A teenager buying their own "stuff" is different from a parent buying their teenager stuff ... and a parent who decides that no handhelds are going to be in his house and his children will have iPhones will likely be buying these products for their children.

Beyond that, having been a teenager myself, dealt with enough teenagers in my life, and known enough parents it has become clear that anything a teen has is far more likely to be broken or lost then it is for their parents. Some of this is simply because of the activities the two groups take part in, for example a teenager is far more likely to break their iPhone while skate-boarding than their parent is walking to their car.

And talk to any Apple Store sales person about how many broken iPhone customer service issues they've had to respond to due to a "I sat on my phone and now it's broken" or "I dropped my phone in the toilet and now it doesn't work," from adults, and you're likely to get an arm's list of amusing anecdotes.

While it's great that you automatically assume all teens don't take care of their stuff, they go around breaking expensive goods whether they are personal possessions, earned or given, or on loan, your opinion is hardly a reflection of reality.

All you talking about how can you possibly give an expensive phone to a teenager, certainly have no problem giving a $250 3DS to a 8 year old.  Most of the kids I see playing on a handheld are under 10.  I think it is just as risky to give a young kid a 3DS or an NGP. Hell even a regular DSi given to an young kid is just as risky if not more.

You will probably say well yeah it isnt bright to give a young kid a $250 device.   Well that is a huge part of Nintendo's market.  I dont see the 3DS or the NGP ever having the impact of the DS because it is attacked from less demand by older kids because of phones and less attractive for parents of younger kids because of pricing.

Also by the way our family plan for our phones has insurance that only costs us a few bucks per month.   And by the way I have seen just as many adults screw up there phones as teens.  My 50 year old sister hopped in the pool with her iphone in the pocket of her swimsuit.    She isnt the only adult that I know that has done that.

All you talking about how can you possibly give an expensive phone to a teenager, certainly have no problem giving a $250 3DS to a 8 year old.  Most of the kids I see playing on a handheld are under 10.  I think it is just as risky to give a young kid a 3DS or an NGP. Hell even a regular DSi given to an young kid is just as risky if not more.

You will probably say well yeah it isnt bright to give a young kid a $250 device.   Well that is a huge part of Nintendo's market.  I dont see the 3DS or the NGP ever having the impact of the DS because it is attacked from less demand by older kids because of phones and less attractive for parents of younger kids because of pricing.

Also by the way our family plan for our phones has insurance that only costs us a few bucks per month.   And by the way I have seen just as many adults screw up there phones as teens.  My 50 year old sister hopped in the pool with her iphone in the pocket of her swimsuit.    She isnt the only adult that I know that has done that.

The BIGGER threat is Windows Phone 7.  Three screens and a cloud ... OF DOOM!