Hacking Crimson & Black

[theOtherGuy]

Okay, so I've been talking to my sister recently...telling her about how great Zelda is. She wants to play too, but she doesn't have a DS. So, there's the Crimson & Black one. Here comes the question(s). I remember on the launch day, the internet was full of reports that the screen wasn't as good/bright as the previous Lite releases. Is this still the case?

And another thing. Aside from eBay, anybody know where you can buy them new for less than the $129?

 

[rhyguy]

well, i believe they lowered the quality of the screens a bit before they started making the red and black ones, so all of them would have the bad screens

 

[lunatix]

Its not terribly bad when you get into a game you won't even notice it

 

[Topsy]

I found it a big difference simply because of the way smaller viewing angle on the LCDs... On my black DSL, "Crach of the titans" looks fine holding the DSL normal - on my crimson DSL, the angle of the top screen (when holding the DSL the same as the black was) is enough to make it difficult to play because the whole screen darkens so much more off angle when compared to the black DSL.

I actually just finished switching cases on my DSLs to get the good LCDs in the crimson shell. Gonna sell the black one now (I can't stand the fingerprints!).

 

[oushi]

And another thing. Aside from eBay, anybody know where you can buy them new for less than the $129?

I don't see any online deals right now, but if you don't mind going through craigslist you can find brand new ds's for as low as $90.

 

[DarkAura]

Okay, so I've been talking to my sister recently...telling her about how great Zelda is. She wants to play too, but she doesn't have a DS. So, there's the Crimson & Black one. Here comes the question(s). I remember on the launch day, the internet was full of reports that the screen wasn't as good/bright as the previous Lite releases. Is this still the case?

And another thing. Aside from eBay, anybody know where you can buy them new for less than the $129?

Is the crimson black a preferred colour? If not, just get any colour. Silver, white and black look good IMO. And for the price, go to Future Shop. Right now they're about $120.

 

[JacobReaper]

i have a crimson and... no problems here

 

[BakuFunn]

I want Crimson ds

and a xbox 360

 

[johnnywalker]

I've got one (imported from USA, of course) and it's beautiful... outside

Inside: the lower screen is yellow-like, when in game it is not as bad as on the white screen.

Anyway, it's a damn good DSL.

 

[Nitepanic]

Actually, I bought a crimson DS lite and a black ds lite and a white DS lite for my family about a week ago because I took a trip to the US for christmas shopping for my family. Somehow, they found out about the DSes and asked me if they could open them now, so I let them and then it turned out the crimson actually has the higher quality screen. The black was the worst, the white was middle, and the crimson was the least noticeable. The black DS lite pretty much shows all white as this yellowy beige colour.

 

[F34R]

I have a US launch white DS Lite, and a US launch Crimson/Black DS Lite. The white DS Lite has a Hori on both top and bottom screens. The Crimson/Black DS Lite does not have anything on either screens at the moment (Hori on the way though). I can notice a a difference between the screens.

The viewing angle on the white DS Lite is noticeably better than on the Crimson/Black DS Lite. This might be due to the Hori on the white, but I'm not sure. There is definitely a tint to the white on the bottom screen on the Crimson/Black DS Lite though. However, whites in game do not show this tint.

Once I get the Hori in for my new Crimson/Black DS Lite, I'll compare the screens again.

 

[cruddybuddy]

Okay, so I've been talking to my sister recently...telling her about how great Zelda is.  She wants to play too, but she doesn't have a DS.  So, there's the Crimson & Black one.  Here comes the question(s).  I remember on the launch day, the internet was full of reports that the screen wasn't as good/bright as the previous Lite releases.  Is this still the case?

And another thing.  Aside from eBay, anybody know where you can buy them new for less than the $129?


Is the crimson black a preferred colour?

Yes, it is the best looking DS.

 

[F34R]

I'll agree with that. It's a really great looking Lite. I waited to get a second DS for its' release.

 

[Cairpre]

Surely it's not a deal breaking difference?

 

[JacobReaper]

Okay, so I've been talking to my sister recently...telling her about how great Zelda is. She wants to play too, but she doesn't have a DS. So, there's the Crimson & Black one. Here comes the question(s). I remember on the launch day, the internet was full of reports that the screen wasn't as good/bright as the previous Lite releases. Is this still the case?

And another thing. Aside from eBay, anybody know where you can buy them new for less than the $129?


Is the crimson black a preferred colour?

in my opinion yes because, it looks awesome

well, ive always loved twotone colors and this one just blew me away

i just had to get it

 

[darkzeroex]

when i got my first crimson black ds, just about a day afterward i noticed that the bottom screen had a noticeable yellow tint to it. I returned it and recieved the one i have now but i still do see a slight yellow tint on the lower screen but nothing too bad.

 

[soupy]

Just got a crimson & black through Amazon and both screens are noticeably yellower than my DSL black. I compared it side by side to my black DSL and friend's white DSL--both the black and white DSL's appear exactly the same. They have whiter whites and a slightly "sparkly" LCD, but much more intense images. The c&b DSLite I just got is yellowed on both screens, has a greatly reduced viewing angle, and is dimmer. I can post pictures if anyone wants to see this.

From the reports I've found in this thread and other places online I think it's probably not a matter of what color your DSL is. I figure this is an LCD panel switching game Nintendo is probably playing based on where the particular DSLite is assembled.

DELL and Apple have had this sort of issue debated over their laptop and desktop LCD panels. Identical model numbers come out with different panels depending on where they were assembled. Some screens use Samsung twisted nematic panels others use LG S-IPS panels, so one ghosts but has a great viewing angle, the other has great response time but "sparkles" and has weak blacks.. yet according to the package they're all the "same" monitor/laptop..

Has anyone actually opened up two DSL's with the different screens to see exactly what panels are inside?

 

[4saken]

Based on manufacturing location.. kind of like the fuss over Kingston micro SDs

 

[soupy]

Based on manufacturing location.. kind of like the fuss over Kingston micro SDs

And I didn't even know about that until now, even as a Kingston loyalist.. Hmm.. conspiracies abound

 

[sepinho]

I'm trying to buy a crimson&black DS as a X-Mas present for my fiance. Problem is, I'm in Europe, where they're not offically available. Does anybody know of any regular-priced (~ 140 USD) or cheap online shops that ship to Germany? I don't care if the DS in American, Japanese or what-not.

I was looking at ordering one from amazon USA, but the last one there was sold while I was contemplating getting one.