QUOTE(adw888 @ Oct 15 2006, 10:20 AM)

Actually, some places in the UK still sell non-TA-082 2.6 version PSPs; my friend bought his from Argos a week ago and I downgraded it successfully.
You can tell which version it is from the code on the box; below the region (i.e. PSP-1003) and voltage (i.e. 220 - 240 V); there is a code, such as: "WS259 H" (my one).
From other sources, I've found out that the "WS" means a non-TA-082, while "SS" would mean a TA-082.
The "H" tells you which firmware version it is, with higher letters being higher versions; "H" is 2.60 BTW.
So as long as you can have a look at the box, you should be able to tell which version it is.
Scary post man, that is IDENTICAL to my PSP Box

. So maybe you'd like to downgrade mine, hehe.
QUOTE(allsorts111 @ Oct 15 2006, 07:50 PM)

How can you assure 2.81? Most shops buy in bulk. As, PSP sales decline this time of year (just before the Christmas peek) shops will still have stock from months ago. Plus, so do warehouses. I bet not even 5% of shop stock has a higher firmware than 2.71. Its a fact, sony cannot just halt production immediately even weeks after 2.80 was released sony was still not producing factory made 2.80's!
Ok, it was wrong to say assure. But the chances that you'd get a high end (Firmware wise) version would be high as some people do christmas shopping early and PSP Are still of demand till this day.