[DS] Nintendo DS/Lite discussion thread

Nintendo has a long history of frequent, somewhat superfluous product redesigns. The GameBoy Pocket was an okay improvement.
GameBoy Advance SP would've been an optimal redesign if the damned thing had been given a headphone jack. Everything else was done correctly, except the jack. The SP was still highly useable even without it though.


But to me, the DS redesign seems practically meritless. The new DS isn't doing anything that it previously couldn't. What's more, some of the things that made the original DS good have been stripped down into near worthlessness.

Let's first consider the case. It's smaller and lighter, yes. However, the weight and size deferentials are somewhat negligible. The unit is no more or less "portable" than it's ever been. Smaller does not necessarily mean better, since durability is often sacrificed to shed those grams. The DSLite's shell design appears to be remarkably thin, especially in the upper half. Dropping it while open would seem to be more apt to cause a crack or shatter in the shell. The original DS can take a hit or three; I should know, I've dropped mine plenty of times and it works just fine. I'd be almost paranoid of letting the DSLite take a small tumble. The plastic looks so fragile.

Now let's consider the variable brightness. BIG WHOOP DEE DOO. I cannot think of any situation in which one would need a screen to be that bright. If you're playing with good ambient lighting, then you'd only need the first level, perhaps the second if the light is incandescently yellow. Using the higher brightness levels only dulls the contrast in the graphics, resulting in a blander, muddier picture.
On the other hand, if you're playing in the dark, you definitely don't need the SUPER OMEGA BRIGHT level. With such a concentrated source of light, you'd be doing more harm to your eyes than good. I've often found myself squinting just to reduce the glare from my original DS when playing in the darkness. And I wear thick glasses. I can only imagine the strain it places upon someone with good vision.

Let's look at the peripheral specs. First, GameBoy Advance cartridges do not fully insert anymore, instead sticking out a half inch. This does not facilitate "portability" well at all, having to finagle the unit to accomodate the awkward protrusion while inserting the DSLite into a pocket. That's just annoying. The DS original may take up more cubic space but it has clean edges all around, making pocket access very quick and easy.
Also, the new stylus placement is questionable to me. I like how the stylus inserts into the top of the unit. This works out well because the stylus doesn't fall out when the DS is turned on its side as it's kept in a pocket. And I certainly don't play the DS upside-down. I've never had my stylus slip out unless I was fiddling with it.
But with the DSLite's side placement, it's more prone to catch onto a fabric seam and remain left behind when the unit is withdrawn. Also, some players tend to shift and lean during certain games, particularly Mario Kart. Subconsciously leaning into a turn too far could lead to accidentally nudging the stylus out of its docking bay, and onto a floor or something. Seems a bit chancy to me.

Finally, there's price. Right now, the DSLite is approximately $150 USD. This is a little more than the cost of a normal DS, except that the DSLite comes with possibly inferior casing, an unweildy GBA accomodation and possible stylus issues. Factor in that it weighs less than an original DS, and you're paying more money for less DS.

The DSLite offers no new features that are actually useful. (Hyper backlighting is overrated. Wait until you try it in action; you'll see how unnecessary those settings are.) It retains its current features but several are presented in a more clumsy manner. The DSLite may also be prone to increased damages due to thinner casing. It costs more than the original too.

All in all, I see no reason to get excited over the DSLite. It's a sham. Nintendo is only trying to appeal to people who are obsessed with having the most current "upgrades". Other than the missing headphone jack, the GBA SP was an excellent redesign.

The DSLite is just crap.

Jam it back in, in the dark.