PSP Firmware question

[Americanidle]

I recently picked up a PSP package from Ebay for my son's birthday (can't go wrong with a present you can play yourself too....). It came with 2.71 firmware and I saw that 2.80 was out so I downloaded it and followed the directions and somehow bricked the psp even though the process seemed to go through right. Luckily the guy I bought it from was able to return it to EB and just sent me a replacement. Since that process now scares me, my question is if the upgrade is needed at all. I saw the listing of what was new to 2.80 but it didn't mean anything to me. Do you guys upgrade with every release?

[Clanwolfer]

Honestly, I only grab the 'big updates' (web browser, new video playback format, etc).  I hardly use my PSP aside from playing MLB 06 and Tekken, so new small features aren't a big deal to me.  When Opera for the DS comes out, that'll probably be the last gasp for me using the PSP as anything other than a game/movie player.

[The Grue]

You're going to get varying answers from people on this.  Some never upgrade (and in fact some have downgraded to 1.5 for homebrew or pirating purposes) and others upgrade.  I always upgrade when the new one comes out because it usually adds at least one feature that I would like to have.  This time, for 2.8, it was for video RSS feeds.  I think the next firmware will probably enable the PS catalog download stuff, so I will definitely want that.

Tough luck on the bricking, though.  I have upgraded a bunch of times and never had the problem.  I even did a downgrader back a long time ago, just to try out some homebrew stuff and even that went fine.  If you are going to upgrade again, I would suggest deleting the download from your memory stick and try downloading it again, just in case it was corrupted.

[Clay]

Regarding video RSS feeds...  and pardon my ignorance...  why is that a feature that you would want?  What are some good video RSS feeds?

[Destructor]

You're going to get varying answers from people on this.  Some never upgrade (and in fact some have downgraded to 1.5 for homebrew or pirating purposes) and others upgrade.

I'm firmly in the camp of never upgrading and wait for the hacker groups to release a way to play the newer firmware on the older 1.5 console (currently you can run 2.71 on 1.5 firmware). Especially as it allows you to do things that Sony should've allowed in the first place. That and there's never any features on the new BIOSs that interest me in the slightest.

Unfortunately, the number of consoles out there new/used that are of a firmware that's downgradable (especially with the PSP's version 2 model that'll stop you from downgrading to 1.5 alltogether) are shrinking. But a 1.5 PSP is a sight to behold. It's like a modified Xbox in all the things (legal and not legal) it can do beyond a standard console.

[Misguided]

I've only upgraded to play a game that required it, in which case it comes on the UMD

[The Grue]

Regarding video RSS feeds...  and pardon my ignorance...  why is that a feature that you would want?  What are some good video RSS feeds?

There are a few video podcasts I watch (Diggnation, Frederator, etc.) and I choose to watch them on the PSP.  The RSS feed makes it so I can easily download the podcast to my PSP wirelessly.  I have a job where I travel, so it's good for things like downloading at a hotel as well.  Will be better if they ever support streaming video via RSS so that you don't even have to download it, since video podcasts tend to be big).