Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation Portable handheld console has finally launched in North America today to the delight of portable gaming fans, but news from Canadian retailers regarding SCE's replacement service policy for the new console threatens to rain on their parade.  Ever since it launched in Japan late last year, the PSP hasn't exactly built a confident reputation regarding it's build quality.  A potential issue concerns "dead pixels", which means few pixels on your screen that never change color because they are essentially "broken".  Depending on where exactly these pixels are, this could actually prove quite distracting.

In the PSP's defense, dead pixels have been an issue for many other devices with high-quality LCD screens, and mainly stems from manufacturing defects.  Most manufacturers of such devices (like LCD monitors for PCs) are willing to replace products with dead pixels, provided that your number of busted pixels meets their "tolerance level".  Some are little more lenient however and will replace your unit no matter what.  The surprise here is that SCEA reportedly will not warrant ANY number pixels, period.  Be it five or one on your brand new PSP screen, it appears they will not recognize dead pixels as a manufacturing defect.  An email from retailer Videogames Plus provides the details:

"DEAD PIXEL WARRANTY AND TESTING...

We have just been infomned by Sony that they will not be warranting any dead
pixel units. They are only warranting hardware defects ie broken buttons,
malfuction with drive and so on. Dead Pixels are not considered a defect by Sony
of America and will not be warrantied."

Provided that the information is indeed true (the retailer does appear legitimate, but the email is somewhat hastily written), this is quite a heavy-handed measure on Sony's part.  This could be a sign that they aren't ready to handle returns for their new console just yet, at least not until they ship enough PSP consoles to as many different consumers as possible first.  A bit strange, but hopefully the company will ease up on their policy a little in the future when PSP supplies become more plentiful later in the year.

Until then, your only real option for replacing a PSP unit with dead pixels (that are actually bothering you) is to return it to your retailer for a new unit.  Considering the tights supplies of the PSP right now however, you may not be so lucky.  Hopefully you'll get a good unit the first time through!