Nintendo Network accounts tied to specific Wii U consoles

A caveat for those considering setting their shiny new Wii U consoles on fire or throwing them out the window in search of YouTube fame and stardom: you may lose your Nintendo Network ID. A post on the Nintendo Support suggests that, at present, you cannot log into your Nintendo Network account from anywhere other than the console it was created on. it seems unlikely this state of affairs will continue once the console ages enough that replacements may be required, but for now, bear in mind that once you forge that identity, its life is in your Wii U hardware's hands.

Thanks, Kotaku.