Vorneweg, I will not go into each and every menu function. They have, I believe enough reviewers already listed and their function described (or "not-yet-functional") in great detail.
First of all this: The unit that a counter falls in various languages between a tight kilos manuals and further hints acts, very chic and sturdy. It has pretty much the extent of the DS Lite and is a corner heavier than this. A 2GB SD card is already inserted and the battery has enough juice that you can get started right away.
After the brief initial installation can then also be readily losgelegt.
At the very beginning: The 3D effect is quite impressive! The lateral slider the intensity of the 3D effect, most should be able to find a relatively pleasant setting.
But, like many have already written, the optimum viewing angle is very low. But you get used to it. The built-in Face Raiders, where you have to constantly rotate with the 3DS in a circle and hold the device in different heights, I can at least play completely relaxed and feel no impairments in the 3D display. May be due to me, but I feel the other hand, relatively meditative Pilotwings as exhausting for the eyes. One should not play I think too much focus on the 3D effect, but more relaxed look at the screen while. Then malaise or headache hardly occur.
The controls work mostly robust and meaningful arranged. The analog disc is very sensitive, the digital cross is to firstonce unusual place for me but still good to use. My trouble hands are big enough that I still easily reach the shoulder buttons when operating the Digital Cross. Therefore usual good quality Nintendo. Also about dead pixels or a wobbly folding screen, I can not complain. Pixel error there is none, the hinges seem adequately dimensioned.
(About breaking hinges when DS Lite I am silent me at this point try, because Nintendo has at that time delivered no quality but is also a different theme and let's go on the assumption that that no longer happens at the 3DS;... O))
A couple of things on the device are, however, I noticed that could be improved:
At first I wondered why on the 3D screen always on the same two points a kind of narrow thin vertical impression emerges. Noticed to me that the 3D screen rests in the closed position on the border of the touch screen. Whether that will remain in the long run with no permanent traces, is at least questionable.
That the device is a fingerprint magnet, has already been mentioned often enough. (I recommend damp TFT cleaning cloths of Dataflash other hand ...)
Why Nintendo used glossy display discs, will probably remain their secret. Women likely that Nintendo in the sunshine at least can use as a wonderful make-up mirror.
The "Select", "Home" and buttons "Start" are designed as membrane keys. This too is a mystery to me. Membrane keys dissolve after my previous experience, sooner rather than later on and left with very frequent use little chic bare microswitch.
Apart from these verschmerzbaren se deficiencies but it must be said that the 3DS is a really fine piece of hardware. The battery life I feel to be sufficient. The console can be charged either via the included docking station or directly via charger cable. The touch screen is used to sensitively and can be operated properly with the telescopic stylus. The graphics are (of course depending on the loaded title) for such a device really good, the resolution is also perfectly adequate.
Remains to be seen if the screen is found in the face of 3D screens for the foreseeable future a grand another application, such as for general maps, inventories and the like. Something like Soul Bubbles 3D is my opinion, in this screen combination unfortunately quite hopeless.
The 3D camera is a cool gimmick, though the images certainly Due to the low resolution only on the 3DS is already alone useful. A halfway useful digicam can not replace the 3DS so. (Should he certainly did not)
A 3D video function would have been nice. But maybe that comes again with an update?
However, my personal conclusion turns out far less negative, as the preceding text may suggest: The 3DS is certainly from a playful perspective less revolutionary than the DS at that time. However, the 3D effect is really good, and makes the console currently unique. For me, therefore, a relatively strong buy recommendation!