The Nintendo DSi (ニンテンドーDSi, Nintendō Dī Esu Ai?)[1] is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is a seventh-generation console and the third iteration of the Nintendo DS; its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable. A larger model, entitled Nintendo DSi XL, was launched in 2009 and 2010 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions.
Development of the DSi began in late 2006, and it was unveiled during an October 2008 Nintendo conference in Tokyo. While the DSi's design is similar to that of the DS Lite, it features two digital cameras, supports internal and external content storage, and connects to an online store called the Nintendo DSi Shop. This new functionality was intended to facilitate personalization, so as to encourage each member of a household to purchase an individual DSi.
Reviewers were generally positive in their reception of the Nintendo DSi; although they decried the console's lack of exclusive software, its added functionality caused many to recommend it to those who did not purchase previous DS models. CNET.com and PC World considered the DSi Shop to be the largest buying incentive for current DS owners. Critics believed the DSi XL is not an essential upgrade, but those in need of a handheld to use primarily at home should consider it.
Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:10 pm