[DS] Nintendo DS vs. DS Lite

I have come to the decision to upgrade and get a DS LITE for my favorite game of all time, FF4 (DS version coming soon).

But should I? It seems as if the only good quality of it is the screen brightness. I haven't used one too much but the buttons seem more shaky, the d-pad seems more shaky, while the original model seems nice and firm.
Also, it is smaller and I can't remember if it will fit my hand as well comfortably.
Next, the ac plug is totally different, a minor annoyance.
The speakers look odd to me -- there are only a few holes for each speaker, whereas the original had a lot more. I'm not sure if that would be a downfall.
Lastly, GBA games stick out of it.

I am not sure if I am perceiving aspects of the DS lite as bad or they are actually worse than the original. People with experience, please let me know how the lite is compared to the original.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I have a regular DS and I'm very happy with the form and features of it.

BUT...

The Lite is very sexy and is an all-around improvement (aside from D-pad size...I like the original's pad more). I only used it for a few minutes with the sound off, but I was really surprised how good it felt. I probably would have bought the Lite first if I'd compared them closer, but the differences are so minor, I won't bother (and I don't think the Lite comes in Cobalt Blue either). It's not like the PSP, where I'm totally disgusted with the original design and eagerly await news of the revised model.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I have both of them, and I hardly ever use my regular DS.

The only main advantages the regular DS has is the speakers (for some reason, the volume is louder than what you get with the DS Lite) and GBA games not sticking out. Other than that, the DS Lite is better in every way, and there's no reason not to upgrade to it if you can.

The screen brightness really does make a huge difference. I would go as far to say that the difference in screen brightness from the DS to the DS Lite is comparable to the difference between the GBA and the GBA SP. Yes, the DS already has a backlight, but it will look like crap after five minutes with the DS Lite.

Also, I have big hands, and I still have no problem with the Lite's smaller size. It'll probably take a little getting used to, but after playing the Lite for a while you'll adjust to the smaller size. And as for the buttons and d-pad, I personally like them better than the ones on the regular DS, since I'm not a fan of clicky buttons.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Life with the Lite has made me cringe at how I ever had an original DS, which I was already quite impressed with. It's more rectangular and compact when closed and with the stylus on the side, it's slightly classier. If I were to play on a normal DS, I probably wouldn't be used to the lighting anymore. Plus, having less weight to carry is always a plus. It was especially worth it since trading the old DS for the Lite significantly cut the price. It was like paying a minimal fee for a bunch of great aesthetic upgrades.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Gamestop has a deal: Give them your original DS and also 80 bucks and you get a brand new DS LITE. The deal ends on the 9th. You guys are making me want to do it considering a new LITE is $130.

About the speakers again, is the sound in any way inferior compared to the original DS? The volume may not go up as high... no big deal... but what about quality?

How ya doing, buddy?

I got a DS Lite for my birthday tomorrow like, what, 2 days ago. Nice timing.

And I haven't gone back to my regular DS. Like everyone's been saying, the brightness of DS Lite blows DS Phat out, the buttons eventually warm up to you (snaking on Mario Kart DS is easier ^o^!!!), better microphone placement and the model is very compact. The only cons I'd give it are the start and select buttons (seemingly placed in an area that will make you call a search party... oh wait they're just down here...) and the GBA stick out (though you probably wouldn't be playing GBA games these days right?... RIGHT?).

I once thought like you too. "I'm happy with my DS Phat". Then my girlfriend buys me a DS Lite for my b'day...

*pays tribute to the old DS*

DOUBLE POST: I've found the sound is in no way hampered. Playing Osu 2 is bloody better than playing it on DS Regular, by the way.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Nah, the actual sound quality isn't affected in any way, just the volume. Wearing headphones solves that problem, though (even on the regular DS headphones mae any game sound better).

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As crazy as it sounds, I'd miss my DS if I were to trade it for that type of "upgrade". I've spent too much good time with it to give it up. I'm worried I'd see the ghost of my long-traded friend everytime I pick up the Lite for a session, which would cancel out the aesthetic improvements (at least in my mind). It's like how I'll miss my PS2 Guitar Hero controller and the hours of getting demolished on Expert with it when I get a 360 and Rock Band's set-up/guitar. Games, I can get rid of...I can't do the same with gaming hardware in good conscience for some reason.

(and Cobalt Blue! COBALT BLUE!)

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

The original DS has that retro 80's charm to it. When you pull that out of your pocket, Safety Dance starts playing. No matter where you are. Do you like to dance in a misleading fashion? Stick with your DS. The Lite's screens are really good though. I keep them on maximum power all the time, because I play Super Princess Peach like a man.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Let me give you my experience about both DS speaker.

Two of my cousin bought the "first gen" DS phat. Then later on I got the Blue DS phat and a year later my brother got the Black DS lite. As for volume goes they are the same (listening via head/ear phone). Now when it comes to sound quality coming out from the speaker, my DS phat sounds "cleaner" than my brother and my cousins, which also makes my DS sounds louder if you put all 4 DS in the room. Heck, when playing Band Brothers, I let my brother use my DS while I use his. We sit across a room and my DS sounds louder than his even when his DS is right next to me.

