Is it safe to buy a psp on eBay?

[Byff]

Fancy getting one for the kids crimbo pressie, loads on eBay, but I'm a bit reluctant. Scammers always pick highly desirable items that are worth a lot of money and a psp ticks all the boxes, so the posibility of being scammed is, IMO, a higher risk.

Reading up on them, the V1.5 firmware is a requirement, but I don't know why - anyone care to explain or does anyone have one for sale?

[mcflurry]

As with any other high value ebay auction, read the feedback carefully, see what other stuff they sell, pay with paypal and use a credit card (even if paypal gets stroppy about it - lol).

[BliarOut]

I remember the saga of someone selling a brand new Playstation 2 box, impress your friends etc. However, it was exactly what the auction said it was, the box. Went to over £100 IIRC. Be careful.

[malman]

Version 1.5 allowed you to run your own code on it which makes it the pirates choice. V2 had internet browser etc but they fixed the hole that allowed you to run copied stuff. There was no way to downgrade but I believe someone found a buffer overrun in V2 that allowed them to run the V1.5 installer and downgrade.

All AFAIK as I don't actually have one just read some of the stuff in passing

[lockstock2sb]

I bought mine off Ebay from a chap in Hong Kong, just before they came out over here in the UK. I think its perfectly safe. As said before - read all the feedback thoroughly and also look at the listings the seller has bought and sold and see if they have a history of selling electonics. Make sure they can accept paypal also - its your protection against being shafted.

I'd also steer clear of any sellers with less than 98% positive feedback...or if you do use them check and read up on why the negative feedback was left - could be that it was just a delivery time problem or something, as opposed them shafting a buyer.

Cheers

Steve

PS - 1.50 firmware allows you to play old console games like the SNES, Megadrive etc etc... Mines running it, and was downgraded from 1.51. I think there are some 2.00>1.50 downgraders floating about be be careful where you get one from. There are some that will 'brick' your psp. I think that the new games will force people to upgrade back to 2.0 anyway so it depends on how badly you want to run emulators, and if you want to take the risk.

>> Edited by lockstock2sb on Tuesday 8th November 12:28

[Byff]

So basically, V1.5 lets me play copied games and run my own software? Does it also have the internet browser, or do you need V2 to get internet access. BTW, I've got a wireless network in the house, I'm presuming the internet connects through that?

[lockstock2sb]

1.5 wont have the browser so its a tradeoff. And yes the internet will be wireless

[GlenMH]

I may be wrong, but I don't think 1.5 had mp3 support either.

Glen

[lockstock2sb]

As far as i'm aware - the psp has always been able play mp3's regardless of version number. I can play them no problems