14 DAY TRIAL // If there was one thing that the PSP had over the DS Lite, that was autonomy. The PSP's battery pack allows gamers to play well over ten hours (not all games of course, some require more UMD reading), while the DS can't under any circumstances allow its user to mash the buttons for more than 7 to 8 hours. But all that is about to change, as the DS Lite has gotten itself an enhancement: a huge battery pack.
Yes, "huge," so if you want to play more, you're just going to have to forget about the "Lite." However, as the humongous battery pack, pictured left (click to enlarge), allows gamers to play up to 40 hours, I suppose you won't find the console's new size and weight disturbing.
And speaking of weight, as its name suggests, the Nintendo DS Lite is a more compact system, at 0.83 by 2.83 by 5.25 inches (when closed) and weighing in at around 7.60 ounces (210 grams), making it about 40 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than its predecessor. Given that battery packs are usually what falls heavy with handheld system, looking at the packs size I'd say that it adds at least 170 more grams (6 ounces).
But hey, you can't have both brains and looks (I'm just an exception...), so if you want the 40 hours of battery autonomy, that Ubergizmo.com reports of, then you'll have to get used to the DS's new shape and mass. Pretty much like playing the old model, I'd say.
Imagine Sony or some third party hardware manufacturer coming up with something similar for the PSP. It wouldn't exactly work as well with Sony's handheld, as the PSP has its battery pack placed on the right back side, making it asymmetrical if an enhancement were placed there. But hey, who spends that much time on the go? And there are books in this world, too, not just video games.
However, 40 hours of non-stop gameplay sounds quite appealing. Makes you wonder if it's even true...