[marieangela]

<p>I have been going crazy thinking about this.  I keep making up  my mind and then changing it.  Some input would be great!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My oldest son (D) will be 8 shortly after xmas and my younger son (G) is 5.  D has a DS Lite and loves it.  He is all about playing the games.  G has a Leapster that he no longer uses- he watches his brother play DS and plays it himself when his brother lets him.</p>
<p>My mom watches two boys, 9 and 5 1/2, who both have DSI XLs.  She told me how much they like them, how they can play against each other, use the camera, etc.  So, I thought, I'll get both of my boys DSi XLs for xmas and then sell the Leapster and maybe the DS Lite after xmas.  They are expensive, though, and if I get each of the boys one of those and a game to go with it, I don't know that I'll want to spend the money to also get them the lego sets that they really want.  Plus, I've been reading reviews about the size and how they are better for people with bigger hands, which my sons certainly don't have.  D has actually said that he doesn't need anything fancy and just wants to play games and G wants a DSi just because he's heard about them and other people have them.  So, I'm thinking maybe I'll just get G a DS Lite and let D stick with the DS Lite that he already has. </p>
<p>So, as far as the DSi XLs extra features go, neither of them will be uploading pictures to facebook, but they might have fun playing with the camera, I don't know if they would even want to play the same game at the same time and the bigger size of it might actually be something that they don't like.  Of course, if I get G the DS Lite what kind of comparable (but not a gaming console) gift do I get for D.  He wants Super Mario Bros for the Wii (already has it for the ds)..maybe that would work?</p>
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<p>Sorry to ramble.  I've been thinking about this way to much lately.</p>

 

[limabean]

<p>I would go with the DSi. Aren't they only about $20 more than the DS Lites? I can't remember the actual price difference, but I remember for me it wasn't enough to make it worth going with the Lite. My son (haha -- can't call him my DS in this thread!) didn't even know about the whole playing-with-others thing until our little neighbor boy told him, but now that he knows he LOVES that feature. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't know about the whole "bigger" thing -- is the XL a larger version of the regular DSi or something? My son's DSi doesn't seem any bigger than his friends' DS Lites. </p>

 

[lonegirl]

<p>I don't know...we each have the Lite....they can all play together too.  We also have a card in each with loads of downloaded games.  Aside from the camera to me I saw no other benefit.</p>

 

[Drummer's Wife]

<p>I'd get the DSi, but not the XL.  We have 3 of them (and one DS lite), and much prefer the DSi.  Besides the camera, they have the ability to download cheaper games, instead of buying expensive tiny cartridges that get lost.  I mean, most of the games my kids like are the newer mario bros. games, so we have to buy the cartridges, but I still really like this option. </p>

 

[Joyfull]

<p>We don't have DS lite but but have 2 DSi XL (one for each daughter (8 and 5 yo) and these are their only handheld consoles). You can buy DSi in the usual size actually if the size is a concern. However my daughters' hands are quite small (being asians) but they don't have any difficulties whatsoever with the buttons and controls. I like the DSi XL for their large screens. It's better for the eyes. Once you're used to XL you'll feel Lite's screen soo tiny. <span><img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span> (at least I feel that way). Both my girls love to take photos of their grandparents. friends, parents, each other, the dog and their toys on their DSi and decorate them on the screen. (We don't connect them to the internet).</p>
<p>The downside of DSi XL is it doesn't have any slot for the Game Boy Advance cartridges. So if you have a lot of them you won't be able to play them on XL. And it's a bit heavier than the usual DSi. However my girls just love their XLs. No complain about weight or size from them. Hope this will help you.</p>

 

[marieangela]

Well, I went ahead and got the DS Lite for my younger son. It was the difference between spending $90 on one DS or spending $300+ on two DSis or two DSi XLs. This way I can get them each a game and a Lego Star Wars set, too, without feeling like I went way overboard for Xmas this year. At some point (perhaps when the next incarnation of the DS comes out) I'm sure we'll upgrade. The lites will be fine for a while, though.