Does DS Lite go online and/or communicate with the DSI XL?

[moopdog]

I got my daughter a refurbished DS Lite last week & just picked up the DSI XL for my son, but not sure if they will communicate with eachother (DS's do that, sort of like texting, right?). Also not sure what the Lite does besides play games. Does it take pix and get on line? And can I upload games via the Wii?

Thanks from a non-DS owner until now.

 

[taximomfor4]

DS Lite does NOT go online. But it WILL pictochat (kind of like texting but within sort of close proximity only) with a DSi or DSi XL.

It also won't take pictures. It is cheaper, more basic (play games and pictochat only), basically. But a DSi's browser is pretty sloooooow anyway, so we never use ours for that. Also, taking pix is fun while the DSi is new but at least in our house, nobody used the camera aspect after the first week or so.

HTH!

 

[Fyrefly]

The DS Lite plays games. It can play games online if that game has an internet component (examples: racing other people online with Mario Kart, trading/battling Pokemon online, etc.) Games that go online will have a Nintendo WFC logo on the back of the box.

Games that are two-player will also work between the DS Lite and the DSi XL. So I have a copy of of Mario Kart, so does my friend. We can play together sitting next to each other without going on the internet. A lot of games that have multiplayer will require one game cartridge per player, but some also have limited gameplay that lets multiple people play off of a single cartridge. Again, that's a game-by-game thing and you can find out info like what games are online, which require two carts for two players, and which require one by looking in the manual, or googling the game before you buy.

Which incidentally I always recommend to people new to games to google any game you are thinking of buying at a reputable review site like gamefaqs.com or gamespot.com. There are too many bad games out there that aren't worth your money - stick to the good ones!

As far as what the DS Lite can't do: It can't take pictures. You'll see the camera lens on the back of your son's DSi XL. The DS Lite doesn't have that, so no pictures. The DS Lite also can't go online to buy independently developed DSiWare games, as it doesn't have its own internet browser. I haven't seen many of those games that looked that good, so I'm not sure it's worth it, but be aware the only way to get those kinds of games are on a DSi (either normal or XL). So if your DD really falls in love with some DSiWare game she finds online, she will need to use DS's DS (that looks funny) to play it.

There is a whiteboard chat software called Pictochat on both DS's which can let them talk and draw pictures to each other and anybody else that's physically nearby (not very far, within the same largish room or so. I was at a video game concert once and people in the concert hall were all Pictochatting during intermission, so that gives you an idea of the range.)

Hope that helps, let me know if I can clarify anything!

 

[love2disney]

DS lite will go online with some games. It can share play with other DS in proximity. It cant take pictures no camera, the browser is not really worth browsing. Pictochat is also not a great tool. That said DSLite is a great gaming device without any other distractions.

 

[Chia9876]

DS Lite (2007) is an older model but still being made and the DSi & DSi XL are the new model (2010). The DSi XL is just a DSi with a larger screen (Xtra Large).

The DSi (& XL) can go online and surf the web, they support WiFi.

Chris W

 

[Chia9876]

One more thing, the DS Lite can play GameBoy cartridges, the DSi (XL) can not.

Here is a list of all the differences between the DSi and DS Lite:

DIFFERENCES

Finish
* DSi – Has a less-glossy finish which should mean less fingerprints left behind.
* DS Lite – Has a more glossy finish

Screen Size
* DSi – 3.25 inches
* DS Lite: 3 inches

DSi (left) vs DS Lite (right) Screen Comparison

System Size
* DSi – Width 137mm, Length 74.9mm, Thickness 18.9mm (touch pen is approx. 92mm in length)
* DS Lite – Width 133mm, Length 73.9mm, Thickness 21.5mm (touch pen is approx. 87.5mm in length)

System Weight
* DSi – Approx. 214g (with touch pen)
* DS Lite – Approx. 218g (with touch pen, Game Boy Advance cover)

Power Button
* DSi – Has the power button located on the face of the system, much like on the original DS. Although it’s located on the bottom left instead of the upper right.
* DS Lite – For the DS Lite, Nintendo moved to the power button to the side of the unit and turned it into a slider instead of a button.

