In about 90 minutes as I write this, the next generation Nintendo gaming console goes on sale.

Starting Sunday, April 5, Nintendo unveils the DSi, the successor to the incredibly successful DS Lite (shown at right), which was itself the successor to the console that started it all, the DS.

The Nintendo DS line is the most successful handheld gaming console of all time, way ahead of the Sony Playstation Portable, which has its own loyal cadre of fans, including my son. The DS lacked some features, however, that the newest version claims to have updated.

Some of the improvements include:

• Two cameras: one on the outside body, and one that points at the user when the console is opened
• Slots for storage cards
• A Web browser
• An iPhone-style online shop from which to download games. That, of course, is why the Web browser comes in handy
• The ability to play audio and video (although the audio is AAC only, meaning it doesn’t play iTunes-compatible songs)

Overall, it’s an impressive list of enhancements to an already-strong gaming system.  Nintendo says the DSi will initially come in two colors, blue and black, and carry a list price of $169.99.

Is the console worthy of your money? Not everyone thinks the upgrades are earth-shattering, but it does answer a long list of “gotta-haves” from users. If you don’t have any game system right now, it’s worth trying side-by-side with a PSP and deciding after that type of comparison.