Otaku Gadgets

Well, in what seems like yet another tired old don’t-tell-me-them-too piece of news — Nintendo has announced that they are putting eBooks in their latest offering — the Nintendo DSi XL. However, if the company is to be believed, they are not really serious about entering the e-book market in a big way. They are just adding value to their product. But that doesn’t really stop it from being a serious competitor now, does it?The DSi XL is basically a larger version of the DSi, Nintendo’s flagship handheld gaming device. Released amidst much fanfare only a few months back in a Japan-only launch, this piece of gaming goodness will be hitting the US shores come March 28th. According to reviewers, the larger screen completely changes the way you play games on the device. Of course, if we have learned anything from gamers, it is that bigger screens are always better!

So it has two 4.2 screens (non-touch it seems) and is roughly the size of your averagae paperback and it folds down the middle. What does that remind you of? If you have been following us regularly, you should be thinking about this. It is the only other dual screen device that reads e-books right now. I am sure Nintendo is not looking to compete but the comparison is so inevitable.

But Nintendo’s model for selling these books is not the usual online store one. Instead they are keeping things traditional and are going to introduce the feature in cartridges. Initially, Nintendo will be offering a cartridge with 100 public domain classics that include Tom Sawyer creator Mark Twain and mandatory Shakespeare. What it plans to do afterwards is beyond me at this point. I just think buying books in cartridges is a bit silly. Besides, how will they ever handle single book releases? May be they will have special cartridges? I used to have a bookshelf, then I had e-readers and now I have a box full of cartridges that I hate swapping. I hope Nintendo gives into the whole online deal. Those screens look promising.

The current position of the company is more or less clear — they are adding value to their device, which is going to face a lot of competition once the tablets come out in full force. Apple’s iPad alone is a serious threat to handheld game consoles of all shapes and forms. Well, good luck with that Nintendo. Really.

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