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The Gameboy Micro Reviewed
Advtg writes "Ars Technica has a great review of the Gameboy Micro, which is now shipping in North America. The thing is
amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true. But will it sell? From the review: 'You'd think at this point the portable
market would just be saturated with Nintendo products, and the Micro carries a price tag of US$99.99. For just US$30 more you can get a DS, and for US$20 less you can get an SP
with the newly brightened screen. It occupies somewhat of an awkward place in terms of price point and features.'"
Just... why? This is like releasing a "Gamecube Micro" along with the Revolution. It just doesn't make sense.
How many people bought a Nano even though they had a perfectly fine player at home anyways?
People don't buy on need or feature/function alone.
For me, the biggest selling point is that it is the least toy-like in appearance of the three. The DS may be fun, but I think it looks a little too much like a kid's toy.
Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
The thing is amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true.
Look at the bright side: if they had called it GameBoy Nano, it would have a scratch-prone screen, so it's not so bad...
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
...But remember what the iPod is doing?
It's popular, and it just came out with the Nano, and even that's selling. Size matters there days, when people want to do things on the go, they like what's smallest best.
does anyone else think nintendo is taking a page out of apples book with this. It reminds me of the way for a few $$ more you can get a bigger better ipod.
The war with islam is a war on the beast
The war on terror is a war for peace
This makes the original Gameboy seem HUGE.
Reality test... am I dreaming?
Neither the rain nor the wind nor consumer opinion will stop Nintendo(TM) from trying to sell us ANOTHER copy of an already existing product it seems...
Bah.
It's been in my local Wal-Mart for over a week. Two weeks maybe even, and I live in Canada. Northern Canada.
One feature of the micro which may seem trivial but, to me is a great idea, is the replacable faceplates.. it's not so much the customisation aspect, though that is pretty nifty, but the fact that the faceplates include a transparent screen cover.
That means you can stick it in your pocket/bag/whatever, and not worry about screen scratches. When too many scratches accumulate simply change the faceplate for a new one.
This is probably the only portable gaming system I'd consider getting. All the others just seem too bulky for me.. and as an ex Atari Lynx owner (stop laughing!) I'd really rather not go through all that again. The micro looks truly "take anywhere", perfect for those 5-minutes-here, 10-minutes-there gaming sessions, especially if you put one of those backup card thingies in it and load it up with emulators.
Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
gameboy.ign.com's review of the Micro is actually pretty positive
Here's the ending summary of it: The GB Micro isn't exactly the ideal way to enjoy Game Boy Advance games, but don't misjudge it by its size. Given the choice between toting a GBA SP in our backpacks or a GB Micro in our pockets, we'll take the Micro. It's tiny, its screen is amazing, and it is surprisingly comfortable to hold.
Sometimes they are virtually throwaway products to get you interested, then think 'gee for just a few bucks more...'.
Not quite 'bait and switch' but damned close.. More like 'bait and pull'...
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Your girlfriend will make it pink. Fair warning.
Haha, he assumes too much.
what the hell kind of review of a small gadget doesn't give you a feel for its size with a photo of a person holding it?
oh wait, a crappy one that slashdot links to.
How long till people port Linux to it?
45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
Although the main problem with the original GBA was the backlight, it was also very prone to getting marks or scratches on the screen. When the SP came out it cleverly removed this problem with the clamshell design.
The only real complaint with the SP was that the controls weren't as easily accessible as on the original. The shoulder buttons were very small and the thin square design wasn't the best for some hand sizes.
Now nintendo is releasing the micro, which keeps the form factor of the original GBA (more or less) but sidesteps the scratching issue with a better protective layer and most importantly removable faceplates.
Yes nintendo is a fan of releasing the same product over and over, but each iteration always has something new to offer and is rarely a step back. Nice to see the standard headphone jack return as well.
Big as a deck of Pokémon cards and much more fun.1
1 Do not foolishly trade GameBoy Nano.
You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
The guys at iPod Lounge did a comprehensive review of this little guy some time ago, with lots of pictures comparing it to the various iPods and previous GameBoys for perspective. Worth checking out.
The Humblest Mollusk on the Net
For just US$30 more you can get a DS, and for US$20 less you can get an SP with the newly brightened screen. It occupies somewhat of an awkward place in terms of price point and features.
