My Nintendo ID is Preyformojo. Feel free to add me if you want some sort of proof.

The mandatory patch went quite smooth for me last week, the eShop in WiiU mode runs stable.

But the transfer of my Wii saves to the WiiU was like hell on earth. Starting the eShop and downloading the transfer tool on the WiiU took at least a dozen tries, the internet connection in Wii mode is extremely unstable... and why ain't it preinstalled anyway?

Then the transfer process (also interrupted a dozen times on the WiiU end), when Wii and WiiU both have to be connected to the internet the whole procedure while swapping an SD card back and forth... why does that process need an internet connection to begin with? Why no transfer without internet (via SD card) or optional without SD card (uploading savegames to Nintendo with Wii, after that downloading that data with the WiiU)?

And if you don't want to connect the sensor bar and sync the Wii Remote back and forth for the transfer process, it is good to have two of each.

Except for the initial update, my WiiU has downloaded and installed things just as quickly as any other device I have. Download speed is 100% to do with your internet and not the console.

Complaining about a shovelware when you knowingly bought a mini-game collection game.. No comment..
Not being able to tell the difference between 480p and 720p.. I guess.. maybe.. if you don't know what resolution means..

I have every games console for the last 20 years with the exception of the PS4.  I will get that eventually. And almost every handheld too.

I have to admit, I mostly play the Mario games series and apparently a crapload of shovelware on the Nintendo systems.  I tend to let my kids play the Wii and I spend my time on the PS360 and now the XB1.

But as far as not knowing the difference between 480p and 1080i/720p, you are off the mark for sure.  I used to run Best Buy stores for 8 yrs from 1994-2002.  I used to sell those $10,000 - $15,000 TV'S to the local rich folks.  Let's be sure that knowing the difference is simple enough to see.  Before that I served 5 years in the USMC doing component level repair on computers and other electronics.  Before that, I programmed on a whole range of computers that the list is too long.  I know this doesn't really matter.

THe fact that the WiiU drops into Wii mode and the graphics change is instant, you can tell the difference. 

My OP was mostly based on the fact that I was hoping/expecting that the WiiU would be a significant upgrade from the Wii and it didn't seem so.  It seems more like the same graphics that are upscaled to 720p.  I get that the WiiU isn't a graphics powerhouse and I plan to buy more titles yet before making a more informed decision.  The point of the OP is that the casual crowd(Like me as far as Nintendo is concerned) will not be impressed right away and will not support the console or give it good word of mouth if this is what they get.

I wish we had an opportunity to move all of our stuff from the old Wii, when it quit working, my son was devastated.  I do get to use all of the accessories which is nice. 

I was wondering how long it would take before someone would care enough to notice the Mario bit.  It was more of a generic statement, not an actual comparison.

It just seems to be slow to even acknowledge that it is doing an update.  I have set it up to do them automatically in the future, so it should help somewhat.  My kids seem to be more upset than I am, as they don't quite get the whole waitinng thing.

Casual crowd, and you're posting on a gaming message board like VGchartz?

You're not casual crowd just because you're a parent.

No trolls here.  I wish it were true about the console not breaking.  I think my son did something "out of the ordinary" to it.  I thought that he managed to break both of the controllers for it, but they work fine with the WiiU.  I swapped out the sensor bar with my neighbors and it still doesn't do anything.  It just won't sync or recognize any of the controllers.

Kids seem to really like the new tablet, but it isn't used much in the 2 games that I have so far.

Drops into Wii mode, you say.... that only happens if you end up playing a Wii game. That's because Wii games were never designed to be upscaled to HD. Not sure what the OP is trying to get at? All Wii U games are very close to the native 720p, only lazy 3rd parties are rendered lower than that for frame-rate issues (COD, for example).

WindWaker HD looks STUNNING. 3D World is colourful and one of the most pleasant games to look at. When I think of casual, I try my best to pretend that 'casual' doesn't mean unintelligent, but if most 'casuals' buy Mario and Sonic and 2D Mario, then render judgment, then I fear for humanity's survival. We live in 2014, where one can type and research good games for a console before they spend big money on games. It's as simple as typing 'Best games for Wii U'. Oila! You have a decent list. It's that simple, really, and even I do that when I'm looking for new games that I haven't played yet.

I wouldn't call myself a casual when it comes to any gaming besides the world of Nintendo.  I really only play the Nintendo games with my kids or if there is a group of people over that want to try a game.   Never really been attracted to it beside maybe Mario Kart/Tetris addiction.  Have had them with every every console and handheld.