An Open Letter to Sony

Dear Sony, I need to get something off my chest (as opposed to writing something on it). I dislike the way you treat your customers. I think the MemoryStick is overpriced and useless in today's market. I don't want to pay a premium for your brand name. Still, I was sucked into the PSP kicking and screaming. I purchased it on my own volition, and haven't regretted that decision for a moment (although it's skanky of you to sell a PC software media management solution for the PSP separately). The game selection is still lacking, but I'm willing to give the platform more time (I have no doubt it'll be around for quite a while). But Sony, I ask you to do something different with your UMDs.
I'm not going to buy a movie for my PSP at $20, when I can buy a much-more cross-compatible DVD for any other player on the planet. I don't mind the proprietary nature of the gaming machine disc format, but the idea of purchasing entertainment that I'm only going to watch once – and selling it to me at a premium price – is beyond asinine. I have two suggestions for you: (1) Sell PSP movies / shows at $5 a pop; and/or (2) bundle UMDs with your regular DVD cases as value-adds. The first suggestion is self-explanatory. The second deserves your full attention. You'll fuel countless more PSP sales by bundling the UMD with another media purchase… instead of screwing your customers in yet another way. Once a consumer amasses several UMDs that came with regular DVDs, they would be much more inclined to get a viewer for 'em. Until then, the “only way” to watch quality video on the PSP is by ripping it first – and that process is a kludge. Then again, what do I know? It's my PSP.

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