When talking about things like palms this sort of note makes sense since really everyone would rather have the most expensive palm for the cheapest price. Same story when it comes to the same line of mp3 player with different storage capacities. But here I don't think that is the case. It seems these 3 products have different values for different customers. If somebody wants something small there aren't going to go for a DS even if it is the same price as the micro. If someone really wants the DS features instead of the extra portability they'll get the DS. And for someone like me who doesn't want something as big as a DS but finds the SP more comfortable to play they will get an SP, even if again all 3 are at the same price.
Instead of having 3 compromises of price and features Nintendo actually has 3 different products, although clearly they are competing against each other. but at the same time prefers the size of the SP
and my girlfriend giggles at me :(
serenity now!
it is my humble opinion that this will not take off... i saw my first commercial for it yesterday, and it was retarded... now i like pocket game machines but this one was... well... lacking... besides size, whati s the real advantage? the psp has wireless, and the ipod nano is a photo viewer as well. i see no reason to buy it
mmmmmmmm... jeli-ous.... aaaahhhghhggggg
It plays the same games as the GameBoy Advance? I bought a gameboy system, I think maybe the DS or something. The games on it really sucked.
Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
Apparently if you want to play multiplayer with an SP or connect the Micro to your Gamecube you need to buy a converter cable.
I'm disappointed that they couldn't keep with the standard connector. It's not the end of the world, I'd just prefer not to worry about one more tiny accessory.
The US Army: promoting democracy through unquestioned obedience
Personally, I chose the new SP instead of the Micro, after looking at both units. I don't really feel there's a huge size difference between the SP closed and the Micro. The SP is more comfortable for my large hands and the screen is brighter, larger, and easier to see.
Not to say the Micro didn't tempt me. Aside from the size, I liked the built-in headphone jack, and the response time of the Micro's screen seemed a bit better.
But, in the end, the new SP is just too cool. I always really liked the SP formfactor but hated the dim screen. Finally, it has the brighest screen of any Gameboy now, I was shocked at the difference between it and the DS's screen.
If you're going to buy a Micro because of the screen alone, I think the new SP bears consideration as well. I'm quite happy with mine.
I don't like the looks of this -- another smaller Nintendo device.
Ugh!
bobsmith@paris.mailchannels.com
The battery is replaceable too. And the standard headphone jack is great, compared to SP. The only drawback is that it only plays GBA games, which is fine by me, but I'm sure others would have loved the ability to play GB/GBC games.
...discretely playing Golden Sun 2 on my GBA Micro wondering how anyone could have problems imagining why they'd be popular. Any time I want a break at work off I go without even the slightest telltale bulge in my pocket to give away what I'm doing. Unfortunately I think the person in the next stall might have just spotted the laptop that I'm using in here to post this comment...
This just means more confused geriatrics wandering aimlessly around an electronics store searching for that "new fangled game thing my grandson wants." That isn't good for anyone.
Linux Friendly since, like awhile.
i tried to think of a real use for this. but it seems the only real use is for kids. sneakign it to school or church. the gameboy adnavce was small enough. this is no better then playing a game on the tiny phone screen. maybe im wrong but there really is no other use. the previous game boy advnace sp was small enough....
I have never really liked handheld gaming. The only reason I own a Gameboy is because my brother wanted one of the original Gameboy's for Christmas when they first came out and my father didn't want to get him one and not me. I think I played Tetris and one Raiden like game on the thing; I just never really liked it. To this day, the only portable game system I have owned is that original Gameboy. However, I now find myself wanting a Gameboy Micro. I want one to play all of the classic SNES games (e.g. Super Mario World, A Link to the Past, etc.) whenever I get bored somewhere away from home. But, I don't want to have to carry some huge, and I include the GBA SP in that statement, gaming machine around with me. The Micro is small enough that it won't get in the way and the screen has a decent enough resolution that I would be able to use it for while without straining my eyes.
So there is one reason for all the "whys" being posted. Classic gaming on a platform that is easy to carry around.
I am 28. It fits easily in my blue jean pocket. The screen is a wee small but damn bright and clear. The sound (via headphones) is really impressive. Was playing metroid on it the first day and was in love.
Yeah, its small. But I played for over an hour the other night, holding the right shoulder button through Toularian (Mother brain land) almost the whole time.
No regrets. No AA batteries to replace.
