Black DSi

To the casual observer, the DSi console could easily be mistaken for the DS Lite, however Nintendo have improved both the design and the software of the console in multiple ways. The Nintendo DSi is available in both black and white colours, depending on the preference of the user.

For those who prefer the black DSi console, it is similar to the white console in every way except the colour. Therefore, we will focus on the improvements Nintendo have made over the original DS Lite.

The first thing we notced is that the casing no longer has the shiny finish that the DS Lite had and has been improved with a grittier matte finish. It certainly helps make the console look more slick and hi-tech, while Nintendo have also managed to make the system both lighter and thinner – it is actually 12% lighter than the DS Lite despite the improvements in the technology.

The console is also much more user friendly, with the L and R buttons sticking out just that little bit more, making them easier to press and control. Along with them on the top of Nintendo DSi consoles is the new power adaptor port. This is now a different shape from previous models which means the adaptor cannot be used interchangeably.

Black DSi Console Design

The design of the console looks really slick in black and is my personal preference over the white DSi console. The D-pad now rests a little lower into the casing meaning you don’t need to press quite as hard although it doesn’t really make much difference. On the right hand side you will find the new SD card slot which can be used for storing your music, photos and software downloaded from the shop. The console has internal memory of 256KB which can be used until it is full when you will need to either delete files or use an SD card. The power button has been moved on the black DSi just next to the touch screen. It is well positioned so you are unlikely to touch it by mistake and if you do it is quite stiff anyway so you won’t push it accidentally. If you press it in it will bring up the system menu, if you hold it in it will turn off the console.

The DSI console also has a number of great new features, such as the internal camera and audio player. Both of these focus on being fun and innovative in keeping with the Nintendo brand as opposed to trying to be the best in terms of the actual technology.

While most mobile phones focus on increasing pixels and resolution, Nintendo have taken the opposite approach. While the DSi only has a 0.3 megapixel resolution, the DSi Camera software includes 11 types of special camera lenses. This means DSi can take pictures by utilizing a variety of special effects on a real-time basis.

Similarly, the audio function allows users to play with and maniuplate sounds. Some typical functions include the ability to change the pitch and the speed separately by using the Touch Screen. The ability to freely manipulate the audio pitch and the speed can expand how the audio player can be used in more practical ways as well. You can fast-forward a Podcast to economize the time. When you use the repeat-run function with the stylus, it becomes easier to copy the music, to play a musical instrument or to practice foreign languages.