directly from Sony, and range from action to sports. Most of Sony's are rated E (for everyone).

The most unfortunate aspect of the PSP is that there is no break in game prices. At $40-$50 a game, it's basically the same as the home-console counterparts. So for most gamers, you have to decide if you want the bigger, proven home-version console or the new PSP.

The same applies for movies — would you rather buy a DVD you can watch on the big screen or a PSP-only movie disc that you can watch on the go?

To be fair, the "Spider-Man 2" movie that comes free with the first million units looks absolutely amazing. I also like that using a memory stick is an option — provided it's large enough (512 MB or 1 GB) to watch movies or even listen to mp3s.

One of the most significant issues in portable gaming is the system's battery life. The PSP allows for three brightness settings, and various factors can affect its battery life.

Different games require different amounts of power — something simple like the puzzle game "Lumines" won't push the PSP hardware and drain the battery as much as a game like "Ridge Racers."

Overall, the PSP is a winner as an electronic hardware device, so it's all up to software to deliver the knockout punch. From the looks of it, Nintendo has some serious handheld competition.