The Nintendo DSi XL Will Make the Worst Ebook Reader Ever
Gaming Wasn't Enough, the Nintendo DSi XL Takes on the Role of Ereader
It's just too small
The Nintendo DSi XL is relatively bigger than the original Nintendo DS, DSi, and DS Lite, but as an ereader the Nintendo DSi XL will be a bit too small. The average ereader on the market will let you enjoy your favorite ebooks on at least a 6 inch display, but the meager 4.2 inches of the Nintendo DSi XL will be too much of a compromise for ebook lovers.
In the Nintendo DSi XL's defense, there will be multiple screens to view your ebooks on, but that just makes the Nintendo DSi XL twice the eyesore. Reading on the two small 4.2 inch screens of the Nintendo DSi XL will be similar to reading your favorite ebooks on two playing cards roughly the same size.
Navigating could get annoying
The original Nintendo DS and DSi are known for their annoying block sized menus and this will not change when the Nintendo DSi XL takes on the role of handheld ereader. In order to view you favorite ebooks on the Nintendo DSi XL you'll not only have to get used to squinting your eyes, but you'll also be forced to grow accustomed to navigating your ebook of choice with the stylus of the Nintendo DSi XL.
You'll look like a DJ on the "1's and 2's" as you scroll up and down two 4.2 inch displays while trying to read your favorite ebook. The menus of the Nintendo DSi XL will also be a bummer as the block caption style menus will block lots of your valuable ebook content and make your ebook reading experience on the Nintendo DSi XL even worse.
Read Much?
If you love reading ebooks there is good and bad news. The Nintendo DSi XL will launch with a $20 100-book package, but most of the books are already public domain (free). Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Bram Stoker, and others will be featured in the Nintendo DSi XL 100-book ereader package, but other than the 100-ebook package there's no talk of future book releases for the Nintendo DSi XL.
For more read LiquavistaColor Brings Color Screens and Fast Speed to Ebook Readers, The Alex Dual-screen Ereader Preorders March 2010 in the US, and The Samsung E6 Ebook Reader Might Be the Coolest Ereader Yet.
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Published by Millionaire Hoy - Featured Contributor in Technology
1 of 2 people in the world named Millionaire, I enjoy writing edgy and and sometimes warped articles (with a splash of humor). I'm from Chicago so I'm always inspired by the crazy things I see everyday. Enjoy. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentWhile not the "ideal" ebook reader, the DSi XL is actually very good for reading. I (and my family) use it almost every day. I built a website with over 880 Free classic books just for the DSi and DSi XL. The font size is (in my opinion) very good and to overcome the scrolling problem for longer texts it serves up the book one page at a time and it allows people to bookmark their location. If they have other devices like a Kindle or iPhone, they can share the bookmarks across devices if they create an account (also free). It even allows for a bookshelf where they can store books they would like to read in the future. The library of books is slowly expanding and features are occasionally added. The site is http://ebook.taggedzi.com. Enjoy and happy reading.
Bigger is not always better. I adore reading on the DS lite w/ the classic book collection. I've finished reading several of the included books with zero eye strain. Hell i leant it to my ageing parents and even they loved reading on it.
If you increase the screen size, you decrease the portability. I love how portable the DS lite is as an e-reader. Easily fits into a pocket and can be held and controlled in the one hand comfortably. After sampling the kindle and nook...I'm sticking with the DS. A lot of people want (or seem to want) a e-reader that is the same dimensions as a real world novel.
Pocketbooks were introduced for a reason, don't underestimate the market for a pocket e-reader.
I used to read e-books all the time on my Dslite. (With an r4 card) The screen size even then was good! I enjoyed having the ability to hold the Ds sideways. It feel more natural in my opinion. I hope they release this for the Dsi cause I just got rid of my Ds lite and want to read ebooks again.
I am always reading on my DSi, and it's screen is SMALLER that the XL (naturally). I have all the e-books games that are avaliable currently, and am always looking for more, I only hope that there will be an e-book app made avaliable in the store for the normal DSi as well.
I've never had a problem with the screen being to small, so I have to disagree with this article.
If you can't see it, get glasses!
I disagree with the premise of this article. The Nintendo DSi XL would be a substantially better ebook reader than the various palm devices that many folks did use for reading books. Each of the DSi XL's screens is bigger than most Palm devices. Also, instead of comparing the DSi XL to other ebook readers, compare it to a paperback book. The screen width is comparable to the page width of the average paperback book. And certainly, no one can deny that millions of paperback books have been bought & read. If one looks at the installed base of DS devices, it is HUGE, compared to any other hand held device that might be used as ebook readers. Thus, there is quite a bit of potential in this regard. Even the original DS, as well as the DS lite compare reasonably well to early Palm devices, that most assuredly WERE used for ebook reading.
I look forward to what develops
I'm thinking of upgrading my DS for one. Besides with all the text heavy games that are around, like Zelda and RPG's, i don't think gaming is the antithesis to reading.
Some devices just shouldn't do certain things. That is my opinion. The DS or the DSI is not fit for this. Well, who am I? Good job.
You can already read any .txt ebook file on your DS or DSI with a game card called R4i. You can convert any ebook to .txt easily and the R4i card (same size as DS card) takes microsd card so you can have hundred(s) to thousands of ebooks on a card.
Both
Because they are launching one collection of 100 books DSi XL is now an e-reader? I don't think so. I think the larger screen size is so that the elderly expanded audience can see it better.