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[Speevy]

From a marketing perspective, two screens are better than one. It's very eye-catching, and makes the DS more than just a Nintendo 64-level handheld. While I don't personally care about buying either of the two handhelds, I have observed the two screens attracting customers to try out the DS. In other words, someone may not think "touch screen" when looking at a single screen. With the dual screens, it's an easier sell.

 

[heidern]

heidern, I think you misunderstood, but then I don't think I explained myself as well as I could have. I wasn't talking about fusing the screens and keeping the vertical orientation, I meant fuse the screens and switch to a horizontal widescreen orientation...so 256x192x2 becomes 512x192.

Ok I see what you are saying, you aren't saying reproportion them a la psp. But instead of putting the 2 screens one above the other, you put them side by side and then fuse them? The problem I see there is, you get super widescreen and it will be too wide and reduce the portability. Don't forget you also have dpad and buttons making it worse.

You know, I honestly don't have a problem with one large touch screen or two. One screen gives some nice flexibility, but 2 provide nice seperation. The problem I have with one screen is that it seems to invariably lead to either reduced portability or durability or both. The two screens(both in a nice standard widescreen format!) can be split between the top and bottom to maximise the available space and improve portability and is folded closed to improve durability.

If you have one larger screen you have it with awkward proportions and is exposed like PSP/GBA and therefore less durable. If you add a flip top then that reduces the portability. The dual screens folded seems to provide the balance between screen size and durability/portability which is crucial in a handheld. Put simply, dual screens seems the best practical solution.

 

[kaching]

I have a 2 yr old PDA that has a screen with a larger resolution than either the PSP or the combined screens of the DS and yet it still takes up less physical area than either the PSP or DS screens do. Nintendo could always have done the same and splurged a little for a screen with a somewhat finer dot pitch in order to make a device with a single medium-res touchscreen that didn't take up too much space. And/Or shift a few pixels from the horizontal to the vertical in order to keep the device no wider or taller than the PSP. Neither DS nor PSP defines petite in today's portable electronics marketplace as it stands and none of what I'm describing would significantly increase DS bulk, if it increased at all.

 

[StRaNgE]

Whereas I'd much prefer using something like my Wacom to manipulate stuff on a screen than I would touching it 'directly', because I can't stand having my hand obstruct the view. I guess it just comes down to preference.

Now that i can agree with!!

 

[Chittagong]

how else could you make a Nintendo Dual Screen?

It would be then called only Nintendo Screen. NS.

I do agree with the original poster. One screen only would have made the device a lot more compact, GBA sp style. I do not really appreciate the maps or additional info on the other screen. It's more convenient naturally to have it there than under a certain button or menu. However, the inconvenience caused in size >>>>> convenience caused by having additional info

 

[KingJ2002]

i dont think any of the games currently on the DS ise the dual screens in a imaginitive way... only the touch screen

ask this question within a year or two.

 

[Odnetnin]

i dont think any of the games currently on the DS ise the dual screens in a imaginitive way... only the touch screen

ask this question within a year or two.

I'd have to say touch screen racing wheel was pretty damn innovative. Only problem was that apparently it sucked. BIG TIME. :lol

 

[Odnetnin]

It would be then called only Nintendo Screen. NS.

I do agree with the original poster. One screen only would have made the device a lot more compact, GBA sp style. I do not really appreciate the maps or additional info on the other screen. It's more convenient naturally to have it there than under a certain button or menu. However, the inconvenience caused in size >>>>> convenience caused by having additional info

although... I'd say the fact that the ds design allowed it to be made clam shell = great for protection of the screen

 

[StRaNgE]

if any of you have played any of the mini games on Mario tnen you know the screen would have to be verticle if it was only one screen.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

if any of you have played any of the mini games on Mario tnen you know the screen would have to be verticle if it was only one screen.

Oooor they'd just not have purposefully designed games with such a vertical field in mind.