A New Fave Gadget (Nintendo DS Lite)

Member Name: DavyMichelle

Product:	Nintendo DS Lite
Date:	12/10/09 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sleek, Compact, Easy to Use, Well Designed

Disadvantages: Pricy Games

I'm just a big kid lately! I've seen lots of different games consoles come and go over the years, and have always been particularly fond of Nintendo gameboys because of their portability and flexibility. I liked the look of the DS well enough when it first came out, but I didn't really understand why they felt that a gameboy needed two screens and a 'stylus'? Still, I very recently decided to make an impulse purchase of one when I saw that the DS Lite was available on offer in Argos. I got a black DS Lite along with a Fireman game for the grandson to play and an accessory pack for just under £100. I thought that was pretty reasonable for this standard of machine.

Now I've had my DS Lite for a few days, I fully understand what the fuss was all about - and just why two screens are handy. I started off by setting it up, which just involved plugging it into charge for a few hours using the included charger. This doesn't appear to take regular batteries which is a pain if you're off on holiday - but you can at least use a car charger to charge it up, which I got included in my free accessory pack from Argos.

Once charged, I just flipped the power switch (which is more like a slide than a switch actually) and then I was asked to input my name, the date and the time. The DS stores these basic details so you don't have to label up all the consoles if you've got a few in the family, and it's always handy to be able to check the date and time I reckon.

I slipped my first game in and off I went. I'd got Scrabble and Puzzler World as they're games that both the Mrs and I like to play from time to time. They were also on offer in Argos, at £30 for the pair. Again, I didn't think that was unreasonable although the price of DS games in general is a bit steep I've noticed. But as long as you choose your games carefully, and only buy the ones you know you'll get good use out of it, then it's not so bad. Also, you can use the old gameboy games via the back slot, which is ideal for families like us who have a drawful of the things! Alternatively, you can build up a collection by buying the old style games off ebay along with one or two of the new DS games.

What I really loved about this was how simple it was to use. The touch screen mechanism is extremely responsive and easy to use, you really do just give the screen a little tap like they show you on the adverts. The stylus tucks neatly away in a little tunnel beneath the DS so it's always there ready to grab for use. You get a spare one in with your DS when you buy it by the way, so don't worry about losing it. Also, you can buy new ones for pennies on ebay or as part of the various accessories kits available.

The standard of the graphics on this thing is really excellent, with crystal clear pictures and a brilliant pixel refresh rate. There's no flicker or glare like you get on the older gameboys, and the screen is easy to see no matter which angle you hold the DS at. The screens are both well lit and easy to see even if you want to play in bed in the dark.

Finally, I was really impressed with how sleek and light this is. It's compact, very well designed and looks really neat and modern. It's comfortable to hold and it's small and light enough to slip into your pocket or rucksack for when you're on the go. For £100 this is a brilliant little toy that's great for kids from about 5yrs old right up to adults in their twilight years who just don't want to keep having to buy new Sudoku books!

Summary: Highly Recommended