7.3.2010

I've upgraded to the Nintendo DSi XL from a plain ol' White Lite unit, and I could not be more happier if it made the coffee. The XL is a beautiful bit of kit, perfect for young and old alike (I'm only just pushing 21 and I love the idea of a bigger console). Regarding portability issues, if you're someone who only uses their DS at home or sports a backpack/handbag everywhere you go, the XL is perfect. If you're someone who loves shoving their DSi in their pocket before trekking out the front door, you may want to think about just getting or sticking with the smaller DSi - the XL was never really meant to be portable.A few of the many features which are a definite improvement:-01) Larger screens.Lots of people have been concerned that the larger screens would make games appear stretched, blocky or pixelated. Not so. The larger screens are beautiful, bright (I use my XL on Brightness Setting 3, and whilst it's slightly darker than the factory setting everything still looks bright and beautiful!) and the new LCD viewing angle is perfect for games played at a table, etc.02) Speakers. Both DSi systems boast a music facility (Nintendo DSi Sound) where m4a format music tracks can be put on an SD card and played through the DSi XL. You can then muck around with them if you like (the facility boasts a surprising number of gadgets for doing so), change the visualisations much like on Windows Media Player, or just sit back and listen. One of the XL designers mentioned on the "Iwata Asks" interview that not only are the XL's speakers larger than the DSi's, but they have added more holes, which adds to the sound quality. And it really does - songs are loud, crisp without losing their bass, and the speakers work well with both instrumental and vocal tracks. The unit can also turn off its backlights after it detects you're idle to save on battery life, which is a treat.03) Connectivity. Both my Phat and Lite DSes have had trouble finding our modem from my bedroom (which is only a stones' throw away from our wireless modem!) and have done since I first got them. The XL, on the other hand, has no problems at all. The wireless signal strength is definitely stronger and faster than previous consoles. The internet browser, powered by Opera, is a smidgen slow but perfect for doing on-the-go Google searches (even image searches are processed in a breeze), and the browser is also perfectly capable of displaying Amazon, LiveJournal, eBay and Nintendo itself. The only downside is a lack of flash player (which means you can't access sites like YouTube or Google Video) but really, for a utility to just look things up quickly when you don't want to boot up your laptop, it's a dream. Having a larger screen means a larger keyboard, too, so typing is made remarkably easier.04) Stylus. The larger stylus that comes with the XL is marvellous. It's the comfiest thing I've ever held, stylus or pen alike, and the little tab on the side stops it from rolling off to God knows where. Sometimes I forget I'm even holding it.05) Battery life. The XL has an improved battery life over the regular DSi (harking back to the Lite), and on Brightness Setting 3 you can get approximately 9-11 hours (I've tested this, it's true). If you're a battery-conservation freak like I am, you can also turn off your wireless whenever you know you won't be using the DSi Shop or Internet Browser. Just go Settings > Wireless Connections > Turn Wireless: Off. The little yellow light on the left hand side of the top screen will turn off.The top lid is a bit of a finger print magnet, as the Lite was before it, but it's easy enough to go over with a bit of cloth if you're worried about appearances. The matte bottom is great for holding the console and not getting sweaty hands/having it slip out of your fingers. The Start and Select buttons have been enlarged (so you don't need to press on them as hard as you had to with the Lite), and the moved Power button means fewer accidental turn-offs.The inbuilt software is a bargain - Doctor Kawashima's Brain Training: Arts Edition is practically a full program if you don't have the original Brain Training cartridge that made the DS so popular, and whilst the Dictionary has a few words missing I imagine it would still help if you're stuck on the crossword. Having the option to look up words in German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese is also sort-of cool, if you're interested. (It helps my Dad with decoding his German military history, which is good...) I would also recommend signing onto the DSi Shop and downloading Flipnote Studio (it's 100% free). A lovely little program for writing memos or doing the odd doodle when you're bored. Note that if you connect to the DSi Shop before March 31st, you get 1000 free points to spend on games. I highly recommend Art Style: PiCOPiCT and Starship Patrol if you're into Puzzle/Strategy games.Finally, the camera is nothing to shout about, but it's great for taking photos to be used on your top screen a la a wallpaper. It's also great for photographing my dog - she doesn't realise it's a camera and sits still for once! The photos can then either be uploaded to FaceBook using the XL's inbuilt internet, or sent to the SD card to be transferred to a computer. The resolution isn't great, but the XL was never made to replace your digital camera anyway.In conclusion: A vast improvement on its predecessors, perfect for people who are vision-impaired or just want larger game screens, beautiful speaker quality, great wireless connectivity, better battery life, great in-built software. A great machine. I hope Nintendo continues along this path - bigger is better!

