Putting all the "do I need this when I have a smartphone and/or tablet" stuff aside – I can't say enough about how well Sony nailed the hardware on this bad boy. Holding a comfortable, well-built portable game system that actually "wows" me in 2012 is nothing short of miraculous. The screen is the very antithesis of the 3DS. Large, beautiful, and inviting. The touch responsiveness is fantastic. The thumb sticks are excellent. And there is already a surprisingly great amount of quality games available – Uncharted, Super Stardust Delta, Rayman Origins, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom, Lumines, WipEout, and others. Despite all the hype around portable gaming consoles being labeled as a dying breed...I'll happily die lying on the couch or in my bed playing my Vita. It is a gadget and gamer's dream come true.