Nintendo DS Lite - One Step Closer to Perfectness

Pros

Display panels clearly larger than original model; Overall size smaller; Several more screen brightness settings; Design exceptionally dazzling; Extended battery life; Colors brighter, more pronounced, and more noticeable; Weighs less; Buttons easier to press; Start button relocated to prevent accidental shutdown; Massive selection of colors; Affordable

Cons

May be too small for some hands; More likely to break than original model; Game Boy Advance game paks protrude from bottom by about a centimeter

Summary

Two years after mild success with the platform, Nintendo releases a stunning upgrade that improves the console in almost every way.

Introduction

The Nintendo DS was once considered a failure. The system had been out on the market for two years, lagging behind Sony’s PlayStation Portable in sales, and there was an obvious lack of quality games developed for it. Coupling these reasons with its unattractive, awkward design and low-quality display panels, it’s no wonder why the DS hadn’t take off like previous consoles. However, in 2006, Nintendo thrilled the world with the DS Lite, a redesigned model of the platform. The gorgeous new system, together with a few AAA games, launched the DS to a new success. The DS Lite continues to sell now more than ever, even three years after its initial release. Nintendo has reclaimed the throne yet again.

Features and Design

Gamers will first see the difference as soon as they open the box. When closed, the DS Lite is considerably smaller than the original. Furthermore, the top half no longer has that strange, curved shape to it; it has been replaced with a smooth, flat shell. In fact, the entire shape is very straight and rectangular, but with its smooth and rounded edges, fits into your hands comfortably.

However, one does not witness the true change until they open up the DS Lite. Both screens are a great deal bigger than last model’s, and the presentation is far better. The colors are all displayed much more smoothly and clearly, and the graphics grab your attention this time around and will appear crisp and striking. With four different brightness settings, the DS Lite can be used in all situations, indoors, and outdoors. The original DS’s poor backlight quality has been totally fixed, and then some.

Additionally, the buttons and switches on the bottom half have been moved and reorganized which makes everything much more convenient.  Rather than the two rectangular Start and Select buttons above the A-B-X-Y group, they have been relocated to the bottom right and now take the shape of smaller circles. Perhaps the most appreciated change was the movement of the Power button. Originally located right above the directional-pad (which was the source of many accidental shutdowns), it is now seen on the right side of the system. Furthermore, one needs to slide the switch up, rather than pressing it, which completely erases this old problem. All buttons are noticeably easier to press down, and are very soft and enjoyable to touch. Revisions such as these are a blessing to gamers, and we should all thank Nintendo for their efforts.

A further evident modification is the extended battery life. The original DS’s 850 mAh battery would only allow the console to last for roughly ten to twelve hours, after a full four-hour charge. However, the DS Lite, on only a three-hour charge, can survive from fifteen to even nineteen hours of gameplay on its 1000 mAh battery. Hours such as these are simply astounding, and this is definitely one of the greatest changes to the DS.

Besides the substantial improvements, there are several minor ones. For instance, the volume switch protrudes from the system, making it easier to adjust the audio level. Another improvement is stylus. The stylus is now longer, and thicker than the original one, making it much easier to hold on to and use. Furthermore, it is held in the right side of the DS, as opposed to the top, which makes it incredibly effortless to remove and put away. Also, the mic has been repositioned to the direct center of the console, for natural usage.

In the midst of all the positives, there are of course a few negatives. While the DS Lite comes close to perfectness, one notices a few bothersome details; the largest of them being the protuberance of the Game Boy Advance game pak. When inserted into the bottom of the console, the top of the cartridge will stick out by about a centimeter, ruining the system’s smooth, sleek, rectangular shape. Though this may look unappealing, it does not affect gameplay whatsoever, and your hands will never touch the protruding portion. Another negative aspect is that for those of you who were used to holding the original DS will have a difficult transition to the DS Lite. Rather than supporting the entire DS with your palm and all your fingers, one only needs to use the very tips of the fingers to balance the device, due to its feathery weight. In the end, the DS Lite will be more comfortable to hold than the original, but the transition may take some time. The only other downside to the product is that it is less secure. The single hinge is much more likely to crack and break that the previous multiple-hinged DS. All of these negatives, however, really are not that significant, and should not sway you from purchasing this remarkable platform.

The DS Lite is exactly what an upgrade should be. It took everything wrong with the design of the original system and improved it tenfold. With improved visuals, lengthy battery life, glossy and sleek figure, bigger screens, and improved button interface, the DS Lite becomes one of Nintendo’s greatest consoles created. Everyone who owns an original or even thought about owning one should without a doubt purchase this upgrade. Everyone should understand the power and majesty that is the Nintendo DS Lite, the savior of the Nintendo handheld console.

Technical Specifications

Size (closed):

5.2" (133 mm) wide / 2.9" (21.5 mm) long / 0.85" (73.9 mm) tall

Weight:  

218 g / 7.69 oz

Upper Screen:

Backlit, 3-inch, transparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256x192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch

Touch Screen:

Backlit, 3-inch, transparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256x192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch with transparent analog touch screen

Brightness:

Four settings

Color:

Capable of displaying 260,000 colors

Memory:

RAM – 4 MB; VRAM – 656 KB

Wireless Communication:

 IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet; multiple players can play multiplayer games using just one DS game card

Controls:

Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons

Input/Output:

Ports for both Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy Advance Game Paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone

Other Features:

Embedded Pictochat software that allows up to 16 users to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration

CPUs:

Main CPU – ARM 9, 67 MHz; Secondary CPU – ARM 7, 33 MHz

Sound:

Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software

Battery:

Lithium ion battery delivering five to nineteen hours of play on a three-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter

Languages:

English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian

Color:

Dozens of combinations of colors, and many limited edition colors

Ratings

Graphics 9/10

Audio 8/10

Variety of Games 10/10

Accessories 10/10

Price 10/10

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