Well, it depends.

The Wii U has USB 2.0 ports and they don't deliver enough power for many USB 3.0 HDDs.

You don't have that problem when your HDD has an external power supply.

I'm using a 3x USB wall charger as power supply (USB extension cable connected to the second plug of the Y-cable)  because I don't want to use the frontal USB ports for the HDD (I'm also using a LAN adapter).

Ah sad times, but good to know, i will have to get some external power for it then. 

The Wii U Basic has no sensor bar for Wii games if I remember correctly.

And the charging cradle for the tablet controller is very convenient IMHO.

They both have garbage storage that will eventually lead you to buy a HDD and the digital point system is over so it all boils down to what color you want and white looks better.

Most of this has been covered already, but summarising it all:

This is all you get with the basic pack -
White 8GB Wii U
White gamepad with stylus
Wii U AC adaptor
Gamepad AC adaptor
HDMI cable.

With the premium, as already mentioned, you get

Black 32GB Wii U
Black gamepad with stylus
Black gamepad charging cradle
Black gamepad stand
Console stand if you want to stand it vertically
Sensor bar for Wii games and for use with wiimotes (wiimotes are compatible with some Wii U games, notably Mariokart 8)
Console AC adaptor
Gamepad AC adaptor
HDMI cable
Nintendo Network Premium promotion (finishes Dec 31 2014 and redemptions are honoured until March 31 2015.)

If you owned a Wii and still have all the wiimotes, nunchuks, balance board etc. then they'll all work provided you still have the sensor bar.


[Edit: - to clarify, this is what you get in the box in the UK - other regions may be different]

I just saw that: http://www.game.co.uk/en/white-wii-u-basic-with-super-smash-bros-gameware-wii-u-screen-protection-kit-and-gameware-wii-u-game-pad-silicon-skin-321295

Looks like a good deal.

Mine did.

The ones with a Wii Remote have a sensor bar.

Get the black one. It looks nicer and has 32GB, plus you might find a bundle. It's a wonderful console btw for all ages

Pix (of your WiiU Quick Start Guide) or it didn't happen. ;)