worst designed console... functionally or aesthetically

[DreamcastRIP]

But would have to trade that for a big increase in battery consumption

No denying that!

Saying that though, I'd have thought modern rechargeable batteries probably last longer between charges than the batteries of old.

[AmigaJay]

Yeah but take a look at the Wonderswan and Neo Geo Pocket other handhelds out at the same time as the GBC and I think with better battery life with better screens...

It's not just time though, we bought one when they came out and we were dissapointed to say the least in the screen, we bought a couple of games and there it sat in the room, we got a NGPC and played that a lot more in the end despite the lack of games vs the GBC.

[Megamixer]

Personally I had no problem with the GBC or original GBA screens. Going back to these systems now with experience of consoles like the DS, PSP, Vita etc. will obviously reveal how lacking the older displays were but back then we had to make do.

For me, I knew no better and just accepted that you couldn't use a GBC/GBA when light was poor. I did other things and didn't bemoan the fact that it was too dark. I think we're vastly spoilt today with backlit handhelds that we can use anywhere so it's only natural that older console look seriously poor in comparison but as products of their time, they were what they were.

Back lit/side lit handhelds of the era:

1989: Atari Lynx
1990: NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT
1990/'91: Sega Game Gear
1995: Sega Nomad

Folk only had to "make do" if they refused to look beyond Nintendo.

I meant 'lacking' in comparison to what we have today but your examples of other backlit consoles is fair enough.

In the mid-nineties I was a kid though and kids don't go around spending mega-bucks on things like Sega Nomads and PC Engine GT's. I got a Gameboy Colour because everybody else had one (never knew anybody with a Game Gear or Lynx) and I just accepted the screen for what it was. Today I'd obviously do things differently but as I said, I was a kid so that's just my personal experience.