Ya I really like the idea, imagine somebody bought a 3DS in 2011/2012 for games like Ocarina of Time 3D, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, DKC Returns 3D, New Super Mario Bros 2 then 1-2 years these games get direct sequels that require u to buy a separate $300 device to play, that really sucks.

With this setup, u can now access the full Nintendo experience a a single device.

First off, I think Nintendo will introduce a sub. service for next gen. Not for online play, but you will have VC access, free & discounted DLC, eshop deals etc.

So lets say the home version of NX retails for $299 upfront, and Nintendo network for $39 per yr. They can also have an alternative payment method ie monthly installments on a 2 yr contract, but the catch is you must subscribe to their service. $16.99 for 24 mos. to pay off the system as well as being signed up to their sub. service. That amounts to just over $400, giving Ninty an extra $60 rather than the $340 upfront.

Same can apply to a HH version. Retail upfront for $250, or pay $13.99 for 24mos alongside a sub service.

IMO Nintendo will be much more flexible with offering HW under a unified sw front, so a "mega powerful console" is now imaginable again. Ninty will give options on how you want to play, & even how you want to pay. We will see a new, progressive Ninty next gen no doubt....

Imaginable, but still not practical. They wouldn't need uber powerful hardware to upscale 720p handheld games to 1080p (both should be a standard 60fps as they both pretty much are this gen), even if the handheld version of games are Wii U quality. I just don't see it. 

I see a huge jump power wise in their handheld console, and their  typical jump in home console hardware.

Ya I'm thinking something like this

NX Portable-300 gflop, 2gb RAM, plays games at 540p

NX Console-1.2 tflop, 8 gb RAM, plays games at 1080p

Perhaps throw in an NX Tablet that is between them and plays games at 720p

Now we're getting more reasonable!

Considering OP asked for a "mega powerful" console, I assumed he meant more powerful than the Xbox One was relative to 2013, which would mean more expensive than the Xbox One was in 2013, which I interpreted as $500+. If it was much less than that, it wouldn't really justify the annual payment plan. People have already shown that they are more than willing to spend $400 on a new console.

PS3 got a few games recently and has a few more coming, but NX isn't out yet and won't be for at least a year and a half, more likely two and a half years. I consider your suggestion that anyone who doesn't want to spend $400 or more on a new console should just buy a ten-year-old console instead as belittling as Don Mattrick's infamous "we have a product for people who don't want an always-online device, it's called Xbox 360" blunder.

It's especially unhelpful to a long-time Nintendo fan. Just buy a Wii or a 3DS instead? I already have those. I bought them for $250 and $160, respectively, and I have no interest in paying double or triple that amount for a game console, whether all at once or spread out over several years.

Yeah, pretty much this. Nintendo makes products affordable enough people can get them year 1. No need to make cross gen or small project titles for their last gen console.

As for price I'm thinking something like $249.99 for each at launch. I'm also thinking they may not have a traditional 5-6 year cycle and instead will opt for upgrades roughly every 3 years.

Basically the Portable gets bumped up to the Tablet specs (720p), the Tablet gets bumped up to the Console specs (1080p) and the Console is now about 2x as powerful (still 1080p but improved graphical effects).

All or most games will still be playable on older models, perhaps once Gen 3 devices (P-1080p, T-1440p, C-4k) release they will start to become obsolete but that still would give them a full 6 years of support.

I didn't even want to buy a launch 3DS or Wii U. Both of those systems were too expensive and lacking critical features at launch. I bought a 3DS in 2012 for $160 and still haven't bought a Wii U. $250 is too much for a handheld in my opinion, I'd rather pay $200 or under. Likewise, $300 is pushing it for a console, that's probably the most I'd pay but I'd prefer $250 or under. As it stands, the Wii U has a couple of games bundled for that $300, so it's not bad.

Price I can agree with if the systems do not offer anything more than the ability to share software. If there is an updated version of the gamepad (720 display, ect) I can see the MSRP being around $300. 

As for upgrades every three years, it may be possible, but still something I don't really see. It may be like their New 3DS system, where the updated hardware may get some exclusives, but the majority of games would still be for both gens.... I don't know, as I said, this is hard to see for me. I think this will have a lot to do with the success of the New 3DS. I would be all for an add on (think 32X for the Sega Genesis) that allows for games to detect the device and add more effects to the game if the device is detected, but a whole new console would be a pretty big gamble.