Nintendo DS Browser (Nintendo DS, 2007)

When I received the Nintendo DS Browser for the Nintendo DS Lite, I was rather skeptical about a browser being able to run on Nintendo's more budget oriented DS portable. After unpacking the browser which be warned takes up BOTH your Nintendo DS Lite slots, (cartridge and gameboy advance port) this is due to the fact the Nintendo DS Lite does not have the memory necessary to facilitate a browser.


Setup is rather easy and straightforward on the Nintendo DS Lite, but since this browser was issued in 2007, it does not support the more current WPA-PSK security protocols, it only supports the 10 key enabled WEP protocol, so if your router does not support WEP, then you might as well pack it in at this point. That alone is rather discouraging considering any good browser should have the ability to be upgraded to current security standards. The Opera derived browsing system of this version is not able to be upgraded, and leaves the user wondering why bother to install a browser in this system at all? (an afterthought perhaps Nintendo?)


In its defense, Nintendo does include a rather feature rich browser with the use of its touchpad keyboard (a bit cranky with some characters) and common endings like .com .gov .net so it makes using a URL a bit easier. Its graphics display is rather limited, but does make some browsing and web based email available where none would have been available before. Also it allows for switching between screens to get the best view of a webpage and touch control to scroll.


But this is where this browser truly fails! Alright you install a browser for the Nintendo DS Lite, but due to the fact both ports are used to run the browser, you would never be able to download games, or video, or any content from the Nintendo DS Store, so what really is the functionality of this browser? With the exception of maybe simple net surfing, or maybe checking your email, there is absolutely no reason to own this browser. You would be better served by either upgrading to the Nintendo DSi XL or even the 3DSi, either of which offer you the opportunity to download content and games through their store and even Netflix can be watched through the Nintendo 3DSi.


So in closing, save your money. This dog of a browser is not only extremely outdated, but makes you wonder why did Big N even think about putting a browser on this machine? It is entirely useless for downloading content off the net and it also takes up all your cartridge space available on your DS Lite. The Nintendo DS-Lite is great for the player who wants DS games and to be able to play Gameboy Advance games, but if your looking for online downloads or even watching Netflix, this system is not up to the task, and this browser certainly could have been designed better, say intergrating the memory and program into a single cartrige for the Gameboy Advance slot. The Nintendo DS-Lite is a great system for a great price, but putting the Opera derived Nintendo DS-Lite browser is akin to putting a 12 cylinder in a Corvette, unnecessary and actually would probably just drag down the performance and add weight and lower mileage. Just avoid this dog and either upgrade, or use your browser on your PC.

I think it is kinda fun for about 5 minutes, my child enjoys using it to read about game cheats, it does not allow me to open my yahoo mail and it dose not support flash nor audio so it is limited but one must remember it is not a computer, it is a toy. I purchased it for to sole purpose of allowing my child wifi internet from any room in the house to read game cheats and it performs that and more, but not much, it is a good start for nintendo and I see more and better things in the near future coming from them. I had some trouble with the wifi set up on the DS but my 8 year old figured it out in 10 minutes, it also has phone and internet support to help with set up and other questions one might have. The Opera browser offers many features for viewing web sites to decrease download time you can turn off the web graphics and go to a text mode and other ways to see web pages for either viewing pictures or blogging the duel screen display is nifty and the touch sceen is like having a mouse. If you do your research and find out it's limits, it is worth the money.

I have mixed feelings about this product. I have a laptop at home with wireless connection with no problems. The Ds browser picks up the wireless signal, but I usually get a "disconnected" message before the page finishes loading. So everytime I go on a new page or do anything, it has to search for the signal again, only to lose it within seconds. That's even with me inches away from my wireless router. However, the pages that do load look pretty good with nice graphics. The graphics 97% of the time dont load for me.

I was able to check my emails and go on a few forums and post there. I however could not sign on to ebay. It just will not allow me no matter what. You also can not see videos or hear any sound. I already knew that before I bought it.

For parents concerned abut security, you can put a filter on it for children so they will not be able to view questionable sites. It filters about 60 million sites and instructions to do this will come with the browser. You can also make it password protected so your child can not use it without you knowing.

If you are sick of using the keyboard, you can write letters in with your stylus when putting in a url! I thought that was quite neat.

You can disable pictures so pages will load faster. Some people think the pages load too slow but it's not THAT slow. Most pages for me loaded within 30-60 seconds...that is when I could get a full signal. It could be worse and if you've ever had dial up then you know what I mean.

Overall, it's not bad, but needs some work. I am mostly concerned with being able to connect to the internet in certain hotspots. What good is this if you are going to have issues picking up signals and whatnot? You just have no idea when and where it will work and when it won't..especially if certain hotspots have high security on their browsers...the DS defintely won't pick the signal up.

Anyone who owned a Nintendo DS at one time or another dreamt of the possibility of using the handheld system to log onto the Internet and surf the World Wide Web. After all, it's portable, it has Wi-Fi capabilities, and it has a touch screen, which makes both navigating links and typing out URLs, usernames and passwords a snap. Well here it is! This is a must have for anyone who has a nintendo ds lite system.

I purchased the Nintendo DS browser about a week ago and have been using it ever since. I have tried many websites on it and I think it’s great. Along the bottom of the screen are all of the buttons you need for the browser. The simple back and forward buttons along with the stop/reload button. A button to show your history, a URL button, Favorites, Find, Settings, Help, SSR/Overview Mode, Load Images, Zoom, and Jump. The history feature will only show the most recent 5 or so pages when you click on it.

I do recommend the browser for anyone that owns a ds or ds lite system (=^_^=)

ok, so this game and expansion pack DO ge tyou on the internet.... but only if its WEP, will not support higher security. YOu basically can only view mobile websites, and even those are not great sometimes. If you want something to just check the weather, ebay auctions, or movies, etc this may work for you. Surfing the web or typing emails and the such are just turning out to be much too annoying with this browser set up. I would get the DSi and then you may be a little happier ?