I liked it.

The good: The Nintendo DS Lite is slimmer and much sleeker that the original DS. The device employs innovative dual-screen and microphone-enabled gameplay as well as Wi-Fi multiplayer capabilities, allowing for a growing list of original and fun games that you can't play on any other system. In addition, the system is backward-compatible with almost every GBA title. All these additions come without increasing the price or decreasing the features of the original DS.

The bad: Playing online games via Wi-Fi can be a hassle. The darker models are just as susceptible to scratches and smudges as the Sony PSP and the iPod, and its multimedia potential remains exclusive to Japan.

The bottom line: With a slick new design, brighter screens, and a growing library of fun and innovative games, the Nintendo DS Lite is an impressive improvement over the original DS.

The DS LITE-R than Ever! By a Geekette

I'm gonna be honest here. I have EVERY version of the Nintendo GameBoy EVER created. I kid you not. From the really thick and clunky ugly gray colored one with the purple A-B buttons, to the "we're copying off the Sega Genesis PlayGear body" Gameboy Advance first incarnation... to today's wicked cool DS "I'm in love with it" Lite. I am a GameBoy fiend-ess.

Actually, the DS Lite is the hottest electronic handheld video game device in Japan right now. (It's more popular over there than the PSP is, actually, whereas the PSP is more popular than the DS Lite is over here. Got it? Yeah.) Personally, I think each platform has it's own strengths and weaknesses, that make both of them, well... you're just gonna want to have 'em both to play with. Like I do.

When The first incarnation of DS came out, it was much heavier - with a thicker case, the screen light was less luminous (it didn't shine as bright), and the screens were smaller. There were also a few other things that (kept losing that darn stylus) drove gamers nuts.

So, after hearing the many complaints from mass market video gamers (like yours truly), Nintendo went back to the DS drawing board and did a little redesigning. They ended up with: the DS LITE.

DS LITE has a much thinner and lighter-in-weight case. It's smaller in its overall size, as well, making it much more of a pocket Gaming Device, more like a PalmTop PC, really. It also comes, as a bonus, in three colors: Onyx (black); Ice (white); and Blush (pink). The viewing screens on the top have and the touch screen on the bottom half have been enlarged a bit, which it great. Less eyestrain, and more room to write messages with your stylus (a problem with the former DS). The viewing light in the screens is also much brighter, so now you can realy see what's going on in a darkened environment. The button placement has been changed, too. They've been placed to fit your hand's natural position when it holds the game device, evened outfrom the touch screen, parallel wiht each other, so you won't end up with cramps after playing for long periods of time. The sound has even improved. It doesn't sound like your listening inside a tin can anymore, thanks to speaker re-placement.

They even redesigned where the stylus is kept. It's now pocketed and locked in into the base of the DS Lite, safely tucked away, camouflaged, where it won't catch on anything, or just fall out, like it used to do. AND, they supply you with one extra stlyus, just in case you do lose it. Bonus!

The DS Lite can play old GB, GBC, and GBA games (Legacyware games - uh - old Gameboy games) and new GBA games from the larger cartridge slot on the base of the DS Lite. When not in use, the DS Lite comes with a fake, plastic, removable cartridge to insert to keep that slot protected from dust and debris. Cool, huh? the top slot is used for playing DS/DS Lite Touchpad games. And with all the new touch-screen enabled games coming out for the platform, well...

The touch screen also enables you to send written messages and pictures over Wi-Fi to other DS/DSLite users, via a chat utility called "Pictochat" that comes standard already loaded in.

However, unlike the PSP, you can't play MP3s or store files on the DS Lite, or play Homebrew or emulators. And, with the PSP, you can't use an interactive touchscreen. But, both are Wi-Fi. Like I said earlier, give and take. You might as well get both. There are plenty of games out there to satisfy users of both platforms...

DS LITE - Greatest Handheld System

The Nintendo DS Lite is by far the best hand-held console available on the market. The variety of games available and touch screen function make it rate much higher on the hand- held console market than its competition from Sony – the PSP.

The launch of the Nintendo DS back in 2004 was a limited success with the release of the DS Lite in 2006 giving the console a new lease of life and driving the UK markets crazy in the run up to Christmas 2007.

