In reference to the MP3 playback and DVD burn speeds, the article mentions

So everything is fine. I'd expect that if Sony didn't release new firmware to the public for these problems, someone else would eventually.

Nooooooooo!
First software is allowed to ship out buggy ( will fix it later don't worry) and now hardware. This is foolish and we accept it. I can't wait for the non tech industries to get ahold of this - I will soon be sewing my own butons on a new shirt and hinging the doors to my new car ( they'll be ready in a few week, just don't take any sharp turns)
This kind of thing has got to stop. I bet most people won't return them and Sony will have set the standard for all other electronics.
Let the age of vrapware (v=c) commence.

Is this so new?

As long as the hardware doesn't have any problems, I don't have too much of a problem with this...
It is, after all, talk about a software update...

And as such, we're used to it allready... How many motherboards doens't have to be flashed for you to be able to use your cpu to it's full extent?

How many mp3 players haven't had to be updated to fix certain errors, include support for other formats etc....
(I know my old Creative Jukebox (original) certainly needed a few)


What would have been a bad thing was if you had to buy an upgrade from Sony to get what will be offered in a patch... That would've been too much, but as long as it's offered freely as soon as it's done, ok... It might not be the best practice in the world, but considering that was the only way they'd be able to meed the christmas season with the console....

Well, I'm tending to agree with agrav8r more on this side. Flashing a mobo is one thing....as geeks (or pseudo-geeks) we fully expect to have to handle certain things like this ourselves when we build a system.

I don't agree on the mp3 player side. This is end-user equipment and should be handled/sold as such without any necessary firmware upgrades necessary. Many people just wouldn't have a clue if they were asked to do this.

My $.02

Well, if I don't miss my guess, chances are the update isn't as firmware'ish as flashing a bios, meaning that it won't have all the side effects that a bad bios flash has...

Sony is, I guess, quite well aware of the fact that most people aren't "geeks" (I hate being labeld that btw!), and that the update will have to be usefriendly, meaning that it won't damage the system if the power goes off nor that it will be more than just starting a program and clicking ok...

Besides, one can allways make the argument that the system being released now is the "proper" one, but that Sony will include more functionality to it as time progresses...

That way it won't be a "neccessary" update, but rather a free upgrade to those who bought the system when it first became available...


SNGX> Thanks! Allways nice to have someone agreeing with me

My argument is this:
Have you ever had to flash a non PC game system before( or get software updates)?
No
Do you currently have to upgrade your toaster?
No
Would you buy one if you had to?
No
The reason I say they are the same isthat both should have no changing parts- what you buy is supposed to be the end all be all.
With computers there are tons of added parts that need to communicate and work, and one machine cannot know all the varied configurations
However with a game system, there is no risk of components sprouting from the air. All parts that are to be added were known at conception of the product, and so cannot use the software excuse of too many variable. What does that leave us?
They had a christmas deadline and did not make it and sent it anyway. Perhaps the pacemaker people can do the same with the new batch of synthetic hearts.
They have no excuse- they did it to make Xmas money and shipped an unfinished product. End of story. If you want more of your products to come out unfinished , than rationalize away, but as far as I am concerned this is worse than $5 walmart software sold for 45.99.

You may be looking at the situation from a wrong point of view, agrav8r. It's not like the PSX doesn't work or crashes or blows up. As long as the box states the lower specs and everything works, then the product is finished as far as the buyer is concerned. And it's not like people are dying to burn DVDs at 24X. Sony could've just left it at that but they were nice enough to offer a free upgrade when everything is tested. Also, it's not necessarily for their own financial gains that they rushed the PSX. People probably wanted to give the PSX as a gift so they are probably happy that they don't have to tell the other person that their gift is not out yet.

Thanks for proving my point, had it not been out( and available to buy) people would have spent their money elsewhere. However because it was rushed out incomplete, they spent money on it.
You right as long as they don't put specs on the box it is legal- despite the fact that they hyped it up to all the journalist that it would be something else, so that they could garner more sales from electronically clueless relatives and friend to buy for others on Xmas. BTW i hear sony is looking for a PR guy, perhaps you have your resume handy?