Reasons to buy a Vita:
1. Multimedia device - sure so is everything but that doesn't mean the Vita isn't. Listen to .mp3s download your iTunes playlists. Take photos and video, crop and trim pictures to use as wallpapers or upload onto facebook. Stream video with the Youtube and Netflix apps. Stream Music with Music Unlimited. Skype using the front or even rear cameras.
2. Web Browser - thanks to being a touchscreen Sony was able to create a very useful browser. Responsive and feature rich, you can fast scroll up and down, jump to the top, create bookmarks, browse history, save photos, instant tweet URLs, open multiple tabs, pinch zoom, and more. The keyboard is large and intuitive while text boxes support physical buttons. The Vita's browser recently received an update from a score of 58 to 243. While still below top end phones and the Wii U (most are 300+) it is very capable (X360 IE9 is ~130). With upgrades like that the Vita stands to be a relevant browser in the years to come, especially if the pending HTML5/Flash video support is added.
3. Apps - Vita is home to a variety of system apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Email(with system notifications), Netflix, Skype, FourSquare, Flickr, YouTube, and Google Maps. These apps support updates and can utilize location data or the GPS in the 3G model. In app links open up in the web browser and more integrated features are being added such as the URL tweet, facebook photo upload, and photo emailing.
4. PlayStation Mobile - this is an open development platform using Mono and C#, same as the Android Marketplace. While young, this platform will serve as a game and app store that ties to your SEN/PSN account meaning any PlayStation certified device will provide you access to any of your purchased apps. In the future, one can expect ported Android apps as well as the app luxuries found on smartphone and tablet devices. Since Vita is a major player and controls are easily coded games will more than likely support physical controls along side the default touch controls. These apps vary in price from 0.49 to a few dollars, pricing set by publishers.
5. PS3/PS4 integration - the Wii U is not the only asynchronous gaming device on the market. Vita too boost such feature and will be receiving the long awaited LBP2 DLC this year. Using the Remote Play feature of the PS3 and PSP, the Vita is capable of dual screen gaming with the PS3 and thanks to gyros and cameras can create new experiences like jumping back on forth from screen to screen, utilizing touch controls for PS3 games, and augmented reality on your TV screen like in Sly Cooper 4. The Vita can also serves as a secondary controller for the PS3 like in Marvel vs Capcom 3. Using the back touch the Vita can emulate the L2 L3 R2 & R3 buttons making it a fully functional PlayStation controller. While PS3 is experimenting with its cross functionality, its hardware restricts its potential and speed of development. Still PS3 is providing CrossBuy, CrossPlay, CrossPlatform(same servers), and CrossController. In the future expect fast development and a large increase of features between the Vita and PS4 whose hardware will be more similar.
6. Trophy Support - Like trophies? Good. Even PS Mobile games might get trophies soon. It all goes into one account and Vita games have their own trophy set.
7. Digital option - Every Vita game is available on the PS Store the day of release. You can completely forgo physical games if you feel like it. While not all publishers are kind enough to discount digital titles, Sony has made a point to take 10% off every one of their own titles day one and have reduced digital prices to match retail over time. Any digital title you purchase will always be there to re download if you need to space. Just like the PS3, you are allowed two systems to be activated to one account so you can share titles with a second Vita or even a PSP. That's 4 total PlayStation systems on one account.
8. Party chat (cross game chat) - Vita has a built in microphone and you can create groups among friends to chat no matter if they are in the same game or not even in a game at all.
9. PS Plus - Vita now has its own Instant Game Collection. In the US it has 6 titles and is expected to dish out 24 free titles every year (half the offering of PS3 which is 12 and 48 respectively). The best part is PS Plus is tied to your account and works for both systems at one price. Vita even gets its own 1gb of cloud save storage separate from the PS3s. Plus for Vita includes auto updates and auto trophy synching. The games are Uncharted Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, Wipeout 2048, Mutant Blobs Attack, Jet Set Radio, and a PSP game Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions. Each can be added to your purchased download list and added to your memory card whenever your Plus is active. Over time, your game collection becomes huge.
10. Vita games - Vita has and is getting a variety of unique IPs and new IPs over a variety of genres. Vita's quad core processor provide a level of gaming that handhelds have not seen before. Mix that with the online capabilities of PSN and traditional controls and you have yourself an amazing "Next Gen Portable".
11. Classics - Vita not only has a library of digital PSP games available, PSone classics are supported as well. While a few titles are missing there is a large library to choose from and new ones are being added regularly.
12. All portable - the Vita is a handheld that does all of the above. For a gamer, that's pretty damn spiffy. I've replaced an iPod 4 with my Vita in every aspect and as the system receives updates it is competing head on with comparable devices. While some might find it beneficial to carry around more than one device, the Vita does one great job of replacing other devices while providing better gaming.
Since you missed Black Friday, you can search for other offers this holiday but might I recommend the $299 3G Vita bundle? It comes with a 4gb card, Unit 13, and 1 year of PS Plus. Plus alone is $50 and is highly recommended giving the value it provides. It would start you out with 7 games right away with more to come. Even if you don't find its game library compelling right now it would give you games to play and try out until more games catch your eye. The initial console price is the big leap and this bundle provides free games all year and the 3G option and a GPS.
Before the PS3 everyone was nice to me :(
