Screen Saver
David A. Dodson

Sony's PlayStation Portable has the distinct advantage of observing the mistakes and successes of other portables that came before it. It makes some good use of the knowledge, (backlighting, memory stick compatibility) but unfortunately drops the ball on one important issue. Nearly every other portable system manufacturer has learned the hard way that fragile LCD screens need to be protected with a clam-shell or some other built in cover. After dropping two hundred and fifty bucks, the PSP's wimpy sleeve/bag simply isn't going to cut it. That's why Pelican has stepped in with their Face Armor, a sleek protective shell that can take the abuse so that your precious widescreen display can remain clean and pristine.

The Face Armor easily attaches to the top of the PSP via a pair of thumbscrews. Flipped down, the Face Armor's plastic shell rests flush on the deck of the PSP, covering and protecting the unit's LCD screen from both dust and scratches. Flipped up, it provides a handy glare guard and privacy screen. Thanks to Pelican's thoughtful design, the Face Armor in no way blocks any of the controls or buttons on the top of the PSP in either the open or closed position; your L and R triggers, "open" latch, IR port, USB connector and UMD hatch move freely and are always easily accessible. The polished black glassine finish also compliments the sleek, ultra-modern design of the PSP… classy.

The Face Armor also comes with four disk jackets designed to cover and protect the exposed read windows of your UMDs when not in use. These are particularly handy if you tend to casually toss games into a backpack, gear bag or briefcase.

Bottom line is that Pelican's Face Armor is a must have for any PSP owner interested in protecting their screen and looking cool in the process. For around twelve dollars you can grab one just about anywhere games are sold, or at one of the dealers listed at PelicanPerformance.com.