Today's portable gaming devices pack lots of entertainment into small packages. They offer a wide variety of games, plus fun networking and multi-player capabilities. In this article, we'll give you an overview of Nintendo's DS Lite and Sony's PSP — the current generation of on-the-go gaming options — and provide tips on getting the most out of each.

Nintendo's DS has become popular because of it's fun touch screen.

DS Lite

The DS Lite is the second iteration of the DS line — it's lighter and more streamlined than the original (though we'll still refer to it simply as "DS" in this article). This popular handheld is well-known for its sleek good looks and cool touchscreen interface. It comes in a variety of colors, and sports a clamshell design — when not in use, the DS presents a shiny, uniform appearance. It folds open to reveal two vertically stacked 3" screens. Using the included stylus, you can tap or draw on the lower screen to control game play with some DS titles. For example, tap an on-screen enemy to disable them, or write the numbers in a Sudoku puzzle grid.

The top screen may display the main gameplay area, or additional information, like a map. A built-in microphone enables voice and command recognition in some games. You'll also find more familiar gaming controls on the DS, including a directional pad, four round buttons, and left and right triggers.

Built-in Wi-Fi® connectivity enables multiplayer gaming with some titles, and an optional browser allows for web surfing.

The PSP's large widescreen display offers a crisp, detailed picture.

Sony PSP

Sony's PSP boasts a large 4-5/16" widescreen display that covers almost its entire front side. This handheld has earned a reputation for a crisp, detailed picture that makes the on-screen action easy to follow and enjoyable to watch. Its slimline design gives it a stylish, modern look. You'll find familiar gaming controls on either side of the screen, including a directional pad, four round buttons, two triggers, and a unique flush "joystick" control.

The PSP also offers cool networking and multimedia features. A built-in web browser and Wi-Fi connectivity offer easy Internet access. A side-mounted card slot lets you listen to music and view pictures saved to a Memory Stick®. You can also watch movies available in UMD (Universal Media Disc), the PSP's proprietary format.