The Nintendo DS was a revolutionary gaming device when it first appeared in 2004. Not only has it held its appeal over the years, but the massive number of available games has made it even more appealing. The device is simple enough for first-time gamers, but multifaceted enough to hold the focus of veteran game players.

At a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $129.99 for the device, it is also the most affordable gaming device on the market today. Since it attracts users of all ages, it is also the most popular video game system in this generation.

We like the functionality and the portability of this device as well as the long battery life and the vast number of games.

The next generation of the DS Lite, which is due out sometime in 2009, will probably add an SD card slot and a camera to this device. With the good sound quality, it would be wonderful if it could also function as a music player.

Pros

• Well-designed
• Compact portable size
• Intuitive bright touch screen
• Microphone & speakers
• Large choice of games
• Good battery performance
• Good Package

Cons

• Games are not hot-swappable, to change cartridges you must power down the device
• No place in case for the charging cord