The unit is now some 20% lighter than its predecessor and available in a variety of shiny colours including white, black, blue and available also in a limited edition Pink supported by the female artist of the same name. When inserted the games now protrude 1cm from the top of the unit, without the game inserted the unit looks sleek and smooth. Mothers carry them in their hand bags (mine does anyhow), kids in their school bags and the “Businessman” carries his in his breast pocket. Through the updated DS Lite version Nintendo have made it a sort out piece of kit by all walks of life.

The only grumble about the new DS Lite is that if you are unfortunate enough to drop it then the scratches really don’t look too great, if you are like me and drop everything then lots of scratches look really bad. One tip to anyone with a DS Lite that has got scratched – you can buy scratch saver fluid usually used for mobile phone displays. Simply add a little to the effected area and rub it in to the scratch. The effects aren’t 100% perfect but make them a lot less noticeable.

With DS games such as Brain Training and Sudoku available and with it’s unique interactivity using the touch screen and stylus – Nintendo have brought the hand held console back into the eye of the “adult” player. This hasn’t been seen since the arrival of Tetris on the Game boy. It has made the unit incredibly sought after and a family of 4 can happily challenge each other to their actual brain age.

Of course the usual Nintendo classics have also made a reappearance on the DS Lite such as Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong and even Sega’s Sonic has made an appearance. The range of accessories now available on the DS Lite is astounding, the latest to make a impact is the Guitar grip controller. It clips on the side of the unit and simulates the controls of the guitar, a plectrum and hand strap also come with it. The Guitar accessory accompanies the already available Camera (formally available on the Game Boy Advance), Headset, Browser and Rumble Pack.

To sum up I think that the Nintendo DS Lite is much better than its earlier predecessor the DS, it not only looks better but is technologically better. The display is crisper and the touch screen has been improved upon. The choice of games is impressive and the innovations appearing on the DS Lite seem endless.

Nintendo DS Lite

This system is excellent for all age groups! It is small and light so it's easy to carry. The battery retention is excellent as well. It can keep a charge for a three or four days at a time with little playing, or an entire day or two with constant playing. It keeps young kids occupied with twice the gaming capacity and games as Sony's PSP. It's games are not just targeted "gamers" or young children, but any demographic or age bracket. The games for the product are educational as well as fun, and the cheapest of any system available. Also unlike Sony's PSP it comes in your choice of colors so you can personalize it to what you like, both on the outside and the inside screens. It's $130 price tag makes it the best buy for the cheapest price, making it the best handheld system out there.

Nintendo DS Lite

Nintendo DS Lite is arguably the best of the DS upgrades. XL being preferred to some by its bigger size, it is in the versatility that the Lite shines. Nintendo DS Lite is the smallest out of all the DS handhelds and in effect is easier to travel with. It fits comfortably in most adult pockets or purse. The system is also the lightest in weight.

The biggest advantage the Lite has compared to the newer DSI and XL is that it includes a Gameboy Advance(GBA) slot. DSI and XL removed that slot to put in a camera. Has a result Nintendo DS Lite is compatible with older games from the GBA series. Camera may sound appealing to some, is hardly worth the removal of backward compatibility with older generation system. This particular slot is also used in various new DS games. Band Hero, Guitar Hero, and the Pokemon series come to mind. Pokemon DS series allow the importing of Pokemons from the GBA series. Band Hero use the slot to play guitar, so on.

However, even with all the benefit there is one flaw the console has that cannot be overlooked. The hinges of the dual screens are likely to break. Putting a hard casing and taking proper care of the console does help prevent that. Hard casing is almost mandatory if you wish to prevent it from breaking for a child. Nerf or Hori Brand hard casing are my recommendation however any works.

That being said, the real reason any person should consider buying a console is for the games it can play. Nintendo DS has some of the best Role Playing Game(RPG) and Puzzle games this generation. RPG like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Pokemon Series have remakes of old classics as well as new version exclusively for the DS. Puzzle games like Professor Layton, Brain Age, 9 Hours 9 Doors 9 Persons, and Phoenix Wright are among the best the DS has to offer. The system also has traditional Nintendo games like Mario, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Metroid, Zelda, and so on. There are many other great games, I merely named some because there tend to be a few people who buy the console but don't know what games to buy.

Overall, the Nintendo DS Lite is superior to the DSI and XL in that it allow the owner to play a bigger game library. DSI and XL have built in camera, if prefer that to more game options, then should consider buying those instead. The console must be treated with care or with extra protection(Hard Casing) because it does have a decent probability of breaking from the hinges if abused. Other then that the game selection is superb and I highly recommend trying any of the Nintendo DS consoles.