I like the idea of my DSi being so small and compact, so the thought of putting it into a bigger sleeve was not very appealing. Adding bulk to a nice compact package can take away from that portable “on the go” feeling, but of course the idea is for protection. I would consider myself a fairly careful person, but accidents do happen and dropping the unit can happen sometimes. Another issue for the DSi is its battery life. Although it is better than its competitor, the unit can run up to about 4 hours on its brightest setting. Sometimes this is just not enough for those real long hauls. The new TekCase from TekCeations addresses these very areas in a new polycarbonate case.

I liked the look of the new case right away with its high gloss finish. Remarkably the case adds very little bulk to the overall system (it weighs in at 4 oz). It may get dirty with such things as fingerprints or dust as you use it, but you can wipe those off with a soft cloth and it'll look as good as new. The case is also available in magenta (a shade of pink), which ought to appeal to the younger girl gamers out there. I also saw some cases with different patterns in the top of the case. Once the DSI is in the case, you'll see a little USB plug in the back that slides in and out. You can charge both the TekCase and your DSI using the USB connector and or the handy wall adapter. Having the ability to use either a wall socket or any computer is a strong selling point. The system also uses what's called a smart charging system, which means when you plug it in it charges up your DSi first and then the TekCase itself.

Gamers can expect an easy time loading and unloading their favourite game cartridges. There is an opening where carts pass through, and there’s even a cool little switch which essentially ejects the stylus for you. It’s quite a handy feature which I thought was pretty neat.

One of the key features of the TekCase its claim of a battery life of more than 2.5 times of the DSI’s own. To put my DSi and the case to the test, I let it drain completely and changed the screen to its brightest setting. The combo as it turns out lasted close to 14 hours before running out of gas. If you're willing to sacrifice a bit you could potentially jack this time up to even longer by turning down the screen brightness, and if you don't want to waste the case's charge abilities you can also switch it off.

The secret wonder of the TekCase is the backup battery. Play with your DSi until your battery indicator on the system goes low (red). All you need to do to start recharging is flick the ON switch located at the side of the TekCase and your system starts to recharge. The TekCase will fully recharge your DSi battery. When you are ready to recharge your TekCase, you can plug it into a power outlet using the included AC adapter or use the standard USB cable. It’s a pretty effective and simple system that works.

When you consider what a carrying case and extra AC adapter may cost you for your DSi, the TekCase comes at a comparable value at $29.99 and in a much more convenient and less-bulky package. The whole unit is contained in a hard blister package, with the company’s logo clearly emblazed on the front. With such a long running time I don’t think most gamers will have to worry about what brightness their DSi is at. I clearly had well over the 3X claim the brightest level. I’m beginning to find the TekCase is a tough second skin that you won't want give up once you've been spoiled by the extended battery life.