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Nintendo Game Boy

The iconic handheld console that started the Game Boy series that has been sold for over 15 years.
During the development, the device was known as "Dot Matrix Game", hence the model name.

Although its size and weight with batteries (4 AA cells) resembles rather a brick, the Game Boy is surprisingly comfortable to hold in your hands, and the buttons are right under your fingers - in a natural place.
The success of the device was determined by the price, battery life and the game library, which outclassed the competition.

An interesting design accent is the power slider on top of the console. When switched on, a plastic element that fits in into the cartridge cut-out and blocks it from being pulled out while the console is running.

Sadly, the biggest enemy of the first Game Boy is its age. Over time, the vertical lines of the image disappear on the display, because of the adhesive to holding the ribbon, so that is in contact with the screen. A popular form of repair is to gently heat up the ribbon with a soldering iron in problematic places. Unfortunately, in my unit, although the situation has slightly improved, the problem has not been completely resolved. Looks like a candidate for an IPS display modification.

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