Comparing a new portable to a Smart Phone is like comparing a new gaming console to a PS3/360 (not exactly an apples to apples comparison, I know....). Most of us have an HD console already. The key word is ALREADY. We need to see a reason why we should buy a new, expensive device IN ADDITION to the device/devices we already have.

Yeah, I want the PSV to be compared to a smart phone for the simple fact that I already have a phone that does browsing, music, movies (including Netflix), gaming, social apps, calculations, GPS, and much more. I need to see what's new that the PSV is going to bring to the table.

I keep using the 3DS in this but the 3DS has proven itself. It offered 3D photos (which look pretty sharp when I upload them to the net), some unique AR/Motion control stuff, a pedometer, and some creative stuff like Swapnote and Face Raiders. That's in addition to games. It is worthy to be carried around with me along with my smart phone. I couldn't care less about the 3DS's music playing abilities, video recording (which is actually pretty nice....), netflix, or browser. My phone already does all of this.

With the PSV (which I will still be buying--even if this article is a little discouraging), what is its unique feature? It can offer me everything my phone has but it needs to offer something unique, too. I can name a few things but that's not the point of this post. The point is that the smart phone comparisons are justified.

*edit* goddammit, Rainbird.  You already said everything.

- Fine, my bad, I carelessly assumed based on the iOS devices and Samsung tablets I have seen.

But I see this as a special games device, with it's special place to be in with it's cable and things too.

In this light, the "quick 10 minute gaming fix on the comute" aproach is far from the relevant one (and I do believe that there'll be many small, cheap(ish) quick loading games to satisfy the caronish pig killing instincts of young professionals on the bus), and being able to get a good half of hour of Wipeout on the train or a coule of hours a day in the afternoon while the wife uses the TV for something else is worth the 30 second loading times and the 4 second turn on time. It's not like you need to turn the device on every minute. It might even be good for us, teach us a little patience.

- The multitasking bit still bothers me the most, since I don't have and don't intend to get a smartphone, but I do intend to get a Vita and I would like to use that for gaming and browsing "at the same time". I hope they can fix it, but if it's a deep OS thing (which would be really stupid), they might not be able to ... 

That's cool and all, but what the Vita naysayers are missing is that convergence devices are convenient but simply aren't as good as the real thing. If you want a pedometer, then go and buy the real Pedometer. Otherwise you are basically just guesstimating how creepy you are.

i don't get why people think its Expensive?.. it isn't?
and I'm fine with paying £40 for uncharted, its longer then the PS3's uncharted's? what the hell are these people's problems?

yes i have an iPhone i spent £400.. it does gaming great.... if I'm looking for pick up and play games for 69p like Angry Birds, if I'm looking for GAMING then £200 vita is a bargin

The Playstation Vita just doesn't have imagination to it. Sony doesn't like to have fun with their systems like Nintendo does. The features just feel placed and then left to work on something else. The 3DS lets you edit some it's features and multimedia, may not seem necessary but at least they didn't just put it in the system.

Just FYI, the 3DS actually uses mini USB as well.

Anyway, about your gaming point; We have yet to see what people are going to be doing with their Vitas, so calling the 10-minute-game-sessions approach irrelevant is presumptuous at this point. And while load times and startup times are small points against the Vita, the real problem is that people should want to use the Vita for 10 minute gaming too. As you said, the games are going to be there to support it, but if the Vita doesn't do it well enough, people will turn to their phones instead.

Outside of that, long load times and startup times are more acceptable, though still a small nuisance, so getting your WipEout on is still worth it.

And the multitasking could be a painful point as well. I hadn't considered people might be using the Vita as their primary device for browsing the web, gaming, etc. on the go.

He specifically didn't, he compared it to infinity blade.

Still, I'm not confident that the control system on a normal android or iOS device can even come close to competing with dedicated handhelds.

Also contrary to what the article said I believe some 3DS games have shown that people are still willing to drop bigger bucks on a portable game, so all is not lost for the Vita.

@PlaystationGamer I don't know if Uncharted: Golden Abyss is longer, but people love the mulitplayer on the consoles and DLC, two things Golden Abyss doesn't have(at least currently). The campign is about 10 hours, but after that, that's it. People want to have a reason to come back to the game.

I tried to look up that 3DS information really quickly, but either I suck at searching, or the info is not easily available.

I ment "not the most relevant" or less relevant (if the thing supports comarison).  And yes, I bloody hope the Vita can do quick loading small games better than anything so people that want to do those can.

I don't see the value in these expensive smartphones. I'm not for much music on the go, nor movies. I can use a calendar and the ability to take notes, but I can have those on (much) cheaper phones. I am for games hoever. So between an expensive device that does games porely, or a less expensive one that does games excelently my choice is clear. 

Oh wait, my bad on the 3DS charger. The two plugs just look alike.

I guess we agree on the gaming issue.

Value for any device is relative of course. I personally enjoy my smartphone, though I don't use it for music or movies either, but that's all a matter of individual tastes.