Battery Life (how long the system will last before it shuts off on you)
* DSi – The lowest brightness (9-14 hrs), low brightness (8-12 hours), medium brightness (6-9 hours), high brightness (4-6 hours), highest brightness(3-4 hours)
* DS Lite – The lowest brightness (15-19 hrs), low brightness (10-15 hours), high brightness (7-11 hours), highest brightness(5-8 hours)

Charging Time (how long it takes to charge once the system has shut off on you)
* DSi – Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
* DS Lite – Approximately 3 hours

Power Supply
* Both systems will use a different AC Adapter, so you will not be able to charge your DSi with your DS Lite adapter.

Software
* DSi – Plays all DS games and games made specifically for the DSi. Does not play Game Boy Advance games.
* DS Lite – Plays all DS games and Game Boy Advance games. Cannot play DSi-specific games.

Input-Output Ports
* DSi – Contains a: DS card slot, SD memory card slot, AC adaptor connection, stereo headphone/mic jack
* DS Lite – Contains a: DS card slot, Game Boy Advance cartridge slot, AC adaptor connection, stereo headphone/mic jack

SIMILARITIES

Screen Display
* DSi – 260,000 possible colors can be displayed
* DS Lite – 260,000 possible colors can be displayed

Button Layout
The layout of all the face buttons and shoulder buttons remains the same with both the DSi and DS Lite. The Start and Select buttons are also in the same place. Different is the placement of the power button which is now located on the bottom left of the DSi as opposed to a slider on the side as with the DS Lite. The D-Pad has also been changed.

ADDITIONS

Cameras
The DSi features two cameras. One of them is a 0.3 Megapixel and is located on the inside hinge of the system. This camera is presumably to take pictures or video of your face as you play games. The second camera is located on the backside of the system (the outside of the shell) and is reportedly a 3MP camera for taking normal pictures/video.


Online Store
The DSi will finally feature WiiWare-like downloadable games of it’s own, dubbed (what else?) DSiWare. These are sold at the “DSi Shop” and Downloadable Content (DLC) can be bought using Nintendo Points, which range in price from freely available to 200 points ($2.00), 500 points ($5.00) and “Premium” or 800 points ($8.00). Original titles will be on offer for download. No word yet though on whether or not we will see “Virtual Console”-like retro Game Boy games for sale via the DSi Shop.

Built-In Music Player
Music can be played off of SD Cards via a music player built-in to the system as long as the audio files are in AAC format (which was designed to be the successor to mp3. No word yet on mp3 support).

Built in Internet Browser
The DSi has a built-in Opera browser that will allow for web-surfing with your DSi via Wi-Fi. It’s unknown though how much compatibility the browser will allow. Let’s hope it’s not as limited as the Wii browser, which is only good for watching youtube videos if you ask me.

Internal Memory Upgrade
The system will include an upgrade in internal memory, presumably for all the downloading you will be doing via the DSi Shop.

Improved Internet Access Security
The DS Lite only accepts WEP security as a router setting, where the DSi accepts both WEP and WPA security for routers.

You can't go wrong with either one.

I hope this helps, One of my kids has a Lite and the other a (gamer) has a DSi XL.

 

[moopdog]

You guys are great - the responses you gave were so thorough, and I really appreciate it.

After reading through, I think I will keep the Lite for DD, since I was considering returning it for a new DSI. She will be happy to have it, I think and she's a couple years younger, so it's to be expected that big brother will have a nicer, more advanced model...she'll get his handed down to her in a few years anyway!

Plus she also wants a dollhouse "bigger than she is" and that's a whole other thread in itself!

 

[runwad]

Oh shoot I got DS the DSi XL, he said it could play his game boy advance games that we have a ton of from his DS's. Now we'll be buying all new games for this DSi. I honestly didn't want to get this for him but he literally wants nothing else for christams. Dang nab-it!