Following the first of my presentations at the JET Tokyo Recontracting Conference I was approached by a bunch of people evangelising the Nintendo DS Lite as an alternative or supplement to an electronic dictionary like the Canon Wordtank . Now I'm not much of a gamer. My last contact with Mario was via a Gameboy back in the early 80s, I Doom'ed in the office during the 90s and these days I occasionally sate my desire to shoot people with the odd session of Time Crisis. Why would I suddenly be interested in the DS Lite?
Well, for one, it looks like the the love child of an iPod and an iBook and I am a sucker for well designed devices.
Secondly, writing a kanji on the screen and having the readings, sample compounds etc pop up gave me a giddy thrill.
I had to have one. Off to Akihabara. Sold out everywhere. Shinjuku - same story. I went to about 6 big electronics stores and was about to give up when I spotted Sakuraya. I walked in, saw one DS Lite on the shelf and grabbed it. 16,000yen. So it wouldn't be lonely I also grabbed a copy of the もっと脳を鍛える brain training software. 2500yen.
I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and while I waited for my order I started playing with my new toy. Before I had even registered my name etc the DS Lite's magical powers began working. A waitress noticed the pristine whiteness of my new acquisition, came over to my table and started to chat about the brain training software. Nice work, DS Lite!
I gave the DS the once over, found my mental age (an embarassing 46. According to the software, the younger the better) and got the feel of the beast. The stylus works like a dream - and encourages neat writing. The interface was easy to understand. I fell in love. I'll review the software tomorrow but for now I just want to say that:
-having all the intructions in Japanese forces you to read, which is GOOD FOR YOU
-using the DS Lite is fun so I am likely to use it a lot, unlike some of my books....
-it is small enough to take anywhere, just don't put it in your back pocket and sit on it
-my kanji writing skills are going to take off
-it can also be used for other purposes, like playing games
Tags learning Japanese | kanji | Nintendo | DS Lite
they have an English Training software for Japanese speaking people, I wish they had a Japanese Training software!
Posted by: chuck | June 14, 2006 at 06:06 AM
oh, there's also this software: http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/ds/kanji/
Posted by: chuck | June 14, 2006 at 06:07 AM
I've been hearing so much about this new DS lite these past few months--least to say, your post is another in the hub that makes my mouth water. Don't get me wrong, I adore my wordtank but the DS lite just looks soooo snazzy.
(I've got my sights set on the 'Ice Blue' edition. Although, it appears I'll have to buy it off eBay if I really want it--at, of course, a ridiculously jacked up price.)
Anyway, I look forward to your full review.
Posted by: Cal | June 14, 2006 at 11:04 AM
I bought a DS Lite last month (in Japan, of course), plus that Kanji Jisho program that's everywhere. It has become my most indispensable tool! I can just take it everywhere I go and look up anything I need to on the spot.
The few electronic dictionaries that have kanji handwriting recognition are far more expensive.
Posted by: Paul D | June 14, 2006 at 06:41 PM
I -just- picked up a DS lite on Sunday( the release date here in the states ) and I'm in love with it. Having looked around, there are many resources for homebrew games on the DS and I've given consideration to trying to build a client around Breen's edict. Any chance of getting a review of the DS Kanji Jisho, Paul?
Posted by: Scott | June 14, 2006 at 10:52 PM
So does the DS Lite come with an English-Japanese dictionary or do you have to buy separate software?
Posted by: Julie | June 15, 2006 at 03:12 PM
Julie
You have to buy the dictionary software separately - according to my sources 漢字そんなまま is the deal. It retails for about 4000 yen. I am revelling in 脳を鍛える Brain Training at the moment but I can feel a dictionary purchase coming on because I have been watching a lot of foreign language vids lately (eg Le Pacte de Loups) and it can take a while to look up the subtitles on my Wordtank (I don't speak French). It would be nice to just write the kanji and BAM! have the reading straightaway.
Will
Posted by: Will | June 15, 2006 at 03:22 PM