Sony Tries to Catch Up to Nintendo, Apple With NGP

It's obviously too early to tell if Sony's next PlayStation Portable -- tentatively called "NGP," for Next Generation Portable -- will be a hit and help Sony gain gaming ground lost to Nintendo and Apple in handheld games.

But if the dust collecting for years on the original PSP and ancient Sony Dreamcast sitting in my closet are any indication, then you can bet the company has plenty of ground to make up in regaining gamers' attention. Being an early adopter, as I was with both of those Sony games, isn't always a great idea. The cost is high, and if they don't catch on with other consumers, product support can drop quickly and it can be hard to find games for them.