Nintendo is its own biggest critic. While most companies keep a standard design until the next generation product hits stores, the big N tinkers and retools its own products. Some criticize the company, saying these reworkings are a money-makers or that the original product was half-baked. Regardless, Nintendo's latest redesign effort succeeds in every way the previous product failed. Sexy, sleek and, oh yes, bright.
Even at launch, the original DS was cringed-worthy. The portable was innovative, tough and ugly. Redesign speaking, Nintendo hasn't taken a page from Apple's playbook -- they've photocopied the whole darn thing. Odd original choices have been corrected. The touch pen is slightly longer, and those tacky groves on the DS ver 1.0 are gone. The mic, thankfully, has been moved to the portable's center. The machine looks and feels well thought out.
The outside is iPod slick and glossy, but its the inside where the Lite earns bonus points. The texture of the inside is an unfinished matte. Buttons seem to have a slight grip, unlike the Micro's. The R and L buttons also get the same matte treatment, which is nice when holding a glossy handheld. As previously mentioned, the buttons and the direction pad are slightly clicky like the Micro's.
The screen's edges are surrounded by frosted glass, and the screen itself is raised. The "light" pun refers to the excess fat that has been trimmed out of the DS's inside. It isn't thinner, but it seems thinner. It the DS on a diet. So when you close the handheld it snaps shut, snug and clean. Closing the original Dual Screen sounds like two fat thighs slapping together.
The DS always looked slightly murky. Sun light pretty much wiped the image right out. With the Lite, the real hero is the screen. Old favorites like Mario Kart look brand spanking new. Just as the Micro breathed new life in Game Boy favorites, the DS will make games look beautiful. It's like playing your PS2 on a swank HDTV. The screen's so clear that it actually makes you want to play.
Complaints? The Lite is by no means delicate, but it doesn't pack the same sturdy punch the kid-friendly original clubs users over the head with. The matte finish on the white Lite's inside seems as though it could get dirty or marked up easily. Some won't like the clicky feel to the pad or the buttons and will prefer the original's feel. If you wait long enough, no doubt Nintendo will redesign that as well.
Did I miss something? Where the pictures go?Get a Lite. It won't dissapoint. The brightness alone makes it a great system and the sleek ipod look really looks cool and awesome. If u have the original ds, this is definitely worth the trade in.
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