Why not buy the DS? Never buy the first edition of a Nintendo product -- they always come out with a better version in 6 months to a year. Compare the original GBA to the new SP. The DS is currently molded like a kid's toy, but I expect that to change. For now I have a large library of GBA titles available to me. When a new, improved DS comes out I can give the micro to my wife (-:
I bought it because the screen was significantly better than the original Gameboy advance (The fact that the GBA screen was WORSE than my Gameboy Color was what prevented me from buying one at first).
I bought it because it was smaller, it fit in a shirt pocket, or well, any pocket. A GBA wouldn't have (in fact I think the GBA SP was the first portable system that would).
I bought it because of the clamshell design, which protects the screen when not in use.
The Gameboy Micro does two out of three better than the SP. That ain't too shabby.
Finally a decent screen to play Thrust on.
The Micro is an obvious push for Nintendo to get more out into the market prior to the Revolution. With the recent comings of the DS, and its popularity, they needed to find a way to make the old "cool" again. To just replace one means of profit with another is not good buisiness practice. Finding a target audience for both the old as well as the new results in not only greater profits for the company, but happier customers which may be more inclined to buy from them again. Its not only an excuse for fanboys to have another toy to play with, but for a relative newcomer to Nintendo to get into the style of games/gameplay that they offer. That is... if there is such thing as a newcomer to Nintendo.
I am gay. This article is a falsification. I will never have a girlfriend. And *I* will make it pink all on my own. Enough of this stereotype that gay guys don't like pink. I LOVE pink.
I'm very interested in testing the GBA Movie Player cartridge on this new device. It works fine on bot the GBA and GB/SP but the screen on the GBA is pitifully dull, and the lighted GB/SP screen isn't bright enough.
For those who don't know what the GBA Movie Player is, it is a GBA cartridge w/Compact Flash slot. It can play videos, music, images, ebooks, and NES game ROMs. Not bad for a $15 cart.
If this works as well as I hope, then it'll make a nice little mobile entertainment system. ;)
I own a PSP and its to big to bring around every day in my pants pockets, since it requires some sort of case due to the fact that it is rather delicate and has a huge unprotected screen, it usually has to go into the backpack. Add to the fact that its a pain to get in and out of my pants the fact that it takes time to boot up and play games, I actually want a Gameboy micro, since I can bring it anywhere and get my game on quickly. I actually cant wait for winter in New York because that means I can wear a Jacket with extra pockets so I can actually bring around my PSP without having a huge bulge in my pants. What amazes me even more is that the Nintendo DS is even larger than the PSP, and that was a important consideration when buying the PSP, while I can bear bringing the PSP around with me, it does not fit into some of my pant pockets. I could not even imagine fitting a brick like the Nintendo DS in my pocket, which is sad because I actually think that system has better games than the PSP, I am waiting eagerly for the Nintendo DS - Micro or at least a shrunken version of it, I am glad that at least nintendo is coming to their senses and making a portable game system that fits in the pocket and doesnt take over 30 seconds to boot.
I'm all for them releasing updated versions of handheld hardware. It's a unique idea that has never really flied with console/portable gaming (and no, a smaller Genesis console isn't a significant update....). But am I the only one that thinks they should focus more on what they have already? I have a number of friends that are often slightly irritated by a newer, better GameBoy being released shortly (like a month or so) after they got theirs. Yes, this is the nature of electonics, but a console is meant to stay the same for at least a few years (around 4 last I checked). The original gameboy lasted how long before an upgrade? It seems like they could alienate some customers if they aren't careful.... I guess it's all a matter of perspective though.... If I look at the difference like the difference between an iPod, iPod shuffle, and iPod Nano, it doesn't seem so wrong... It still seems like they should concentrate more on a single varient of a system at a time....
In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
It's incredibly beautiful, fits in a shirt pocket, the screen is crisp and clear, I will never use the other Gemboy Advance versions again.
I have had nearly every handheld ever made. I even still own my original Newton and TurboGrafx Express. This device just rocks. It fits in your front pocket, as innocuous as a small phone, and you can play few a few minutes anywhere and not look like a total dweeb. People think it is a phone! Hmmm...Gameboy phone...link play,,,are you listening Nintendo.