Did Nintendo use different manufactures throughout the DS production? o.O

Anyway, back to the DS debate: I would say both has their + and - but I got so use to the phat that I'm sticking to it. I found snaking easier on the phat than on the lite.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

All I remember from my original 80's DS was when you slid the volume thingy low, all you'd get were shitty static blasts. And whenever you had it on full volume the graphics on the top screen would sometimes jitter around a bit. :]

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I remember changing to the DS Lite and thinking "the volume isn't as strong."

The only things I dislike about the DS Lite is that the L/R buttons are awkward to press, and they can get dirty, as can the rubbery grippy things on the back of the handheld and the dpad and buttons.

For fighters I'd recommend the original DS. I mean, the DS Lite's dpad is really difficult for things like Jump Ultimate Stars. Aside from that you can't beat 4 levels of brightness.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I found the volume slider a bit better on the DS Lite. For the DS Phat, it was either BLOODY LOUD or NOTHING AT ALL. And yeah, just checked both DS's and the Phat is definately louder. But not by much anyway.

DS Lites love your sweat, even if you're not perspiring. Fingerprints GALORE!

I was speaking idiomatically.

Nintendo should have kept the old model and released it with more brightness.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Am I the only person that found the slightly thicker stylus to be a huge help? I'd borrow my friend's original DS and my fingers would be tingling/numb within an hour while I can play my Lite for over three hours without either of my hands feeling fatigued.

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Ah, I forgot about the stylus... >_>

Yeah, I like the lite stylus and that's why I bought some to use on my DS phat.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I personally prefer the Lite. The stylus is thicker which helps, and it fits in my pocket a whole lot easier than the original model. I always take mine when I go out. So that's mainly why I prefer the Lite over the original model.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The DS Lite isn't bad, but I can't say it's a substantial improvement overall. The additional brightess levels definitely help, and it certainly looks nicer, but I disliked the smaller size of it when holding it and the D-pad/buttons didn't seem quite as responsive. Either model does the job though, but the DS Lite does edge out the original despite a few areas that it's weaker in.

I certainly wouldn't recommend trading in your old DS for only $50 toward a Lite however. For that price I'd keep it around just so that it can be used for DS download play, or a backup in case something happens to the Lite.

Originally Posted by Borg1982

Nintendo should have kept the old model and released it with more brightness.

Actually, the interesting thing is that later model DSes have the exact same screen as the DS Lite, and with a BIOS flash you can enable the additional brightness levels. The battery life will be cut down at the higher brightness settings, but it's certainly possible to get the additional selections on an old model DS. Although I'm not sure about the costs involved with that, unless you just get a pre-flashed one from Ebay.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Oh shit haha totally forgot about the DS Lite's stylus. Yeah the original stylus was so awkward that I had to buy one that extends itself just to play Ouendan.

I prefer the original DS'.. uh.. outer exterior feeling. It isn't that slippery iPod bullshit (you know what I'm talking about) that the DS Lite has. I wish they did something different for the DS Lite. It's prone to scratching and fingerprints.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I can't say I ever owned a DS Thick, but I played it a few times and I really like the Lite a whole lot more. The compact design, the small socket for holding the stylus, the brightness, and well, its a very sexy handheld. I'm glad I picked it up. As silly as it may sound, the larger original DS's look was a turn off for me, which is one reason I got the Lite.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Can anyone help me find this old model DS but bright version on ebay? I've had no luck.

Additional Spam:

Originally Posted by Solis

The DS Lite isn't bad, but I can't say it's a substantial improvement overall. The additional brightess levels definitely help, and it certainly looks nicer, but I disliked the smaller size of it when holding it and the D-pad/buttons didn't seem quite as responsive. Either model does the job though, but the DS Lite does edge out the original despite a few areas that it's weaker in.

I certainly wouldn't recommend trading in your old DS for only $50 toward a Lite however. For that price I'd keep it around just so that it can be used for DS download play, or a backup in case something happens to the Lite.



Actually, the interesting thing is that later model DSes have the exact same screen as the DS Lite, and with a BIOS flash you can enable the additional brightness levels. The battery life will be cut down at the higher brightness settings, but it's certainly possible to get the additional selections on an old model DS. Although I'm not sure about the costs involved with that, unless you just get a pre-flashed one from Ebay.

What's wrong with the download play on the lite???

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Elixir

I prefer the original DS'.. uh.. outer exterior feeling. It isn't that slippery iPod bullshit (you know what I'm talking about) that the DS Lite has. I wish they did something different for the DS Lite. It's prone to scratching and fingerprints.

The new black & red DS that came in the Brain Age 2 bundle has more of a matte finish than that nasty glossy one that makes your hands sweat so badly. The top outside is a nice crimson metallic red with a glossy top and the bottom is a rougher black (reminds me a bit of the plastic you'd find on a good calculator) that you can't even see fingerprints on.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Borg1982

What's wrong with the download play on the lite???

Good lord it would help if you'd quote just what you are responding to. However, there is nothing wrong with DS Lite's download play. You just suck shit at reading as usual. He meant that it's not a bad idea to keep your original DS around so you can use it for download play if say a friend were to come over without a DS of his own and you wanted to do some Shy Guy Racing or something.

FELIPE NO

"as usual"? You don't even know me.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I read far more than I post, Borg. I do notice things. Anyway...

Jam it back in, in the dark.