Posted By: wraggster
Fanjita posted this over at Noobz
Over and over again, we get questions from people asking things like:
When will there be a 2.81 downgrader?
Should I sell my 3.03 PSP and buy a 1.5?
Should I upgrade my 2.81 to 3.03?
This article is an attempt to provide some balanced answers to those questions.
Here are the facts:
It looks like the Team C+D kernel mode exploit will work all the way up to v3.03 - the relevant code seems to be unchanged.
It's very likely that Sony will patch that exploit in the next firmware.
As soon as a user-mode exploit is found for 2.81-3.03, it should be possible to get homebrew running on those firmwares.
It looks like the current 2.80 downgrader will probably work on v3.03, once we can run homebrew on that firmware.
Dark_AleX's OE firmwares are the best platform for homebrew users, and it seems likely that it will be possible to keep updating OE for the latest firmwares shortly after they are released.
It has historically always been easier to downgrade lower firmwares.
So what does all that mean for 2.81-3.03 owners?
Well, right now things are more hopeful for you than they have been for bleeding edge firmwares for a long time. We're only 1 step away from being able to downgrade your PSP and move it onto an OE firmware. It's almost certain that a downgrader will eventually come - but no-one can accurately predict when that might be, so please don't ask!
Upgrading to the next firmware release would be homebrew suicide. Don't expect any sympathy if you choose to upgrade as soon as the next firmware is released - if you wait a short time, you can probably have it as an OE version instead.
Upgrading your firmware even from 2.81 to 3.00 is probably not a great move - you may delay your ability to downgrade when a downgrader finally comes.
One final note - if you have more money than patience, then your best bet for getting homebrew on your non-homebrewable PSP is to simply sell it, and buy a downgradeable PSP. The difference in price is not very large these days, and so it's not really a hard thing to do if you really can't wait.
Luckily the likes of Success HK are selling v1.5 Homebrew Friendly PSPs in Blue, Silver and Pink and Divineo China are selling v2.71 Homebrew Friendly PSPs in White and Black for all of you who want homebrew now and believe me the full speed PSX emulator makes you want to play homebrew more than ever.