Just bought a DSi

[TheAnalogKid]

The quality of the build is really nice! I feel like I could drop it countless of times and it'd never break (I'll never try it though). It's cool that now I can download games with a DS. From what I've perceived so far, I think I'll have the opportunity to play much more good games as opposed to the Apple app store. Also, flip note comes bundled with it (cool!), this wasn't the case when DSi started.

[fletchergames]

I've been planning to get one eventually just so that I can see what it's like using a touch screen.  There's relatively few games for it that I actually want, though I would really like to get my hands on Dragon Warrior V.

I bought a new computer last year and have about $125 of games that I still have to play, so it'll probably be a while before I buy the DSi (or maybe a DS).

[TheAnalogKid]

I've been planning to get one eventually just so that I can see what it's like using a touch screen.

I can tell you, this brings a whole new dimension to gameplay. Not for all types of games though.

Games published by our own members! Go get 'em!

[Momoko_Fan]

There's not much difference between the DS and DSi, all games still work on one or the other. The DSi just has a camera with special effects editing, a digital music player, and some downloadable mini-games.

[TheAnalogKid]

To be clear, downloadable games on DSi aren't available on DS. And there're not all mini-games.

[woogley]

There's not much difference between the DS and DSi

I originally thought this, but honestly.. the DSi is a fantastic upgrade in all areas

Important differences:
- Two cameras and photo editing software
- 256MB internal storage (SD support up to 32GB)
- 16MB RAM (up from 4MB)
- 133 MHz CPU (up from 67MHz and 33MHz)
- Browser included
- Downloadable content (including full games)

The only downside to the DSi is that it does not have a GBA slot. But then again.. having that 32GB SD slot really takes the DS family to a new level (and, if you know some C, it's much easier to write homebrew games this way).

[ChrisM]

There's not much difference between the DS and DSi, all games still work on one or the other. The DSi just has a camera with special effects editing, a digital music player, and some downloadable mini-games.

Not to mention bigger and much better screens, serviceable web browser, and better speakers

[princec]

Now, if only someone'd have the brains to stick a phone in it and Android.

Cas

[Momoko_Fan]

I've had both a DS (the old bulky one) and the DSi, I also played a bit on the DS Lite. Sorry but I can't notice the difference

To be clear, downloadable games on DSi aren't available on DS. And there're not all mini-games.

Well, when I got it, there was not much stuff there, the only two games I remember was the Wario one that used the webcam and Dr. Mario, both of these are mini-games. Has anything better been released since then?

Important differences:
[..etc etc..]

Sorry I don't see how these "stats" help, games play the same here and there.

- Browser included

Okay sure, it has a browser, but everywhere I go I take my laptop with me, and that has a much better browser and sees more WiFi stations Also the wifi in the DS/DSi only supports WEP encryption and doesn't work with my college's wireless internet cause they have an authentication procedure which the browser doesn't support. So for me the browser is kind of useless 

The only downside to the DSi is that it does not have a GBA slot. But then again.. having that 32GB SD slot really takes the DS family to a new level (and, if you know some C, it's much easier to write homebrew games this way).

Since there are no DSi exclusive games (apart from the downloadable ones) I don't see how the SD card is useful. Sure it can play music but you gotta convert all these MP3s to AAC first, kind of a hassle.. couldn't they just add an mp3 codec?


Anyway, IMO the real meat is in the actual games, these are what really makes the mobile console shine. Metroid Prime Hunters multiplayer is really awesome.
If you really need a mobile browser and a camera which you can use to put shame on your friends, then sure, get the DSi, it looks kind of cool too. But otherwise just get the DS Lite..

[woogley]

Okay sure, it has a browser, but everywhere I go I take my laptop with me, and that has a much better browser and sees more WiFi stations Also the wifi in the DS/DSi only supports WEP encryption ..

Yeah but nobody in this thread cares about your laptop You incorrectly stated there is little difference between DS and DSi.. that's what we're responding to, not comparing it to portable computers.

Also, the DSi supports WPA/2

Games published by our own members! Go get 'em!

