Nintendo Dsi vs Sony PSP

Updated on October 23, 2009
D.G. asks from Mansfield, TX
14 answers

Moms - with Christmas coming up I am starting to get ideas from my 2 boys on what they want. Of course - video games are one of the biggies. My oldest (10) is wanting a Nintendo DSi or Sony PSP. Have any of you had any one of those ? He had a DS Lite and then traded a friend for a PSP - that worked about 2 days and that was it. So he really didn't get a chance to see how well he liked it. I hope you can tell me the pros & cons of both. TIA !

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

There are not as manny PSP games as DS games. You can watch PSP movies on PSP but they are not making movies much anymore for them. One guy said that the PSP will be going away soon. As far as the DSi, I got one for my 11 year old. He really wanted it to get on the INTERNET. I still have not bought the USB cable to give him access to the INTERNET. I think I will have to order it. The DS has more educational games.

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L.B.

answers from Dallas on

I gave my daughter (age 9) a DSi for her b-day. she loves it. Her step sister had a DS (the one right before the DSi) and traded hers in for a DSi. Honestly the girls like the picture option on the DSI but I know a lot of boys that like the option for the guitar hero plug in key board on the DS (it is pretty cool). sorry i'm not techy so i don't know exactly what it is called.

C.C.

answers from Dallas on

We got my son the PSP when he was around 9 or 10. One day he dropped it on the floor board of the bus, and it quit working. We called the company since we only had it a few monthes and it was under warranty. The guy asked us how old our son was and said since he was under 12 or 13(can't remember which age) that the warranty was invalid since the PSP is for teenagers. We asked him then why doesn't your commercials say that and you gear it towards all kids? He ended up letting us use the warranty so that was nice but it seemed like such a con game to me to market it to the 8 and up and then on the sly ask how old your kid is so that they are free from fixing it. As far as Nintendo the only experience I've had is with the old Gameboy that I still play and it still works great so that should be a testament to their products.
I just wanted to let you know about our experience with the PSP-that was several years ago so I don't know what their policy is now.

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

My daughters both have the Nintendo DS and really like it. Not that long ago I read that the PSP is probably on its way out because the Nintendo has really cornered the market. You may want to consider that in your purchasing because that would mean in the long term that there will be less availability of PSP games, accessories, etc.

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M.A.

answers from Lubbock on

My son has always had the Nintendo handhelds. He seemed to play his GameBoy when he was 6-7, then I bought him the DS since his GameBoy games could be played on it. But, he never played it! He had outgrown all those games and has been asking for a PSP for 2 years now. He will be 10 in December, and plays XBOX at home, so he definitely prefers the graphics and more mature-type games. I am still torn between getting him the PSP or the iTouch for Christmas. With my son, it's all about what his friends have. And for most, the cool thing seems to be the PSP. Good luck!

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

My son, 12, has both and with any toy a kid will play it until they get bored or conquered the game. Then you need to get another game. My son got his PSP for Christmas last year and used his birthday money to buy the DSi. Nintendo of course is known for it's Mario games and he's always liked those. His 3 year old brother can play both of them and the PSP has lots of buttons to push at one time, I've even tried to play a game. The DSi does do some neat tricks like record voices and changes tones, takes pictures that can be distorted. I guess I'd try to figure out which games your sons like to play and go from their. I think you can watch movies on both. No matter what the kids will like either one.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Forget about DS or PSP. These are old, pricey devices. Plus you will spend tons of money on buying games.

Get him iPod Touch!

Much better device for gaming. Many more games than any other platform. And I mean thousands more games. Plus there are tons of games for FREE on iPod Touch! You don't have to spend a dime on games if you don't want to.

Parental controls are in there, too!

Trust me when I say you will make them very happy! It's also an incredible music and video player as well.
Find out more here: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/what-is/gaming-device.html
Or here: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

I hope this helps!

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K.G.

answers from Dallas on

My son has had both. He had the DS Lite for a couple of years (age 6-8)and then got a PSP that he's had for about a year now (almost 9). He definitely likes his PSP better! Little brother got a DS Lite and he(my older son)never wants to use it. The PSP is a little bit more evolved and better suited for older kids, it has a better crisper screen picture (more mega pixals?), it plays music and movies, it can even connect to the web if I remember correctly (he doesn't get that feature until he's a little older). One reason I wanted him to keep his DS is because little brother (5) wasn't big enough for a PSP and had they both had the same system they could play games connected to each other. Oh well, they probably like different games anyway! Another difference is the games; older types for PSP and not really anything younger offered, whereas the DS system has games young enough for kindergartners (ABC's, numbers, learning games), that is what the Games Stop guys told me was a noted difference. They are a big help at the Rockwall store! Good Luck!

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

My 9 year old son has a PSP that he got when he was 5, I believe. He absolutely loves it and plays it all the time. He wanted a DSi for his 9th birthday this year so we got it for him. However, he still prefers his PSP. He thinks the graphics are better on the PSP and he likes the games that PSP offers better. However, on the flip side... for a 5 year old I think the DS is a better option. There are tons of games to choose from (many more than PSP) and a much better selection that are age appropriate. He does still play the DSi and loves that you can take pictures and chat with other players (that are on their DS's in the same room) but is definitely more into the PSP. I also have a 4 year that is not really into video games yet but he loves to watch his brother, or me :), play the DSi. I have to admit I can get addicted to Super Mario Bros! I hope this helps a little. Good Luck!

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

All I can say is, THANK YOU for posting this question! We are facing same decision. Great input and advice mamas:)

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E.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

My older daughter has a PSP and my Nintendo DS. She prefers to play my Nintendo and I don't even think it counts as "mine" now. She's 12 and while being able to watch movies on the psp was "cool" she only watched it once. The screen is so small. She never used it for music, as she has an ipod and radio, which she prefers. The games she also preferred on the Nintendo.

My younger daughter upgraded to a Nintendo from the Leapster. She never showed any interest in the PSP that her sister had. Part of it I think was the slightly odd shape and weight of the PSP when compared to the Nintendo DS.

Not sure this really answers anything, but my kids are definitely Nintendo girls.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

WE have both in my house and my boys seem to prefer the psp. You can use the psp as a computer as well so it kind of grows with them. I will say if you get teh psp make sure you get a hard clear case as well because it will help protect the system and the screen from scratches. My son has had his for 2 years and it still looks new.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

We have both a DS & two PSPs. My nefew has both a DS & a PSP. We haven't tried the DSi my kids love both. They play with their PSPs more only because they can play together on games like Lego Star Wars/Batman & other 2 player games. But the LOVE the DS and more kids have the DS than have the PSP. I think they are equally fun and easy to use, but the PSP has much more sophisticated games available than the DS. I would look at what you have to play that which system.

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B.H.

answers from Dallas on

I asked the folks at game-stop what they would recommend, and they told me that nintendo had more 'kid friendly' games than the psp.

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