6.3.2010

Let me start by telling you that I've never owned as ds console. I've had the psp and the the gameboy advance (sold them now) and this DSi console is WAY better! I decided to get one after hearing about the big nintendo gaming library and I'm not disappointed. I got mine a day early before release from GAME - talk about awesome! It's simply a brilliant machine.So, this console is an option for those who don't yet own a dsi (which is simply a smaller version of this console) or for those who would like to upgrade for any reason or for those like me who are new to the ds world.The console itself looks the most sturdiest and sophisticated of the whole 4 versions of the ds generation.The body appears expensive and the glossy finish (while being a finger print magnet) just adds class to the console and the rest of it is a matte finish which gives excellent grip and a nice contrast overall - one of my favourite parts of the whole appearance. I have the wine red colour which looks gorgeous and IS a mature colour but then hey, anyone can have one despite whatever age.The console comes with 2 pre-installed games - A Little Bit Of Brain Training: Arts Edition and 6 in 1 Dictionary. Been playing the brain training and it is so addictive! The two games are worth a total of 1300 dsi points and after all that you even get another 1000 free dsi points when you log onto the shop! (I did anyway and I don't know how long that offer lasts - I wasn't aware of it but it was a pleasant surprise). Okay, the screen resolution is the same as the console before it but then I don't have them to compare with BUT I think the images look amazing, considering this isn't HD PS3 graphics anyhow. I've been playing Professor Layton and the Curious Village on the console and the images are AMAZING! The big screens are absolutely gorgeous! And it's not just for older people like most reviews are hinting at because I'm 20 and I love the big screens - one of the reasons I chose to try out the ds after all these years.Even still, all the dsi hardware and everything is included: the camera (which is cool), the sounds (which I haven't used yet), the dsi shop where you can download games with dsi points, the web browser (which isn't as slow as people make it out to be - maybe my internet connection is really good because the speed for page loading is adequate - just need good memory for the pages to load - maybe a 4gb sd card?), You get picto chat (like text messaging on the console, which I haven't used yet) and something called download play, SD card slotThe pen like stylus is very comfortable to use and the inserted stylus is slightly longer than the past ones, also confortable to hold. The console itself is slightly heavy but I like the weight as it doesn't feel cheap - the whole outer appearance is quite classy like I mentioned before. The BIG SCREENS are ONE OF THE REASONS TO get this, seriously.I don't know about portabilty because I just slot this into my handbag so I don't have a problem and also I mainly play this at home anyway. On another note, there shouldn't be any internet connection problems if you've got either WEP or WPA wireless settings through your router. I have WPA and managed to connect the console easily and I've heard people having problems with this. I just went through the advance setting under 'wireless connections' and then connection 4 and inserted my WPA key and it connected!So if you've never had a ds and want to get one this GET THE DSi XL or if you want to upgrade and don't mind spending the little extra money then GET THIS! You won't regret it!I'm gonna log off an go an play on it now! :)

5.3.2010

We used to have a DS lite and it finally went pear shaped...now have a DSiXL!Nintendo construction is robust and solid with a quality feel. We can still use all our games so we are very pleased (Mum, Dad & 3 yr old)! The larger images are really good and although there is some small pixellation it is very acceptable and we did not find it an issue. Donkey Kong is brilliant and the sound platform has definitely been improved too. We found the weight fine..although it is obviously weightier being a bigger unit. It is certainly more hefty than the DS lite we had for years but our 3 yr old has not struggled and we adults are fine too.I'm afraid you cant help but be impressed - the new bigger screens (93% bigger by area)are phenomenal, bright and crisp. Start up is quick and takes you to a dashboard where you can access the games, settings, camera, internet, WiFi, pre-loaded software etc.Yes, it has 2 cameras! One on the top lid that points away from you and another near the microphone in the crease looking at you. We had GREAT fun snapping away our faces...then you can manipulate the images with the provided filters...blur, stretch, morph etc - all with the stylus and so on. Our 3 yr old took 200 images very quickly and there seems to be more space! When the unit powers on, we now have the family shot appear on the top screen!There is also a sound recorder that allows you to record, edit, manipulate sounds...again our 3 yr old took great delight in playing back her noises, squeals and squawks!Some software is provided with the unit - brain training and a dictionary facility. The brain training (had the original game) has new tasks from the original one we had...made Mummy pleased! The dictionary is neat (hand write, keyboard or camera options to input)! It also serves as a translator for about 5 languages...also quite cool. Plus, you can capture an image of text with the front camera, highlight the word with your stylus and it will search for it. Quite clever!We are yet to investigate internet options, the DSi store, memory cards and loads of other things but that will come.Overall a GREAT product and we are very very pleased. The upgrade from the DS lite is WELL worth it. Should you upgrade from the DSi? Not sure with not owning one. But the screen clarity, extra features and improvements may just tip it.A recommended family buy! :-)UPDATED: 25MAR10- So easy to connect to the internet - Nintendo we salute you...and you get 1000 free DSi points too! We have downloaded 2 iyems from the DSi store very easily and quickly- Agree with another reviewer that a screen protector is vital - especially with an enthusiastic 3 yr old!- Cannot seem to get rid of a dutch version of the brain training (??)- Still a brilliant family buy and heartily recommended...

