Should I get them Nintendo DSi when they already have Nintendo DS!??!?

[Minnie_me]

Both of my DDs have a Nintendo DS. Each is over 3 years old, but work okay as far as I know.

Now both girls are asking for Nintendo DSi for Christmas, stating emphatically that it is *so much better* than their current systems.

To be honest, I have the money. I put $$ away in a Christmas account all year, and I have more than enough to buy everything on their lists (which are quite modest, but still....). But I'm not sure if this is a good move, or if it's frivolous.

I'd appreciate your opinions!

 

[blackforest]

I wouldn't. They may be the latest and greatest, but they will still play the games you already have. The only way I would replace them, is to sell/trade-in the old DSs' and then get the new.

 

[Madi100]

My daughters both wanted the DSi, and we got them when they first came out. I doubt that our younger DDs was all that old. But, to them there is a huge difference. The camera is a big thing. They play with that all the time. And, there are pre-loaded games. For us it was worth it.

 

[Pigeon]

I told my dd to forgetaboutit. We don't need every upgrade for everything.

 

[MomToOne]

My DD10 would love a DSi. But I believe in using electronics until they pretty much die, just from a waste perspective - both physical waste and money waste. And let's face it - as soon as you buy that "latest" version, yet another new version will come out. It's an endless cycle. If the product you purchased is still providing the service you in fact bought it for (even if that service is just playing games ), and the newer version doesn't solve any great problem you have (i.e. is not a NEED), then you don't need to buy the new version!

Then again, I have a 10+ year old TV - no flat screen in our house

 

[dislal]

I have some really good pics taken by my sons DSI, but I can't get them on here.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

We upgraded to the DSi XL (larger screen) for both girls. They really love the new features such as taking photos, browsing the Internet to look at Webkinz and other toys, etc. I upgraded when the prices dropped 20.00 a month or so ago. I'd say do it, since you have the money.

 

[SILLYANDI]

My kids LOVE theirs! I sold all their DS's on Ebay last year for nearly what I paid for them (they were well kept and I had the boxes still) and used that money ot upgrade them. I wasn't sure if it was a good decision, but now that the kids have them they can do so much more than they could with the ds.

 

[Leajess99]

Both of my DDs have a Nintendo DS. Each is over 3 years old, but work okay as far as I know.

Now both girls are asking for Nintendo DSi for Christmas, stating emphatically that it is *so much better* than their current systems.

To be honest, I have the money. I put $$ away in a Christmas account all year, and I have more than enough to buy everything on their lists (which are quite modest, but still....). But I'm not sure if this is a good move, or if it's frivolous.

I'd appreciate your opinions!

With them being over 3 years old I would say go ahead and get the DSi for them. The reason being is that the plastic casing can become brittle and start falling apart after time (we know this from experience since my middle DDs is almost 4 years old) and then they cause the device to not work properly. My 12 year old is getting a DSi for Christmas due to the wear and tear on her DS. It is not because it is the newest item (technically it isn't because the newest is the DSiXL) but because she used hers until near death.

 

[pam95]

Keep in mind that a new version of the DS is supposed to come out sometime next year, so the price on the DSi might drop.

With that being said, the DSi does have a built-in camera, and you can also download games, so there is more to the DSi than the regular DS.

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

I bought a DS for DS5 & a DSI for DS8 last year & wish I would have bought both of them DSI's. Many more features on the DSI, their favorites being the camera (fun morphing the pictures) & the record feature which allows you to morph the sounds. While my DS5 still plays with his DS he is constantly taking big bros & playing with the DSI features (which is actually pretty funny to see the pics a 5 yr old takes).

I say go for it!

 

[bigmama67]

If they got 3 years out of it, why not? My DS got a DSLite 2 years ago and will NOT be getting a DSi this year (though he really wants one) - it's not in the budget. Maybe next year. He is getting an MP3 player for his birthday though and we think he'll be psyched! (He is turning 8 in December.)

 

[Yoshi]

I wouldn't bother upgrading, you could get a cheap digital camera for them to play with for under $20 rather than spend $150+ for a DSi and as mentioned there is a new 3D DS coming out next year. Unlike the DSi that is just an upgrade to the DS, the new 3D DS is a completely different system that will have it's own set of games that can only be played on a 3D DS, which I think is worth waiting for.

 

[ratlenhum]

The 3DS is due out in March. They couldn't get it on the market in time for Christmas. It's supposed to do all the DSi does but will play 3D games. I'd hold out for that one, or for the price drop on the DSi when that hits the market

 

[pandora174]

The 3DS is due out in March. They couldn't get it on the market in time for Christmas. It's supposed to do all the DSi does but will play 3D games. I'd hold out for that one, or for the price drop on the DSi when that hits the market

Thanks for that info. We were planning to get DS a new DSi XL for Christmas but I will hold off for now. His DS is getting a little slow & stuck with overuse but since he's getting a Wii for his birthday so now I'll hold off till next Christmas or birthday to get that new 3D DSi

 

[Reagan&Co.]

My DS8 was disappointed when he got his. The camera IS cool, but the DSi does not have the slot to hold the older Gameboy games. (We recently started buying those instead of Nintendo games, and some of them are his favorites.) So, he traded with his sister and just uses an old DS.

Just be aware of this, in case you all have Gameboy games.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I wouldn't, but it all depends on what else they are asking for. Their DS's already work and all you get is a bigger screen and access to the internet (which do you really want them to have).

 

[rszdtrvl]

My son has both the DS and the DSi. Which works out great for me because I always use either one or the other. More often the DSi, as the DS has the gameboy advance game port that he needs when he plays Rock Band. And the DSi is only set up for the DS games.

If your child still plays a lot of the gameboy advance games, the DS is great. If they play mostly DS games, the DSi is perfect!

My son still has a collection of Gameboy Advance games, so the regular DS system is necessary.

 

[aja319se]

I'm facing the same dilemma this year as well.We are conetmplating about letting the children sell their DS's and then work around the house to pay off the difference for the DSi.
The DSi will not be a gift under the tree. I'd like them to gain some perspective about working for something they really want but don't necessarily need.

 

[mistysue]

Do they share well? Do they play older gameboy cartridge games?
If either of those questions are a yes, I might consider getting one for them to share.

The camera and voice player on the DSi are the ONLY thing my DD (7) uses it for! Those aren't on the older ones. DH and I are gamers, so we have at least 6 different game boys of different varieties hanging around the house.