Gameboy Advance SP Reviewed & Disassembled

lotech writes "lik-sang has a review with full photos of the new Nintendo Ganeboy Advance SP. Not just supplying heaps of photos they have even beaten the pack on voiding the warranty and include heaps of internal photos. The handheld market is heating up with new releases from Nokia too and also the feature packed GP32. Oh and maybe then there maybe some Sony competition soon?"

Comments

With the size of a mini CD I don't see why Sony ..

[adzoox]

With the size of a mini CD I don't see why Sony ... could make something with a 3 inch screen and mini DVD and integrated controls. No expnsion slot needed just USB for ethernet, memory, etc.

Make it capable of using Mini DVD Videos like the Hitachi Camcorders. Other features: TV out, USB, Mp3 capability. I think this would be a popular convergence.

They could even release 5 game PS1 packs on one mini DVD. Most of those games were 100 - 300 MB.

I believe battery technology is where it would need to be for a unit like this as well.

And another new console design...

[Memetic]

Another new design called B'ngo,a sub $200 handheld console / phone is covered on The Register.

Cynical Nintendo marketing or just bad design?

[DrXym]

The GBA shipped with a shiny, glarey, barely visible screen with no backlight. Was this just gross incompetance on the part of Nintendo or part of some scheme to keep selling us new models that promise to fix the massive deficiencies in the last one? I find it hard to believe they didn't know, all the way through developing and testing the thing that the screen was so appalling. How much would the backlight circuitry have cost them? A few cents maybe?

Frankly, I might have bought more games for my GBA if I thought I could actually see them. Instead it sits in a drawer except for occasional forays in good lighting. Nintendo can go to hell if they think I'm going to make the same mistake twice.

Re:With the size of a mini CD I don't see why Sony

[adzoox]

Current, "nearly CD diameter" CD Players get 20 hours off of two AA batteries. A Casio 4" TV gets about 4 hours off of two AA batteries. With a higher capacity LI ON or Polymer battery like the iPod has in it, the ability to play Mp3's and watch movies - like the rumored video iPod - could EASILY sell millions of units at $199. The gamecube could be shrunk, less controller, less bulk, less packaging = possibility to add the features I have mentioned. There would be almost ZERO cost for production (a little R&D) to produce a Gameboy cart interface for it. An entire gameboy "electronics set fits into a space about the size of a gameboy cart!

Besides, who YET has money money initially selling the hardware?

And I disagree with you. Cart games are EXPENSIVE to produce. optical games can be cranked out up to 20X faster and if I read right at Tokyo ETimes about this; a total "optical game" package costs even after royalty for about $4-$7 US. A cart costs up to $15 to produce.

Nintendo has LOST the home war. They will soon lose the portable war if they don't come up with something better than cartridges.