10.3.2010

I bought this to replace my DS that I had managed to scratch the screen on, please note any comparisons I give are comparing the DS I have no knowledge of the original DSi. I have actually bought the wine coloured version but the following comments apply to both colours.First impressions were good although larger it did not seem to be that much bigger than the DS but the screen was certainly larger, the first thing I did before even charging it was to put to screen protectors on it so it does not suffer the same fate as my DS.The setting up was quite straight forward, but needed a lot of info like birthday etc,and because there is internet access it also involved setting up parental controls which are also used to protect the settings so they cannot be changed without the PIN number .The internet wifi setting was quite easy as I have a fairly old system all I had to do was enter the security code, it also supports AOSS for easy set up.In use the internet although fast with a choice of browsers Google or Yahoo the screen size makes it difficult to use. The top screen shows the full internet page but too small to be useable, to overcome this there is a small square displayed on this screen which is the area shown on the bottom touch screen which can be dragged to show any portion of the page. I was able to access my email this way but would not like to use it for extensive browsing.It has two cameras one facing towards you and one away, photos can be stored on a SD card (not supplied) the software included allows a lot of fun picture manipulation. The ingenious thing I found with the camera software is the ability to photograph words and translate them into different languages; I would imagine this would be very useful in foreign countries for translating signs.It is also a music player again tracks can be stored on an SD card, the music software allows considerable listening effects to be applied which although fun did seem to be a bit pointless, you can also record your own sounds and manipulate them.Both voice recognition and hand writing recognition seems vastly improved the hand writing recognition may be due to the inclusion of an additional larger "pen shaped" stylus which means that hand writing is more natural.There is a cut down version of one of the brain training programmes built in and of course you can play any of the existing DS or DSi games, the one limitation is that with the inclusion of the SD slot there is no longer room to include the "Game Pak" slot so that "Game Boy Advance" games cannot be played. With the games the extra size does make the games easier to view and play.Overall a great hand held device which is fun to use even before you put any games in it.

4.7.2014

I had a DSi and convinced myself that it would be a waste to get an XL, but it turns out I was wrong. The screens.. I never really gave much thought to how small the regular DSi screens are. The XL screens in comparison are massive. They are lovely and bright, and very clear.One thing I didn't like with the regular DSi was that the sound was pretty bad. The slot design of the speaker made everything sound a bit tinny. There's no issue here. The XL sounds great with no distorting or crackling.The interface is the same as with the DSi. You can scroll through the menu left and right to see what installed games/apps you have and you can connect with the Nintendo eShop via wifi.

10.3.2010

I have just used some birthday money to upgrade from my DS lite to this and I have to say I am very, very impressed! There are so many more features but the main reason I upgraded was for the screens. I was finding it really hard to play for any length of time with the smaller screens but this little (erm, well maybe not so little) gem is amazing. The screens are bright and give your DS games a new lease of life. I have not noticed any pixilation as some have reported, just massive, easy to see and play versions of all my favourite games.For anyone with a DSI, it's worth upgrading just for the screens alone in my opinion. Note that they are the only difference between last years DSI and this years XL.

9.3.2010

Having previously owned a GameBoy and a DS Lite (which has a lovely but rather small screen), I was keen to get the DSi XL and get to play some of the games which I had had to give up on because print and other detail were too tiny to get on with. Really, the larger screen is the best thing about the new console - it's bright and clear, and the battery lasts several hours. In fact, the larger screen shows up just how blocky and primitive the graphics are by comparison with other competing games consoles. Also good is the new pen shaped stylus - this is more comfortable to use than the old style one (which is tucked into the casing). The ability to get online and download DSiWare is welcome,

7.3.2010

I really feel this is state of the art for the money. Dual screen, dual camera, built in software. Screens 93% bigger, longer battery life. If you own a DS lite at the moment this could mean so much more to you.Nintendo have always been at the forefront of gaming, now they are at the forefront of "interaction", gaming or otherwise. This machine obviously may be more than just a gaming machine, but I got mine because, being closer to 40 years old than 30, the larger screens are very important. I want to play games with greater clarity; the fact that it has photographic abilities, a fabulous dictionary, and greater memory, greater battery life and general functionality are all a marvellous bonus.Highly recommended - a truly wonderful machine.

