[quote name='shrike4242']HDD-based storage in a 2.5" form factor isn't expensive when it's not a SSD. 320GB or 500GB 7200rpm HDDs are in the $70 and under category, so adding that much storage isn't an issue.
Even 64GB of flash storage as USB flash drives are $80 or so ($40 x 2 32GB drives), so even adding in 64GB of flash doesn't sound like a huge expense, even in quantity.[/QUOTE]
Yes, but that is exactly my point. $70 is big expense if they are trying to price this thing at $300-$400. This is Nintendo after all - they aren't going to take a loss or even just break even. They won't include something that while most of us on CAG feel like we need, but most gamers (of the casual and not so casual variety) don't need. Even everyone's favorite console (at least here on CAG), the 360, comes in a base 4GB configuration. There is a reason for that, after all...
I still hold to the belief that HD-based storage is on the way out. Granted, 8GB is not nearly enough, but I think long-term HD's won't be the solution either. I agree with Wolfpup on the noise issue - though it is much less of a problem on the newer 360's. Still, I see Nintendo going for the whisper quiet, sleek form factor of an Apple device more than trying to match the behemoth 360/PS3.
[quote name='Salamando3000']DLC and Patches could each cause a single player game to easily use up a gig. Or, in some game's cases, well over half of the 8GB Cafe might have. Mass Effect 2's dlc could easily add up to 4GB.
Downloadable titles themselves could also eat up quite a bit of space. While most of my PS3 dl titles are around 200-300 MB, I do have a few that are over 1 GB.
With only 8 GB, storage will quickly become a game itself...[/QUOTE]
I think Nintendo is much less reliant on patches than other devs, and I much appreciate that. Now, in order to court more third-party support it is an issue.
However, this thing will almost surely have an SD card slot. So you aren't limited to 8GB. Those that need it can add a 32 GB card, and probably larger ones in the future. Assuming you don't want to use this thing for downloading lots of media (and I don't) then 40GB should be plenty.
It isn't ideal but I see this as a compromise on Nintendo's part to keep the price reasonable. Down the road when people need more space, larger SD cards should be cheaper. And 95% of Wii2 users probably will never need to upgrade the original 8GB. Now, we'll see if the price is, in fact, reasonable. If they price it at $300-$350 then I can live with the smaller initial storage. If it is $400 or over, then I expect more out of the box.