"he thing is amazingly small, but it looks as though worries about the screen being too small and too dim aren't true. "
Ok, I can accept making it smaller. I can accept repackaging for the next generation. But what I find hard to accept is a price point of $99 ??? I mean honestly, you're saturating your own market with three different versions of the same piece of hardware. It's only going to be a matter of time before somebody figures out a few inches here and there really doesn't make that big of a difference. I mean you're paying top dollar for trailing edge hardware here. The DS is going for what, $129 (quick check at Amazon)?
Talk about running the bleedin' fine line of overpricing and market saturation...
You need a FREE iPod Nano
While there are over 700 GBA games, most are no longer available for sale in retail or online vendor channels. I am unsure if the audience that the GB Micro would appeal to would bother hunting ebay or other specialty venues for used GBA games.
Go to Lik-sang.com and get a play yan or a play yan micro cartridge. The cartridge is only slightly larger than the standard game cartridge but incorporates an SD flash socket and an additional headphone jack with added amplification and less distortion than the preexisting jack. It works with beautifully with the micro and the rest of the GBA series and beats the hell out of the movie player in terms of image quality and framerate not to mention size. Use the 3GP converter with the trancscoder files from the liksang forums. The screen is remarkably sharp and well suited to extended viewing. In fact I actually prefer the DS or micro to my PSP for video viewing due to cheap SD flash memory, insane battery life and near indestructability.
It also does a great job with MP3s.
but my girlfriend did a whole bunch of cooing
Wait a minute. This guy has a girlfriend?
"Your girlfriend will make it pink. Fair warning"
Guys with gameboys dont have girlfriends...
They must be creatively worn out by now after innovating hard enough to invent the remote control.
Something went funny for the first couple weeks that the GBM was released and most places didn't get it for some time after it was supposed to have been released.
Canada actually got it a week before the U.S. did.
While I agree that the normal price point seems a bit high, at the Canadian Wal-Marts they have a special on where its at 99.99CAD as opposed to 129.99CAD everywhere else. I'd imagine they'd have something similar in the States, which would make it much more attractive. They did the same for the DS when it first came out as well.
Note: The flyer actually says "anniversary price" so if your Wal-Mart's having one, that'd probably be where you should look.
The Play-Yan has a few nice features, but the price ($80), less features, and the fact that the UI is in Japanese makes this an inferior product.
But somebody may find it useful.
It does look like I have a stack 60 CD's shoved in the front of my pants, but that's another story ...
It reminds me a lot of the old Game & Watch series.
o 029.JPG
http://philippe.legrand10.free.fr/phot
All it needs is a built-in digital watch, and it'd be complete!!
"So I'm a dorky 30-something with a DS. I don't care."
Well, on the bright side; your geek licence is not in danger of being revoked.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
"C'mon Nintendo, give us a necklace."
The reviewer is either a girl or a guy who, ummmm, doesn't like sports.
I've looked at pictures of this thing, and for the life of me, I can't find anything resembling a port for gamelink cable (or wireless adaptor). does the micro not support that?
It's a Gameboy Advance Micro. Maybe I've just not been paying enough attention, but I assumed from then name that this was going to be a tiny, cheap Gameboy or Gameboy 'Color', not a tiny expensive Gameboy Advance.
Since the review doesn't mention batteries, can I assume it's got a built in rechargeable, and Nintendo are going to be facing a class action lawsuit in about 2 years when they all die?
A pizza of radius z and thickness a has a volume of pi z z a
It got a built in lithium-ion pack, but it is replaceable by the user.
Jan
There may be some people like myself, but I have a Gameboy Advance SP and a few games, played it honestly for a few months but never really became much of a handheld gamer. Mt GBA collected dust for a few months. I then gave things another shot and bought a Nintendo DS. Surprisingly, this is the only thing I play these days. It is so much more different, which I think is why it struck a chord with me. I play my DS so much more, although I think the micro looks really cool, I highly recommend a DS. I guess the main key here is size. If you just are looking for something small, the micro is for you. If you want a unique experience (which I think is truely unparalled), buy a DS.
But, can you use the Movie Player with it?
I am waiting for a version of that in the PSP... but anyway, I think THIS [the movie player] is what will make me buy one of those standard ebay GBA... I just saw one going at US$20... and if you can do all that with the movie player, I am in!
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
Designtechnica has posted a pretty good review too: Designtechnica's Game Boy Micro Review". Personally this is way too small for me.
No one was EVER worried about the screen being too dim. In fact, it was heralded from the start as the brightest, sharpest screen around.