[TheAnalogKid]

The browser is totally useless as it's so slow rendering a page! On my ipod 32Gigs it's not that fast but the wait is short. Pages load between 2 and 10 secs.

[TheAnalogKid]

Not to mention bigger and much better screens, serviceable web browser, and better speakers

What is that much better? Didn't notice anything there.

[ChrisM]

What is that much better? Didn't notice anything there.

Bigger, brighter, better color saturation, higher refresh.  Anything else?

As for encryption, per Momoko_Fan's comment above, the DSi supports WEP/WPA/WPA2

[TheAnalogKid]

And the sound, it's so much clear now!

[Momoko_Fan]

As for encryption, per Momoko_Fan's comment above, the DSi supports WEP/WPA/WPA2

WPA only works in browser only, in games you're still limited to WEP or no encryption.

Screen has more constrast/backlight and a little bit bigger (less than a cm) if you're comparing to the DS phat.
Speakers are more hi-fi, sound effects heard more clearly compared to the DS phat.

Source: I did this comparison just now with my old DS phat.

The browser is totally useless as it's so slow rendering a page!

Yeah, takes like 7 seconds to load google.

[ChrisM]

WPA only works in browser only, in games you're still limited to WEP or no encryption.

Wrong.  It does not add WPA to older games but network enabled games that are made for DSi use WPA.

Screen has more constrast/backlight and a little bit bigger (less than a cm) if you're comparing to the DS phat.

Other changes are 4 levels of brightness vs the phat's 1.  The DSi screens are significantly bigger than the DS/DSLite, 17% larger, which is more than a cm....
 

Speakers are more hi-fi, sound effects heard more clearly compared to the DS phat.

Yep!  Speakers are much better.

Source: I did this comparison just now with my old DS phat.
Yeah, takes like 7 seconds to load google.

But NeoGaf and JGO are quite usable

[Momoko_Fan]

Wrong.  It does not add WPA to older games but network enabled games that are made for DSi use WPA.

Wrong, both old and new DS games only support WEP, since they must be compatible with the other DSs. The downloadable "apps" and the browser support WPA.
There are cartridge based games that are made for DSi AFAIK.

The DSi screens are significantly bigger than the DS/DSLite, 17% larger, which is more than a cm....

Wrong I measured it myself, and here's a "credible source":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DSi#Hardware
DSi: 82.5 mm
DS: 76.2 mm
82.5 - 76.2 = 6.3 mm

0.63 cm < 1.00 cm

[Eli Delventhal]

Yeah I skipped DS Lite and went right from phat to DSi. It's a nice upgrade, but I'm really not using it any differently than I did with the phat.

[fletchergames]

Looks like DSi isn't that big after all.  Now they're coming out with DSi XL .

I don't think it's that much of an upgrade otherwise, but it the screens are even bigger than the DSi.

[bappyho]

i am not doing anything. i just Just bought a DSi. Because i knew this is so for me. I have chosen this.

[TheAnalogKid]

The XL is really a shame, it's just a bigger dsi!

[Eli Delventhal]

The XL is really a shame, it's just a bigger dsi!

I'm not really interested in the DS anymore at all, to be honest. I think eventually it will be eclipsed by the iPod. Paying $35 for a game that might suck is a hell of a lot worse than paying $1.

[TheAnalogKid]

I prefer paying 35$ for a game that is good than 1$ for a crap. There're so many crap games on the app store. And I'm even not talking about the big control issue with the iphone/ipod; a lot of game genres do need buttons.

For me, the only issue with DS is the very low res graphics, but hopefully this is going to be fixed with the 3DS! 

[Eli Delventhal]

I prefer paying 35$ for a game that is good than 1$ for a crap. There're so many crap games on the app store. And I'm even not talking about the big control issue with the iphone/ipod; a lot of game genres do need buttons.

For me, the only issue with DS is the very low res graphics, but hopefully this is going to be fixed with the 3DS! 

What about $1 for a game that's good?

I agree that for some genres you definitely need buttons, but not for most. I also agree that 99% of the apps on the app store suck, but 0.01 * 180,000 is still 18,000, which is larger than the entire DS library.