Despite the astounding simplicity of this perspective, I never really considered it until I read this article today: http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/07/talking_point_should_nintendo_be_promoting_the_wii_u_gamepad_as_a_tablet_killer

Very simple.  The Wii U is strikingly similar to a Tablet and by next generation's technology it could easily be just like the ipad in terms of physical thinness and capability of doing all those other non-gaming things.  It's got basic apps like that Google Maps/tour thingy, Youtube, Hulu, etc.  How much harder would it seriously be to add the most essential ones everyone uses like Facebook or Twitter!

Seriously!

I think Nintendo may always have a hard time competing with smartphones because a smart phone is a computer PLUS a phone.  They are two essential devices connected to each other. But tablets are not used in that way!

So my basic question for discussion is how do you think Nintendo might benefit from looking at the Wii U as disrupting tablets?  I honestly don't think Nintendo is looking at this angle because it has not been marketed like this at all and yet it fits that niche very well.

But its not portable...isn't that a pretty big "negative" when viewing the Gamepad as a tablet?

gamepad is awesome, but i didnt call it a tablet.
if nintendo market like this, people will think it is portable.

maybe just call it "a home tablet that interacts with your tv"
is like this that i use my gamepad, when im not playing games.

There are so many problems with this idea I don't even know where to begin.

That was my basic thinking as well! But check out the article, they point out how many tablets never even leave the home!

This is true for many tablet owners.  It becomes a great household tool instead for use by several family members.  The consumers, in my opinion, have already decided that they don't want to use a tablet like they use their smartphones.  What do you think?

Though not a "killer" tablet -- it fulfills the same functions setting up a PC to your TV or a tablet with a Roku/Google TV/Apple TV at a much more affordable price.

The web browser is really, really good. They should really demo that in stores more often.

If we are looking at the way the Wii U is right now then I agree with you.  I'm saying try to strip away the physicality of the Wii U and look at it in concept.  It's a tablet that has essential capabilites of a tablet and could easily add more to make it just like other tablets.  Again, it doesn't need to add the essential phone component to it that other smart phones need.

Strip away the physicality of it and then ask yourself how could Nintend rebuild it with a Tablet apporach in mind rather than a game machine.  How hard would that process be?  I think it would be relatively.  And should they do it?  Those are two big questions I'm asking.

Playing traditional console games like the ones provided by the Wii U without buttons or the necessary bulk that a controller provides would be pretty uncomfortable. Some games would work but a lot of games would really suffer.

If you don't have very thin walls, you are restricted to one room with the Wii U tablet... perhaps the adjoining rooms if you are lucky. The WLAN range of a normal tablet is usually much greater. And even if you leave the WLAN range with a normal tablet, smartphone or handhelds, most tasks are still available.

No stable internet connection in the kitchen? You download the recipe or open the html site beforehand and THEN go in the kitchen with the tablet. eBooks, Comics, Music, Videos, Games and other apps can be stored on the device and are available offline.

Normal tablets are ready instantly after touching the screen or pressing the power button, the Wii U tablet can only show the quickstart menu... for anything else you have to wait until the console has booted up completely.

I don't compare it as a tablet. Tablet can rely on itself, GamePad needs the Wii U to be used. What Nintendo needs to do is utilize it and bring software out which E3 did a good job.