Why do you lie? Why?
PS: Advtg is the guy who posted the article.
While the clamshell design itself has possible issues with breakage, I've seen many devices with good clamshells that have lasted a nice long time. The nice thing about the clamshell design is that it protects the inner screen when it is closed.
I look at the new offerings and they seem like they would be uncomfortable as hell, unless you have tiny hands. The Sony PSP looks like it would be more suited to me - things are space faaaar apart, like the old Sega GameGear.
In the end, I don't really worry about it for myself personally - I am not a big game player (I like the occasional distraction on a car or airplane trip, though). But I do wonder what other players do about the issue - unless the target-market player's hands are smaller (kids I can understand - which is likely the target market - but how the hell does an adult play one of these things without severe pain in the thumbs?).
BTW - slightly off-topic but Nintendo-related anyhow: is there anyone else out there disappointed that Nintendo's Revolution machine (whatever it will be) most likely *won't* be anything like the machine depicted in that fake marketing video created (the "ON" video)? I want to see a home VR gaming system on the market, damnit!!!
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Yes, size does matter, this is why I still use an original GBA. The SP was just too damn small for my hands. The DS seemed a bit silly, and so I never went that route, and this Micro? Sounds like carpel tunnel in a shinny plastic case. Honestly, I like having a bigger portable system, it's easier for me to hold onto. And, after having dropped in one of the Afterburner kits for it, the screen is plenty bright enough.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Laziness is the father.
Unfortunately for Nintendo, the GBA Micro is still a thousand times the size of the iPod Nano.
Watch for Sony to release the PSP Femto sometime next year. Just make sure you watch really really close.
Disclaimer: I'm actually a pretty satisfied XBox owner and, since we're in a Nintendo thread, I'm not a Nintendo fan. In fact Nintendo fans tend to mod me -1 Troll as soon as I even mention Nintendo. (I will however mention the Dreamcast, and I was a Sega fanboy all right, so I might still be a bit biased.)
Still, I must say I like my consoles small and lightweight.
I remember my Dreamcast (told you I'd mention it), because that's a console I used to haul around all the time. Small, lightweight and not in a thin fragile way either. I could stuff it, a controller and one or two games in a shoulder bag. (And not a huge one, either. I used to jokingly refer to it as my "purse".) If I travelled somewhere, I could just stuff it and a couple of games in the luggage, and not end up having to pull out half the clothes out either.
The XBox is just too big for that. Yes, I can carry 7 pounds, but I don't want to haul an extra 7 pounds with me on a trip. It also no longer fits in that bag any more. I'd have to get a bloody huge bag or a backpack to do that.
The XBox is ok as a stationary console that stays at home. Ok, maybe too loud for my taste (my main PC is a lot more silent by comparison), but at least I'm not complaining about weight or size when it just stays under the TV.
The Dreamcast however was transportable too. You couldn't play with it in the train, yes, but at least it could be hauled a hotel and used on the TV there in the evening. Even the PS2 is still OK, even if it's a bit larger. The Gamecube was even better in that aspect than them both. (Well, or it would have been if it actually had any games I'd wish to play. But if we're talking size and weight alone, I can only give a thumbs up to Nintendo there.) The XBox just isn't. Even omitting the fact that it has a hard drive and thus isn't quite shock-proof, I just don't feel like hauling an extra 7 pounds on a train or to the airport.
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
There are women that are good looking (and in shape), encourage the BF to buy whatever he wants, don't care for feminine stuff, like tech/geek toys (including talking about them intelligently), are into sex/blowjobs, don't really want him to spend money on us, and like 'nice' guys, all of that. We don't play head games or hint at stuff, because that repulses us as much as it does many guys.
:-p
Trouble is, the result isn't a happy relationship where both partners get what they want. Instead, the (happy) guy just caters to all of the still-demanding other people in his life (friends, family, employer, whatever) at the expense of the relationship. So while we watch all of our "demanding" friends enjoying fairly happy partners, we also see OUR partner run around spending energy/time/money on everybody else under the sun. After a few years, being 'nice' and 'accommodating' starts translating out to 'being a doormat so even the nicest guy can take advantage of you.'
