tools: psx

A couple more observations about the PSX

• Powering up takes some time: I can change the channel fairly immediately, but it gives no UI response when trying to joystick over to the Video column (to view a DVD or recorded programming). It's annoying, because you can't tell when it will respond.
  
• DVD-R: Backup DVD movies that play fine on my first-run US PS2 do not play on the PSX.
  
• Powering down takes time: Currently this is only important because I don't want to move the unit while it's powering down, even though I want to get at the cabling beneath it.
  
• Net access: G-Guide access times seem weird. The LAN telltale on my wireless/ethernet bridge stays dark until the unit is powered up, though the same bridge on my PC (yeah, I've only got the one) keeps all telltales lit, regardless of the PC's power status. No big deal, but I've not been able to see the telltale come on when it's supposedly updating the G-Guide information. In fact, I'd like to be able to tell it to force a guide-check on user request, because I'm completely baffled as to Samurai Champloo's current broadcast time. (Can anyone sport me a clue on this one?)

I do have the 5100 model with the improved firmware, so I suspect I'm enjoying it more than anyone who hasn't managed an upgrade. Oh, that's another one: I tried to check for updates, and it seems to find something it wants to install, gets 1/3 of the way through the lengthy progress bar, only to return an error and abort. Meh. No biggie, but I wish it was more clear what was happening.

Despite all of this, I still think　\6万 is a pretty decent price for what I've been getting. I'll probably be even happier if I pick up a broadband-supporting PS2 title like NFS:UG, Final Fantasy Fancy Pants, or SOCOM. I'd likely never have bought the BBA unit for a PS2 alone, so the use of it in the PSX is a freebie with which I'm looking forward to experimenting.