With handhelds like the DS, do I see a trend?

When the first game boy advance came out, it had the problem of not having a bright screen. Then the gba sp came out, which had a brighter screen, then the micro. When the ds phat came out, it had problems like a dark screen, bad button placement, etc. Then the lite, which was brighter, was released, along with the dsi.

Isn't there a trend here in that the first handheld did not have a bright screen? So, isn't there a strong chance that Nintendo will release the next handheld with a screen/screens which have weak lighting? I mean, is it possibly a way for Nintendo to push us to buy different versions of the same handheld? I dunno about you, but I think it's unfair.

I totally agree that its unfair, when the GBA was released, I bought it only to find the SP being released a year later; I was left with a handheld only usable in daylight. When the DS came out, I thought I was being smart and bought the Lite thinking it was the final iteration. Two and a half years later, BAM! DSi appears..... Yes it is a trend and Nintendo dumbs down their first version on purpose to ensure people buy the next. Some one should sue them.

I think it mostly has to do with Nintendo getting their handhelds out the door as quickly as possible to ensure that they are relevant when they hit the market (especially with competition on the way). And obviously Nintendo sees the advantage in this, as they continue to work on the device and release new editions as soon as they're able.

You're forgetting this one, too:

1. Original Gameboy
2. Gameboy Pocket (smaller size, better screen)
3. Gameboy Lite (Japan only - backlit Gameboy Pocket)
4. Gameboy Color

You just noticed this?

Also, the first handheld of every generation, is big and ugly.

I agree it was unfair but that is life.

Actually, the original GBA SP didn't have the nice back lit screen we are used to today. It did have a light you could turn on that made it slightly better, but the true back lit version wasn't released until late 2005, I believe. That was after the original DS phat was already on the market for almost a year, and then in 2006 the Nintendo DS lite was released with a bright screen. So the GBA and the DS gained a bright screen around the same time, probably due to some market research or whatnot that said users would play more with a brighter screen.

I absolutely do not think the next handheld would have a dark screen.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that Nintendo didn't sit there and release the darker gameboys, then release a brighter one, and say "Hey! Let's make the DS a darker screen so we can eventually upgrade it." The original DS was already finished by the time they thought of/were able to implement the brighter screen.

I think it mostly has to do with Nintendo getting their handhelds out the door as quickly as possible to ensure that they are relevant when they hit the market (especially with competition on the way). And obviously Nintendo sees the advantage in this, as they continue to work on the device and release new editions as soon as they're able.

You're forgetting this one, too:

1. Original Gameboy
2. Gameboy Pocket (smaller size, better screen)
3. Gameboy Lite (Japan only - backlit Gameboy Pocket)
4. Gameboy Color

Mr_Matthews