I only have anecdotal evidence from most of the casuals/Wii owners I know (which is a significant amount) and when I recently got a Wii U it was often the same result:
When they see it:
Person: "What is this? A new Nintendo system? When did this thing come out?"
or
Person: "A 'Wii U'? Is it like the new Wii Fit balance board or something? Never even heard of it."
Note: Ive only had my Wii U since late Jan and those are still the general answers I get from causal/Wii Owners -of whom are very much aware of the PS4/X1.
Just my experience anyway