Features of the Nintendo DS Lite*
There's been a lot of questions lately about what exactly the Nintendo DS Lite is, and what it has to offer. The DS Lite is almost certainly what you can expect from the Nintendo DS line from this point forward.
Physical Changes:
Unlike with the launch of a new system, the Nintendo DS Lite is only a change in form factor. Size:
The most significant change is that the Nintendo DS Lite is physically smaller than its predecessor, and shed weight. The original Nintendo DS was 5.9" x 3.3", and 1.13" thick. The Nintendo DS Lite has managed to trim that down to a slim 5.2" x 2.9" x .85", and lost nearly 2 ounces in weight, down to 7.7 ounces from 9.7 ounces. The Nintendo DS Lite is a total of 42% smaller than the Nintendo DS.
The up side of the smaller form factor is more than just easy carrying ability. One of the complaints about the original Nintendo DS was that the touchscreen was placed too far from the edge of the machine, making it difficult to use the touchscreen as a thumb pad. Games like Golden Eye proved that this sort of interface made first-person shooters extremely functional on the system, but the distance between the screen and where you gripped the unit made long term playing uncomfortable. The small form factor helps eliminate the problem.
· Let there be colors:
Probably the most visible, though not the most significant change is in the coloring of the Nintendo DS. The original Nintendo DS shipped in black and steel gray, with the exception of special edition blue units that went along with the Pepsi promotions. The Nintendo DS Lite will ship in three different colors: A bright white reminiscent of Apple's iPod, and a light and dark blue.
· Let there be light:
Part of the Nintendo DS that didn't shrink during the redesign are the screens. While there is no change in size between the two versions in terms of screen size, brightness is another story. The Nintendo DS Lite adds the ability for the user to select between 4 levels of brightness, much like the Sony PSP. This way, gamers can choose to conserve battery life by playing with the screen dim, or go for the brilliant and play with a bright screen and a shortened experience.
Button arrangement:
Another functionality change has to do with the Nintendo DS Lite's button placement. The power button has moved from the face of the unit, where it was located on the original, to the side. The microphone has shifted from the bottom of the case, below the touchscreen, to a position near the hinges. The start and select button have been moved from the upper-right to lower right hand corner of the unit.
Other additional features:
· Stylus: The stylus on the Nintendo DS Lite is longer than that on the Nintendo DS. The stylus on the DS Lite is stored along the longest axis of the unit, allowing it to be longer. The original DS stored the stylus along the shortest axis.
The disadvantage of being small:
The Nintendo DS Lite has all the media capabilities of the original Nintendo DS. This means that it can play both Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance titles. However, unlike the original Nintendo DS, the DS Lite is not big enough to hold a Game Boy Advance cartridge entirely inside the frame. When playing a Nintendo DS, a portion of the cartridge sticks out from the bottom of the system. This makes it difficult to carry the DS Lite with a game loaded at all times.
Final thoughts:
The Nintendo DS Lite is not revolutionary. It plays the same games as the Nintendo DS, only does it in a small, sleeker package. Nintendo has become famous for reworking their handheld designs to maximize profit; the Game Boy Advance has gone through several iterations before arriving at the look and feel that it has now. Yet, it's hard to deny that Nintendo has become good at improving their own work. Their redesigns are almost always improvements in some respects of the originally released hardware. If you already own a Nintendo DS, there's probably little reason to worry about the Lite. However, if you're thinking about picking up a unit, then you'll probably find yourself wanting the Lite above all else.
Now that you have your Nintendo DS Lite, you need the ultimate in protection for your handheld game. Northstar Cases has a waterproof, crushproof Nintendo DS Lite case that carries a lifetime guarantee and will fit your Nintendo DS Lite and up to 8 games. These protective Nintendo DS Lite cases come in a variety of colors and will withstand whatever situations you put them through. Make sure your Nintendo DS Lite is completely protected with one of these cases today!
*Article from nintendo.about.com