I got to say...That's genius. Tucked into a cabinet or entertainment center, it'll look as small and sleek as the Wii.

True enough.  Most entertainment center gizmos are a lot wider than they are deep, and there's really no need for that since width real estate is more valuable than depth on most such shelves.  I could fit twice as many devices in my own if they were all turned sideways.

Bah! I don't like it. It looks like a generic Wii. Like somebody trying to pull off another Vii. I liked how small the Wii was, I could fit it into most of my pockets. I hope Wii U comes in black.

The trouble with size is that the smaller you get the more you have to sacrifice when it comes to power under the hood, at least if you want to keep costs down. Besides it is a mock up, I doubt it will end up looking the same when it is released.

After a few years I could see Nintendo releasing a Wii U slim by the time its competitors release their next home consoles.

Well Iwata DID say he wanted to make gaming "deeper and wider" (looks at Wii console and controller.)

;)

That's what I was thinking, especially with the sync button on the outside. Not that it's a dealbreaker, but the face of the console seems so disorganized. Nintendo downplayed the actual console so maybe we'll see some changes to the design. They have a whole year to make some tweaks, minor or otherwise.

In a way this makes me feel better. I was worried with the small size they might cut corners on the hardware.

It has rounded edges, so they did cut corners.

I see what you did there. 1 internet point for you.

"part of its identity is that it is small and protable"

Wii may have been the smallest console, but I don't think it was the most portable.
If I want to take my PS3 system somewhere, I only need to grab the system unit and 1 controller for each player.  It uses standard power cords and HDMI cables that many homes already have.
With the Wii you've got an external power supply, a proprietary video cable, the sensor bar with a very long thin cord, and multi-piece controllers.
Oh noes! I made a positive comment about a Sony system.

you've got a point Shadowxaf, I used a little laundry basket when I took my Wii over to a friends house. Not the most convenient.

I was gonna post about this yesterday but the forums kept crashing so I forgot.

If I remember correctly, the Wuu was slightly wider than a Wii and about .5 inches longer than a 360. I'll see if I can dig up the size comparisons I was gonna post yesterday.


edit: here we go