Nintendo is committing a lot of the same lethal mistakes they did with the WiiU, and more.

[Frogger]

Eh. I think they communicated the system fine. Nintendo never called it a hybrid - fans did. I wouldn't call it a home gaming system either, but I think that it functions like one and is pretty indiscernible from one when docked, so that bit's fine.

I literally think that they could withhold information about the system until a week before, and the thing would still sell. The precedent that console manufacturers have set for when it comes to revealing tech is not iron-clad. Nintendo can afford to be late about this. The concept alone is enough to sell many people on it. I think you'll see a massive direct next year with an information blowout, and that will really ramp up enthusiasm for the Switch. But Nintendo definitely has the luxury of time. Nintendo left a lot to the imagination with this teaser, and the enthusiasm has been palpable and nearly ubiquitous, so I think thats a win for them so far.

The Switch is more analogous to a laptop than anything else, so lack of power won't be an issue. People who buy laptops don't expect bleeding edge processing power, they expect utility and flexibility. That's what the Switch is doing for home consoles. No one buying a Switch is going to miss the power of the home consoles. It's not the same thing. It's a different market, just like the laptop and desktop markets are. Desktops are for professionals and enthusiasts while laptops are for the common folk who value convenience and flexibility over performance. Nintendo is going for a similar dynamic with the Switch.

You're drawing comparisons to two markets that won't effect it. "How can this laptop-thingie sell? It's way weaker than my desktop, but it's more expensive and less portable than my smartphone? Who's going to want to buy something like this?? Jack of all trades, but master of none."

I just don't think what they've been doing is a mistake at all. Waiting this long was a good call, and so is only teasing and doing nothing else until next year. I guess only time will tell, though! Let's hope for the best.