How Reliable and Durable is the DS?

[madportagee]

I'm thinking bout picking up a used one at EB today for $99.99 and I was wondering if anyone has had any problems or heard of anything. I dont want to buy a used unit then it craps out a couple weeks later.


I know GBA are next to invincible watching kids throw them around.

[The VGM]

It's made by Nintendo, what do you think?

[Ledhed]

If you aren't 12 years old and understand the limits of what most electronics can take, then you should be fine. I bought a used one about 5 months ago (I was the 3rd owner of it) and it's still in perfect shape after plenty of use.

[madportagee]

It's made by Nintendo, what do you think?


Was kinda thinking that, just double checking if anybody has had any strange problems w/ theirs.

[Chris in Cali]

You know I heard they program them to specifically stop working 1 year after you've bought them.

Seriously though, my ex-girlfriend dropped hers on the cement while I was giving her a piggy back ride, so it was a good 6 foot fall, and it still worked. It had a minor scratch. Her touch screen on the other hand was scratched like crazy because she didn't good personal care of it.

So just make sure you're not getting a scratched touch screen DS.

[madportagee]

Thanks for the help, I should be picking up my used one for $99 then, only bad thing is i can't get the nice blue color used.

[Chris in Cali]

Starting today new Nintendo DS systems are only $129, you should just pay the extra $30 and get a new blue one. The DS is a system you have to be carefuly about buying used because of the touch screen damage factor. The touch isn't easily scratched or anything, but there's a lot of little kids out there that don't properly use it, and stab the hell out of it before deciding they wanted a PSP and traded the DS in all messed up.

[madportagee]

Starting today new Nintendo DS systems are only $129, you should just pay the extra $30 and get a new blue one. The DS is a system you have to be carefuly about buying used because of the touch screen damage factor. The touch isn't easily scratched or anything, but there's a lot of little kids out there that don't properly use it, and stab the hell out of it before deciding they wanted a PSP and traded the DS in all messed up.


My brother is the manager of the EB so he is checking for the nicest one also.

[Wet Ninja]

http://gba.gamespy.com/articles/632/632356p1.html

Two mountain climbers took Nintendo DSes with them while climbing to the top of Mount Everest. They said that their other electronics devices (MP3 players, computers, CB radios) broke pretty often, but they had no problems with the DS.

...one night, when we were playing right before we went to bed, we put them down next to our sleeping bags. But because it was so cold that night, the condensation from our breath froze and created icicles all over our tent. So there was frost everywhere, including on the DSes. But they lived through that as well.

Sounds pretty durable.

[Chris in Cali]

http://gba.gamespy.com/articles/632/632356p1.html

Two mountain climbers took Nintendo DSes with them while climbing to the top of Mount Everest. They said that their other electronics devices (MP3 players, computers, CB radios) broke pretty often, but they had no problems with the DS.



Sounds pretty durable.


Two Nintendo DS's walk into a bar.....

[Vegan]

Out of curiosity, though, is the touch screen a replaceable part?

[Sk]

IMO their not as durable as the original GBA and various other versions of the original Game Boy. Nintendo's handheld aren't as durable as days prior, but their still more durable than 90% of most consumer electronics. Your DS should last you a great deal of time. DS'es just lack that sturdy as a brick feel that previous Nintendo handhelds had. But as I said before it should last you a long time.

[Quackzilla]

You would be surprised how much damage a handheld can take without being hurt these days.

[Vinny]

You would be surprised how much damage a handheld can take without being hurt these days.

Tell that to Sony...:P

But yeah, the DS is pretty sturdy. The only problem that I've been hearing about was that the screen getting scratched even if you only used a stylus. But put a screen protector on that and it should be good.:)

[Quackzilla]

Tell that to Sony...:P
My cat knocked my PSP off of a 5 foot shelf (no case) onto a hardwood floor and it [the PSP] didn't take any damage.

[Sleepkyng]

is there a good screen protector someone can reccomend?

[apocrypha]

The mini DS kit I got from eb came with two and they work really well, they just require a little care in the application, and from my experience they don't interfere with the touch screens sensitivty, they are worth it don't even touch your stylus to screen without one
I don't want to be looking at the new castlevania game through scratches!

[madportagee]

I got my new blue DS, and its great, but has 2 dead pixels =(. Not really that big of a deal, not sure if its even worth driving back to EB to exchange it.

[Vegan]

Usually makers of LCDs won't take back a product unless it has 5 or 6 dead pixels. Dead pixels are just something that you're supposed to accept. My SP has one.

[GreenMonkey]

Nintendo will take care of any dead pixels on the DS if you would like. They will send you another one from what I've heard. Contact their customer service.

I noticed the top screen on my DS is a bit crooked. Only noticeable on letterboxed GBA games.

[Quigoni]

Yep just call up Consumer Service and tell them of the dead pixels. You'll have to give a credit card number, but other than that it's a pretty easy proceedure. :)