I'm not suggesting Nintendo shold go with an handheld/controller solution. What I'm suggesting is multiple screened controllers aren't a viable solution unless they can also act as the NX handheld - but that would mean, as you suggest, crippling the hardware.

So the best solution probably is to give up the idea of multiple screened controllers.

Anyway, regardless of the specs, the NX handheld will fail miserably if they sell it for more than 199$.

I think a hybrid machine at the center of it all is their best bet. 

A traditional portable will likely fail in the long run too ... it's not "cheap" enough to compete with tablets which are less than $200 and have free games. 

There's no point in trying to win on "cheap". The Vita is $200 too, it's not as if its sales exploded through the roof, the 3DS bombed at $250 because Nintendo had mediocre hardware for that price and no games to play. 

Most geniuses are.

A hybrid machine isn't happening though. It's not their best bet. It's not even on the betting table.

I must say, as one who's against dual screen for the next HH, the extra real estate on the sides can host the usual 2nd screen content.  I'd argue its more comfortable to have that aspect be above/below the sticks anyway.  For possible bc it could be flipped 180 deg.  Fake or not, I'm liking this concept more and more.

A big issue though, are assuming content is 16:9. would mean the one big screen is 21:9 =  making it super expensive and unlikely. example I saw on gaf:

The Vita failed beacuse it focused on game experiences that weren't design to work on handhelds.

The 3DS bombed on launch beacuse of moslty beacuse price, the lineup wasn't stellar (just like every console on launch) but it wasn't that bad either, it had Street Fighter, Animal Crossing and Resident Evil soon after. If we make a comparison the Nintendo DS had a worse launch lineup and the it had a mediocre hardware for the price too, compared to the PSP.

On the contrary I believe the more affordable, the better. Expecially on the handheld. Since Nintendo can't rely on western 3rd support on that side anyway, they should just make the consumer focus on their games rather than on the hardware. I believe they should launch within the 149$-199$ price range with one game in bundle. Also, I believe they should program shorter life cyles - like 3 years - as opposed to the current 5 years.

Yeah, Wiimote + Nunchuk controls were way better.

Analogue stick aimimg is sluggish and stiff compared to pointer, gyro, or mouse controls.

I don't think that will deter the continued erosion of the traditional handheld market. 

Nintendo's tried it this gen with cheap(er) 3DS models and dramatic price cuts ... hasn't stopped them from losing a lot of customers and likely a generation of kids. 

The problem is parents aren't stupid ... a 3DS is not "cheap" when the games are $40 a pop versus free on a tablet/smartphone, and nowadays tablets themselves can be had for $150 and do 50x more than a DS/3DS does. 

Nintendo needs a dramatic shake up and a new type of product that speaks a new "language" IMO. If they keep doing the same ol, same ol (basically just a new 3DS/DS with better but still outdated graphics) ... they're just spinning their wheels in the mud going nowhere. 

The Vita was the same formula the 80 million selling PSP was. Nintendo should be wary of "formulas". There is no formula when you have a disruptive force like smartphone/tablet gaming, it's like fighting crime against the Joker and trying to do everything by the book. 

So the NX is the hero gaming deserves, but not the one it needs right now? XD

Fascinating "leak". I think there is a reasonable chance this is a real prototype. If not, I think it's quite possible that it is a good guess at what the NeXt Nintento controller will look like. My thoughts:

-I don't like the lack of physical buttons. That said, I'd have to experience it first.
-Lack of physical buttons using screen buttons instead could be tremendously innovative. Games could change layout by game. The device could be completely backward compatible.
-If the device has motion sensing, it's small enough and with screen buttons it could be used as a Wii-mote or similar device when held vertical.
-It's a far more manageable device than the Gamepad. A much better everyday controller.
-The rounded screen would make it seem very high-tech, unlike the Gamepad which seemed like a dated leapfrog compared to tablets we see everywhere.
-The shape and style would also make it able to anything a smart device does, while at the same time offering a different experience. This could be key.
-I'm not concerned about the sticks and "button" area overlaping the display. This is how people play tablet and phone games. If a developer didn't want this, they could simply have the action cropped to just the center.
-I wouldn't worry about third party adoption. Assuming the virtual buttons work and there are triggers on the back, it would play multiplats just fine.
-The rolling shoulder buttons could be a major innovation along the lines of analogue sticks.

Overall, I think it's kinda cool. Provided the system that supports it has decent power and great games, it could be very popular. I see a further opportunity where what we are seeing is BOTH the NX home console and the NX portable controller. They could sell brainless versions as controllers and ones with brains as the portable. The portable would look like a really cool funky new device on the playgrounds. Then people could gather at a houe and play multiplayer syncing NX portables to a console. You could even have your Nintendo ID and content on your portable to take with you. Imagine Splatoon matches with both local and online multiplayer in this way. It could be an impressive gaming experience and one no one else could match without handhelds. Significant potential there.