Those in the market for a new Nintendo handheld system have had a curious choice to make in recent months: pay $149.99 for a Nintendo DSi which can play DS games and DSiWare downloadable titles or pay twenty dollars more and get a Nintendo 3DS for $169.99 which plays the aforementioned games plus 3DS titles, Virtual Console games, eShop exclusives, and more.  Why not pay the extra money and keep up with current technology and releases?  The DSi has been primed for a price cut down to "kid's first handheld" range for a while now, and starting May 20, Nintendo is going to make it happen.  You'll be able to pick up a new DSi for $99.99.  The system's larger cousin, the DSi XL, drops to $129.99.  Here's some of Nintendo's press release:

Both the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems come pre-loaded with a variety of fun software, including Flipnote Studio, Nintendo DSi Camera and Nintendo DSi Sound. Nintendo DSi XL comes with additional pre-installed games and applications, including Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and Photo Clock.

The new suggested retail prices provide an even greater incentive to pick up the systems, and provide an easy option for parents who want to introduce younger kids to their first portable games.

Suddenly the comparatively less capable DSi is sitting in the impulse buy range for those missing out on Nintendo handheld goodness.  Outgoing hardware always becomes budget priced as it begins its final lap around the retail track, and with the 3DS finding its feet at last, Nintendo seems ready to start to bid farewell to last generation's handheld juggernaut.  The original DS library has plenty of classics that a first-time owner should explore including Super Mario 64 DS, New Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Kirby Canvas Curse, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, all three Castlevania titles, Mario Kart DS, Chrono Trigger, the two Mario & Luigi adventures, and so many more.  Stock up now on cheap evergreen titles before they go out of print for good.