I keep hearing people talking about this series, specially the last 2 games but before getting into the series there are some things I'd like to clear up:
 
1- Are the games direct sequels? I mean, does Persona 3 pick up where Persona 2 ended or the games are only loosely connected? Or, they have little to nothing in common like Final Fantasy?
2- I'm thinking of starting with Persona Portable or one of the versions of Persona 3. Any opinions on which one should I pick first?
3- P3 FES or P3 Portable? I read that the portable version features some new content, but does it also sacrifices content? I don't care about graphics but I love voice action. I don't even know if the original Persona 3 had voice acting but is any content stripped down in the portable version?
4- I hear the latest games have some kind of dating/social mechanics which I assume to be similar to what one can find on a Harvest Moon game, but if that is so, which Persona game started this?

1. Loosely connected. 
2. FES 
3. See 2. 
4. Dunno

1- They are loosely connected. The Main characters and story are always different, but there all in the same world. For example, in P4 you take a school trip to the city from P3. 
2- Go With Persona 3 FES. its everything the original version has plus extra.  
3- Again go with FES. While P3 Portable does add stuff, you do lose a lot of presentational stuff like the animations of the characters and the sick anime cut scenes. I felt that those things really added to the game. If you don't care about that though, then P3 Portable should be fine. The voice acting is all there, plus the combat is improved. 
4- The social Link stuff started in P3.

Thanks for the replies. I'll look around for a copy of FES and maybe if I really like it, I'll buy the portable version later.