
Nintendo DS Lite

The Nintendo DS is a handheld game console by Nintendo. The system has two displays (the lower acts as a touch screen), built-in microphone, and support WiFi. The Nintendo DS is backward compatible with Game Boy Advance Games.
Despite a great system, the original Nintendo DS looks very bulky and unattractive. The “fat” design of the Nintendo DS makes it hard for people to carry it around and unattractive compare to other popular gadgets such as Apple’s iPod and Sony’s PSP.
This year, Nintendo released a redesigned model called the Nintendo DS Lite. The DS Lite provides the same functions as the original Nintendo DS except it is now smaller and featured brighter screens. The new design is a lot like Apple’s product (Not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Nintendo DS is 42% less volume (size: 133mm x 73.9mm x 21.5mm) and 21% lighter compare to the original Nintendo DS. The stylus is of the DS Lite is a lot longer, wider and heavier (43% bigger) which is easier to hold and use.
he Nintendo DS Lite retain the 3” size displays used by the original DS. The DS Lite featured a brighter displays compared to the original DS. Because the DS Lite screen so bright, it might be a little uncomfortable to play at the highest brightness level so Nintendo offer a four selectable brightness level to the DS Lite display. All brightness levels are still brighter than the original DS.
The start and select buttons are now rounded and place on the lower rights for easier access. The power button is now a slider and relocated to the right edge.
The Game Boy Advance Game Paks slot at the bottom allows you to play Nintendo Game Boy Advance Paks. The slot is by default covered to protect the slot from dust or foreign material. Due to the smaller design of DS Lite, Game Boy Advance carts will stick out from the GBA slot. It will not affect the way you play, however it may looked unpleasant to some people.
The Nintendo DS Lite battery provides 19 hours of play on 4 hours charge on the lowest brightness setting, 5 - 8 hours on the highest brightness setting. The power indicator and recharge indicator is clearly visible even when the device is closed.
Recommended Software
I’m not going to write a lot about games since this entry is about the DS Lite hardware not the software. However, I’d like to recommend some games to people who are new to Nintendo DS:
* New Super Mario.
* Mario Kart DS.
* Brain Age.
If you’re in Japan, Opera will release a browser for Nintendo DS on 24 July 2006. Opera for Nintendo DS will allow you to use your Nintendo DS Lite to browse the web using a Wi-Fi connection.
Conclusion
The Nintendo DS Lite is definitely worth buying for people who are looking for a portable gaming console with bright screens and long battery life. The main reason I chose to buy a Nintendo DS Lite is because of classic Nintendo game titles such as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Zelda.
Current original DS owners might be wondering whether it is worth to upgrade their DS to the DS Lite. I personally would rather use the money to buy a new games rather than upgrading my system. If you decide to upgrade to the DS Lite, you can transfer your WiFi Connection data ID from one DS to another, you can follow the guide from NintendoWiFi.com.
( Derived from: http://wpram.com/log/2006/07/11/nintendo-ds-lite-review/ )
Review ID: 10000000008374226

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