Opinion of the DSi

I recently purchased a DSi, along with the new Pokemon Platinum game, I was a little skeptic about going from the DS to the DSi, especially since I didn't trade in my old system, and the fact that there weren't enough changes done to it to necessarily warrant getting it. So far my experience with the new Nintendo DSi, however, has been nothing but pleasant minus a few bits here and there.




Things I like about the DSi

• Bigger screens - You really think you wouldn't notice, but I did. And I like it.
  
• The matte finish - I for one used to spend every other minute cleaning off my DS to make sure it was always shiny and smudge free, but with the new matte finish, as long as my hands aren't all greasy, no smudges or marks to be seen!
  
• It's slimmer - Like the bigger screens, I thought this would be something that I wouldn't notice, but it's a bit awkward at first, but quickly adjusting to it, and feels nice.
  
• Main Screen - They've changed the layout of the main screen to reflect more of an application selection feel, which I really enjoy. (as well as how it sliiideess)
  
• Camera Features - The 0.3megapixel camera really really had me worried. I mean, I have a digital camera, and a cellphone with better dpi, but I wanted my DSi to be able to stand up to them. It didn't manage to do that, but I really like all of the little features included in it, which is why it's a pro as opposed to a con.
  
• Returning to main menu - You can now press the power button once, and it takes you back to the main menu, which is really nice. Also when editing settings, or going into pictochat, you can now return directly to the menu instead of having to turn the system off to get back there.
  
• Wallpapers - unexpected, but so so lovely <3 You can take pictures (and I assume snag some off the SD card?) and set them as the top background of your DSi screen.
  
• DSiWare - It's pretty much Wiiware, just with less on it since it's new, but I love that it's there, and it gives me all the more reason to actually use the wifi on my DSi. Leaves open lots of possibilities for awesome things for the DSi.
  
• Internet - It's a free download in the DSiWare screen, and I wasn't really expecting much, since it's handheld, and a DS ffs. But I was rather pleased with how it ended up working. It was quick enough for my expectations, and I even managed to make my first blog post from it, which was fun
  
• SD Card Slot - I'm excited about this although I haven't actually gotten an SD card for it yet, it does open up a lot of new possibilities for applications made from other users depending on how hard they have the DSi locked down with security.
  

Things I don't like about the DSi

• Camera Locations - It freaks me out a little bit about how the camera on the inside it like. right in your face. I know it shouldn't, since it's there for the games, but I've always got that like, notion in the back of my mind that someone is watching me. ack.
  
• Volume Control - AUUGGHHH. I dislike this a LOT. I don't know what made them decide to do the volume control like this at all. As opposed to having the nice little sliding bar like they used to, they're buttons. In any other situation, this would be fine, but the buttons are actually hard to use, believe it or not. They press awkwardly, and I just can't get that right volume I want at any given time.
  
• No Color Pictochat - This is more of me bitching, but I really thought they would have been able to implement this by now, but still a no go.
  
• R & L Buttons - I really really dislike how these are not flesh with the system like they used to be. I always get them caught on my older DS case, and it's really unnerving.
  
• Closing it - I'm not sure why this irritates me so much, or even if it's an issue with all of the DSi's but mine doesn't stay shut all the way. Like. it has a little give in it when you touch it a bit, which opens it making me think that the springs in it are broken.
  
• Charger - I knew they would change it, since they always do, but I can't help but complain about it. I have to go buy ANOTHER set of chargers for this silly thing now. :(
  

Things I'm not so sure about yet.

• No GBA slot - I haven't made up my mind on this one yet. I have a Gameboy SP, so it wouldn't really be that big of an inconvenience to me since I carry that around more than my DS anyhow, but I'm not sure if it not being in the same console as my DS will bother me.
  

Things I wish the DSi had but doesn't. (yet.)

• e-mail - I really want it to have e-mail, c'mon google, get on this. I think it would be a nice addition to the system, even if it was a really watered down version of any form of e-mail.
  
• IM - This would be lovely. I actually used the internet to go to http://meebo.com last night to see if I could log into IM from there, but the DSi ended up not having enough memory to load it, so that was a no go. I'd really like to see this for the DSi in the future, even if it costs Ware points.
  

All in all, they did a really nice job with the system in general, and I think I can eventually grow into liking all of the little things that bother me, although I will probably buy a new case for my DSi anyhow. x)
I'd really like to see some of the things I mentioned added in the future (i.e. e-mail, IM) which will make my DSi all the more useful in all situations.
So far I think upgrading to the DSi was worth it, as I enjoy a lot of the new features, and the new DSiWare opens up for so much more possibilities for the system.

If you're looking into getting one, I'd suggest making sure you're really not going to play all those GBA games, however, although I'm sure there will be some second party software that will pop up and allow you to download and play some of the older GBA games. You may, however, want to wait until new colors come out, as there are only Black and Blue. I myself would have preferred a pink one, but the black one is quite nice.