While I don't dislike it, it really doesn't help with the confusion over whether its a new console or not. Something a bit bolder, and different than the Wii would probably have been a smarter choice. 

It does look somewhat similar to the Wii and a better design would have helped more. Maybe a redisgn is in the makes and a new color would help differentiate those who still don't know the difference.

Sony was like this, then they got the new guy in who was hyper aggressive and guess which console is doing the best?
I think Nintendo need a regime change.

Well, at least it's not a cubic lunch box...

Nintendo screwed up the Wii U in more ways than one. I personally think the HW was alright, although the main console did look quite similar to the Wii, especially in "mass market" consumer eyes. 

Nintendo didn't have a compelling game at launch (a NSMB game had just released a few months earlier on the 3DS), their OS was not ready, their marketing campaign was mediocre, and the price was far off point. Among others.

However, we are speaking in general terms here. Not just about the Wii U, right?

The problem is they thought those 3rd party ports would be enough to encourage people to buy the system. Same thing happened to 3DS hence why both had/have long game shortages.

For now they need to realise they are the only ones who will support their system so they need to fix that issue first to ensure a constant flow of software before trying to get more 3rd parties onboard (this includes future platforms they release)..

This isn't easy cause working faster will compromise the games and getting more people will only have too many cooks in the kitchens so to speak. The only way I see out of it is if they hire a lot of new smart young talented people who haven't got experience yet and mentor them up and train them. Assign them to each team so they are constantly learning.

Then eventually create a new teams and repeat the cycle with old guys to mentoring a new batch the Nintendo way of developing games. In 3 years time when next gen is ready they should in theory double their team numbers to cope with more projects.

They also need western dev studios that can have the freedom to try and create new ips like naughty dog has for Sony.

I also wanted a source. Found it here: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/earnings/140117/index.html

"As for advertising expenses, and research and development expense forecasts, we made revisions to increase them by eight billion yen and 15 billion yen respectively from their forecasts made at the beginning of this fiscal year. We expect advertising expenses to increase due to the effect of the expenses incurred in foreign currencies to be converted into Japanese yen by using weaker yen rates. The estimated increase of research and development expenses is based on reflecting our ongoing enhancement of the development structure, and new research and development activities. These increases contributed to lowered estimated profit forecasts."

They could just be increasing the budget of existing projects and maybe funding an extra game or two.

However, the Wii U's only problem wasn't it's SW. That's what I was trying to get at.

Or do you mean that here? (Bolded.)