Sorry, just had to vent. I'm just tired of seeing guys bitch about the women they'd treat decently, while knowing that if they DID have a GF that tried to make them happy, they'd probably ditch her in order to cater to all the PITA types.
the GBM is not intended to cannibalize DS and GBA SP sales. It is intended for those who, for whatever reason, have not purchased previous GameBoys.
If the Game Boy micro is designed for people who have not purchased a Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color system, then why was compatibility with GB and GBC games removed?
Thing is, I have the DS and it plays both DS games and GBA games. So for me to go to the micro no matter HOW small it is would require two devices, so I'm sticking w/ the DS myself. If I'm going to carry two devices around in my bag (chick gamer) it'll be the DS and the PSP (if/when they get Katamari for the PSP).
Why not buy the DS? Never buy the first edition of a Nintendo product
Except in the case of the Nintendo DS, future editions might block homebrew as collateral damage in the war against piracy. The encrypted nature of the DS card port compared to the GBA cart port means that you have to use malformed headers in order to get homebrew to run. The newest units currently sold in China (iQue DS) and Japan (red Nintendo DS) block the widespread versions of the "PassMe" and "WiFiMe" hacks used to get homebrew programs running on a DS. Though there is a new version of PassMe, it's not widely tested, homebrew games can't save with the new hack, and the DS downgrader isn't tested on the new firmware version yet. Just be glad that unlike PSP UMD games, DS card games don't force a firmware update.
GBA homebrew and emulation of NES and Game Boy mono are known to be possible with the GBA Movie Player, unlike with the Play-Yan products.
Hmmm...Gameboy phone...link play,,,are you listening Nintendo.
How well did the N-Gage and N-Gage QD do again? And how much extra would it cost to put prepaid-phone circuitry into a handheld video game system? And wouldn't games need to be completely rewritten to have link play data go over a cellphone network with its latency and its necessity for error correction coding, compared with the near-zero-latency wired connection that most games currently use?
This is the classic "you are dating an asshole" post. If a man dates the girl you claim to be, and he is not responsive, nay, thankful for such a gift that surely came from ye gods, then you're not dating a nice nerd.
There is obviously only one way to test my theory, but it doesn't sound like you're on board to undergo such a hypothesis.
I'm not scared of anonymous cowards.
people who've never purchased a Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color system don't own any Game Boy or Game Boy Color games
People who have never purchased a GBA, GBA SP, GameCube Game Boy Player, Game Boy Micro, or Nintendo DS don't own any Game Boy Advance games either.
so backwards compatibility isn't an issue
At least in every EBGames store I've seen, used GB and GBC games are sold alongside used GBA games. I can imagine a situation where one would want to buy a GBA SP and one or more GBC games, as (for instance) the official Tetris® brand game for GBA is of very poor quality. Currently, the only handheld system that can play GBC Game Paks and is still being manufactured is the GBA SP.
You claim that the set of "Those who have previously owned GameBoys of any type" is nearly identical to "Those who own pre-GBA games or would consider buying them". I can think of a lot of people who would buy one or more GBC games along with their new GBA SP. For instance, what Tetris® games are available for the Game Boy micro? Tetris, Tetris DX, and Tetris Plus don't work because they're for GBC, and Tetris Worlds isn't all that great. It appears that to play a decent game of tetraminoes on a Game Boy micro, you need to use unlicensed homebrew hardware such as a flash card or a GBA Movie Player.
If I could play my pre-GBA GameBoy games on my Micro, I'd be even more pleased with it than I already am.
The Goomba emulator plays most Game Boy (gray cartridge) and GBC dual-mode (black cartridge) games on a GBA flash card, but not GBC exclusive (clear cartridge) games.
I went to EB Games today to buy a game for DS and I was asking the clerk if the GB Micros have been selling. He said he's sold only two so far, but he thinks its really worth it and opened a package up for me to try it out. And wow is this screen great... it is so bright and clear. I was worried that the screen was so small that it would hurt my eyes to play a game on it, especially reading text. I tried out Pokemon on it and everything looked so nice. It was very easy to see everything on the screen, even at a distance.
My problem with the Micro is the price... I know that the technology for this obviously wasn't available/ affordable when they came out with the SP, but $100 for a portable system that I basically already have [GBA SP] and a system that is on the verge of dying, unless there are some good games in development... doesn't really seem worth it yet. I like the Micro a lot, but as far as purchasing one goes, I think it just fell short. New features should have been added onto it, and maybe I would consider getting it and dumping my SP.