Nintendo has opened the pre-E3 vault of news and announced a launch date for the North American debut of the Nintendo DS Lite.  The big day is June 11, 2006 and the big cost is $130.  At that low price it doesn't seem like such a bad deal (as you'll recall, the original pricing rumors pegged it as high as $150 or even $200).  The press release also includes a laundry list of what makes the DS Lite worth owning over the original model.

It's less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter.

Its two bright screens can be adjusted to four levels to adapt to different lighting conditions and to extend battery power.

The microphone sits in the center of the unit, and the LED lights are clearly visible whether the unit is open or closed.

The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 1 millimeter thicker than the stylus of the original, and slides into a side storage slot.

The Start and Select buttons were repositioned for easier access.

A removable cover keeps the Game Boy® Advance cartridge slot clear from dust and debris when it's not in use.

My original DS is still cranking out the fun so I'm on the fence about the upgrade.  On the other hand, my DS is starting to look a little beat up.  The barcode label on the bottom of the unit is scratched & worn and the case itself has a few nicks on it.  It's all cosmetic damage.  If I did get a Lite I'd keep it at home and use the original DS when I was out and around.  Of course, if you would prefer to have a regular DS over a Lite you'd better hurry.  The original model won't be available in stores for much longer as the Lite has overtaken it in the supply line (much like how the original Game Boy Advance was replaced by the SP model).