I take obsessive care of all my electronic items, but that doesn't stop the shoulder buttons from breaking consistently on my handhelds. I just must not want it enough.

hinges and shoulder buttons are both very common issues with the DS Lite. To a point where it could be considered a weakness or even design flaw.

I'm just hoping the 3DS hinges solve this issue.

NeoGAF members are starting to report battery life and settings.

So, really, no clear answer still.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't enabling the 3D force the game to draw the same images twice? It makes sense(at least in my mind) that this would lead to decreased battery life, as well as the brightness setting(assuming that 1 is the strongest).

I'm willing to bet that with 3D and brightness off, the system can easily hit 8 to 10 hours.

According to tests and Nintendo's own comments, the system renders both angles all the time any way. The power draw on the 3D effect is from both 3D screens running at the same time, not from having the screen being rendered twice.

And so far, no concrete answers on low settings so far. It's been more than a day, you would think someone would have tried it by now.

I know that it blocks most DS flashcarts...

The iEvolution seems to work though.

If the battery lasts longer than three hours, that's enough for me.

yeah same

I don't have that much time to be playing handhelds for hours upon hours, and if I did, I'd be at my desk anyway.

oh that reminds me, is this thing confirmed completely inoperable during charging

Battery life seems better than I was expecting. I'm used to my battery eating (nay devouring, nay destroying) cell phone. This will work.

I want a 3DS pretty bad but I'm going to wait and see how the launch goes before I buy one. I really don't need it immediately. Pilot Wings is really tempting me though.

Personally, I need to see if I can stand the 3D effect. I don't like 3D movies that much and I'd hate to get a 3DS and not use the 3D at all. It seems like such a waste.

But those AR card games are looking pretty cool. They alone might be worth getting a 3DS now.