21.1.2011

The Nintendo DSi XL is an excellent handheld console. It is more comfortable for an adult to hold than the DS lite or DSi, ironicaly pretty much the same size as the ordiginal "phat" DS when it first came out, which was succeeded by the DS Lite, and subsequently the DSi. The top is a lovely glossy finish which is very attractive but a magnet for grubby finger-prints. The rear, and the area around the screens is a matt finish which is slightly rough, aiding your grip. All in all, it's a very attractive console.The Gameboy Advance slot is absent, so this console will only play DS games and games downloaded onto it. This is potentially a problem if you have a big stock of GBA games and intend to part-exchange your old GBA DS,

9.4.2012

Bought this to match the dandelion, yellow, gameboy colour I got for my 8th birthday as a boy. It's great like every other DSi XL/LL. Screen looks amazing. DPI of the screen is not terrible like you would expect; the DPI is actually quite comfertable. The console itself is not the most comfertable thing to hold for intense action games as it is the closest any DS will get to being shaped like perfect rectangle. It's case design lacks the comfort that the curves of the DS phat provided. However when you just play pokemon, a few rythum games, sgt.Frog games, light mario games, mario kart, someother titles it's not all that bad to hold.

8.11.2012

Damn it this baby is big! I am an avid DS user (Boo to the 3DS!). Not only am I a perfectionist but I also possess a high sense of aesthetics and attention to detail, and when I purchased my first DSi XL, knowing that they hadn't improved the resolution of the screens, I assumed it would be stretched and horribly pixely. How did they do it? I have no idea but if I purchased it and somebody told me they increased the resolution to match the size of the screens, I would have believed them.You are basically playing on a big, huge, sexy version of the DSi XL. It's definitely true what they say, you really do NOT know how big it is until you get it. Excitedly anticipating the delivery of my gorgeous DSi XL,

11.10.2010

This is a great upgrade from the DS Lite. I can't compare with the DSi, but I probably wouldn't get it if you've already got a DSi.I know about the 3DS coming out soon, so I was tempted to wait until then but when I saw the new colours come out, I decided to get it, and I am so glad I did. Plus if you're not tempted to get the 3DS then this is definitely for you.I read quite a few reviews on the internet that said that the DSi XL was not worth the money or that you should only get it if you have sight problems. But I disagree with this as I am 13, yet really enjoy the huge screens as it makes you feel a lot more involved with the games.I don't know whether it would be worth the money,

10.3.2010

I agree with many of the other reviewers about the upgraded games console, but as I am a fussy person, I did notice one major glitch. In a moment of madness, the creators of this games console decided, in their infinite wisdom, to put the on/off button at the bottom left of the console, actually on the part where the screen is. Souns nice, and replaces the sliding on/off button of the previous DS, but play it and grip it long enough and you will find out how easy it is to turn off the DSiXL by complete accident. Very frustrating if in the middle of an exciting level of Yoshi or Mario, and rather scary at first as you think the console has died!Other than that,

4.12.2010

There are enough reviews available here, so I'd just like to add a couple of points about the DSi (and DSi XL) compared to DS Lite, as I'm sure some people are wondering which one they should buy.Some of the most noticeable improvements from DS Lite to DSi are: (1) DSi has a camera, which you can use as a digital camera (with two lenses with 300,000 (or 0.3 mega) pixels), although compared to modern digital cameras there are much less pixels; (2) the DS (dual-screen) sizes have increased from 3-inches to 3.25-inches; (3) there is an SD memory slot, and (4) the sound quality has improved a lot, which is very important to me!The DSi XL's functions are more or less the same as the original DSi,

4.12.2010

There are enough reviews available here, so I'd just like to add a couple of points about the DSi compared to DS Lite & DSi XL, as I'm sure some people must be wondering which one they should choose.Some of the most noticeable improvements from DS Lite to DSi are: (1) DSi has a camera, which you can use as a digital camera (with two lenses with 300,000 (0.3 mega) pixels), although compared to modern digital cameras there are much less pixels; (2) the DS (dual-screen) sizes have increased from 3-inches to 3.25-inches; (3) there is an SD memory slot, and (4) the sound quality has improved a lot, which is very important to me!The DSi XL's functions are more or less the same as DSi,

Nintendo DSi XL - Reviews

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