I partially agree with the proprietary memory cards, proprietary charge cable. I guess after the PSP with Custom firmware and the PS3 being Jail broken Sony wanted more security for the Vita. Yes given enough time and motivation someone will hack the Vita, but it isn’t going to be the easy cut-and-dry hack the PSP enjoyed. As for the Battery life, it has the same run time as the Nintendo 3DS, which if you look at the system specs above is pretty powerful.
I rather have a standard Mini or micro USB cable, and Sony could have gone for a Mini SD card slot or go back to the MS duo for memory.
But I also understood there was a real technical reason they didn’t go for a preexisting format. It is hard to test for or prove at the moment, but I believe the Vita memory card has faster read/write times than the Memory stick or SD flash cards. When it came to booting up the exact same game on the PSP and the Vita from the memory card the Vita was much faster. I tested this out with Dark Stalkers Chaos Tower, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion Wars and Metal Slug Anthology.
How well the Vita does for travel, most people I know traveling do not have the opportunity to play 5 hours straight (unless you are on a plane flight or a Greyhound Bus). Even then most planes and Amtrak trains have outlets for public use now. If you are a passenger in a car, battery isn’t a issue.
As for traveling with a charger, I admit the Vita’s default charger is a bit bulky, and many cheaper USB chargers will not work for the Vita.
As apparently Vita requires the same conditions to charge as most android phones. (crossing the D- and D+ line on the device end of the USB cable) One of those low profile USB chargers meant for android phones or the iPhone is perfect for the Vita.
Don’t get me wrong I can completely understand for people to wait for a price drop as $250 is alot to put down for a system.
But on a site where I seen people drop that much (if not double) on a custom arcade stick every few months; arguing about price kinds of looses its edge if you know what I mean. When I see people pay more for a single arcade stick than the cost of a new console, and where $150 arcade sticks are the norm, $250 for a system that was released just this last February isn’t as unreasonable as everyone thinks.
I also want to point out that complaining the Vita not having a arcade stick (yet?) is ridiculous. As a whole arcade stick makes for some awkward and cumbersome experience with a hand held device. Take the iCade for the iPad for example, as cool as it sounds the iCade is more of a novelty and anything anyone here would take too seriously. Yes I know one of our members hack the thing, but in authentic buttons and added a actual screen or something, but thats besides the point.
An arcade stick for the Vita would be the same as the iCade is for the iPad, a novelty nothing more. With a big less portable arcade stick, you are better off just using a stick on your Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC or your home game system of choice. The PSP and DS did not need an Arcade stick, and nether does the Vita.
If someone actually figures out how to make one AND provide a guide, a how to or documentation how it is done cool. Props for you.
If Hori, Mad Catz or even Sony got around to making a Stick for the Vita, awesome that would work as well. But do not expect me to believe you take a huge arcade stick with you just so you can use it with your hand held device in some public outdoor space on a regular basis.Sorry it isn’t practical anyone who said other wise is a clown shoes retarded. I admit it be cool to show off, but that novelty.
Honestly if you are that hard up as a player where you have to play on a stick, (all) hand held gaming devices are not meant for you.