Only four years after the original DS system was released, Nintendo has sold about 100 million units worldwide - twice as many as Sony's PSP.
I have been a proud owner of the Nintendo DS Lite for the past two years and was excited to discover the DSi's new features.
On first inspection, it is hard to spot any difference in appearance to the DS Lite, they are much the same size, but the DSi is slightly slimmer (great for the handbag).
The DSi's screens are 6.5mm bigger and the speakers, although smaller, are much louder.
The most noticeable physical difference is the new matt finish.
The buttons have also had a makeover and require much less pressure to activate.
My favourite difference is the power slider is now a button and, with a light tap, the DSi will take you back to the main menu rather than having to restart each time as with the previous models.
You can also swap games from the main menu without having to restart.
The menu has a new look, which is very similar to the Wii.
The icons are lined up horizontally and you can slide through the functions quickly, using either the control pad or the touch screen.
A lot of the marketing and hype was focused on the addition of two VGA cameras that capture images at 0.3 megapixels, which hardly replaces your trusty digital camera but are fun to use.
There are 11 different lenses and photos can be manipulated, distorted and then shared wirelessly with friends.
The Gameboy advance slot has been removed and in its place is a SD card slot.
This expands the memory plus adds the ability to download music from your PC.
The built-in microphone and sound applications are also fun to use, and you can record and distort your own voice as well as mix up your own music collection.
Nintendo has also added web capabilities which allow you to access the Nintendo online store to download the latest games straight to your system.
You can also download the free browser, access your favourite sites and instantly share your pictures on Facebook.
If you are a DS Lite owner you should seriously think about upgrading and if you are an original DS owner or do not own one at all then I would recommend you head out right away to join the fun.
The Nintendo DSi is by far the best hand-held gaming device out there and will always put a smile on your face.
- Lauren Mackenzie
