Nintendo DS Lite Limited Edition Turquoise Handheld System

Most people have heard of the Nintendo DS Lite - with its evolution from the original DS it has become one of the best portable games consoles available.

Released in 2006 its versatility has made it popular with all ages. From kids playing Mario Kart to pensioners playing Brain Training and Suduko.

The 2.9 Inch screens are very clear - the bottom screen is the touch screen and the top screen is a normal screen. There is a touch screen stylus stored and accessable from the right hand side of the console. The console has built in wireless capability and if someone else has another DS you can open the "picto chat" software built into the console and create a chat room. Then you can type chat or write messages that are sent wirelessly to each other (kids will find it great fun sending each other silly messages). You can also link up and play against each other in compatible games. Also it can connect to the internet for certain games (compatible wireless router or wireless adapter required).

It also has a built in microphone which some games use and has a stereo headphone socket to save you disturbing everyone in the room!

The wide variety of games and accessories available for the console are what make it great for me. Some of the accessories include:

Guitar Hero Grip - for Guitar Hero and Band Hero games - I find these great fun and are good for a break from "regular" games.

Ds lite Browser Pack - this is a cartridge and memory expansion that will let you browse the internet on your DS!

Also the library of games available is very impressive from simple classic games like Scrabble, Monopoly and Battleships to great action games like Mario Kart and Pinball. It will also play the older Gameboy Advance games (they plug in the front). So you dont have to bin your older games.

It would be hard for someone NOT to like the DS as it is so appealing and you are bound to find something you like. You can even get Language Tutors and 100 Classic Books to read on it.

With the vast selection of colours available too - my advice is pick your favourite colour and buy one!

Also a quick note on "fake ds consoles" - there is no such thing. What you will find is some consoles from the Far East (normally sold with a selection of Gameboy advance games) are refurbished units. Refurbs will have had the cases changed to new cases (so they look shiney and brand new) and the cases wont be the same quality as the original Nintendo case - so may feel cheaper and / or be more fragile. They wont have any of the original serial codes, markings etc either. They may also have a cheaper third party power adapter - like all cheaper power adapter these can be dangerous if they fail or short. So just be aware of what you are buying - nothing necessarily wrong with them so long as they work but just be aware that what is inside the case might not be brand new.

Thanks for reading!

The Nintendo DS lite has been around for several years now, yet it has held it's second-hand value very steadily as these are still very very popular today, despite the release of the newer DSi and DSi XL.
Small, lightweight, and with huge support of games for any age these are popular with children and adults alike.
A second-hand unit can be purchased for an average of £40.00 - £60.00, but there are some things to check first when buying used consoles.

1) Touch screens are easily damaged. Make sure the unit does not need a replacement touchscreen, although these can be purchased for less than £5.00 if a confident person wants to replace one.

2) Hinges are easily damaged. Make sure that the unit opens and closes ok, and will support itself in the open position. Look for cracks or missing plastic around the right hand side hinge. These were VERY common to breaking.

3) Make sure it plays games reliably. Children have often inserted the stylus pencil into the game slot causing damage to the pins. Bent pins will not read games or may cause intermittant issues!

4) Screen damage. Top and bottom screens can be damaged by people snapping shut the unit whilst the stylus is lying across the screen. Dead pixels on the top or bottom screens, or dead spots on the touch screen, show evidence of this.

5) Cosmetic damage. Main issues are dirt working into the top and bottom casings, as these have a clear perspex trim which dirt can become sandwiched inbetween. Can only be cleaned by completely stripping the unit down (Not easy!)
Also, the top covers have a laquer coating over the coloured plastic, which is often scratched or worn through. Red models in-particular suffer from this.

6) Dropped units often do not turn on, and sellers sell thinking that the unit simply requires a new battery or charger. Be aware of this as it more-than-likely requires internal attention by a technician. L2 and L4 inductors often break from the circuit board upon shock.

Overall, a fantastic games console for all ages, that gurantees to provide the user with value for money. Buy one, use it for a year, sell it, and you'll never be at a loss!

Drew - United Kingdom

Good for children, keeps them very entertained. Good range of games and because its a nintendo they can play mario which is their favourite! Having a charger saves alot of money on batteries. The colour range of these are good, theres sure to be a colour that you love. The way you can connect to other players is also a very good feature.

Easy to use/ understand
small, so easy to take with you anywhere
would suit boy, girl or adult- colour not an issue
good value for money

The DS is the best small gaming platform I've seen, though the standard Ds is not much bulkier. Greater functionality than the game boy, but the killer feature is the Wi-Fi connectivity - a game can be played by several others in the room, only one of whom has to have the game cartridge. It also can connect to your PC/internet wirelessly. And it fits into your pocket.