Decaflon

Hmm that's really a tough call. The iPod touch is so much thinner that it's almost magic, but with the 1st-gen display issues people are reporting that might negate any of the form factor coolness. I just went to the Apple store around here looking to find the new touch but they didn't have any, so I'd suggest waiting until your local Apple store has them in stock and then check them out then to make the decision. IMO I'd say that getting the iPhone over the iPod touch is about a 75% good decision but it all comes down to the screen issues and what you think about it once it's in your hand. Like you said, the iPhone has a lot more direct development going on and is easier to "break" into, so perhaps you answered your own question :)

I am having the exact same debate:

http://www.chrismarshall.ws/?p=1004

At the moment I am going to go for the umnlocked iPhone, assuming that after the next firmware upgrade the unlock options still work or are fixed.

I was strongly considering the iPod Touch as a Christmas gift to myself, but everything I've been reading about the Touch (and even Apple as a whole) has really got me going toward putting that money toward a decent set of golf clubs instead.

It's hard to be disappointed in golf clubs, and I really have no interest in the iPhone.

Mark I've bought all my clubs on eBay and never been dissatisfied. Currently I've got a set of Titleist 690 CB (3-PW) that I got a little used for under $200. To add to that, I've got a Titleist 983K driver (stiff, 7.5 degree loft) that I bought used as well for only $80!

Link: Current Titleist iron auctions

Of course if you're looking for new it won't help you, but I figure golf clubs are like cars, as soon as you buy them new and drive them off the lot they drop in value like a rock.

Saweet --- thanks for the link Mike.

I'm thinking of getting the iPod touch along with the new Apple wireless keyboard. What screen issues does the touch have? The problem with video display (too dark)?

I think they crippled the functions to prevent the touch from cannibalising into the iPhone's sales. I'm not too bothered about that though, I was only ever interested in the iPod part of the iPhone. I'm hoping for more progress on the hacking front, I was looking forward to possibly using some iPhone apps on the touch.

I wish they wouldn't use a mirror back for iPods. It scratches far too easily and becomes all smeared with fingerprints after a while. I can throw my second gen nano anywhere. I'm thinking of the 16GB... to buy or not to buy? Knowing how Apple treats its early adopters... :)

If you're planning on using the calendar at all, you should know you can't edit calendar events (or so I am told) directly from the iPod Touch, you have to do it from iCal and then sync. That would be a huge pain, I love being able to edit my calendar right on the iPhone.

Yeah, I'm starting to lean towards the unlocked iPhone. I hate my Motorola Q's Windows Mobile and I'd like to be able to do it all on my iPhone.

As an update, I grabbed the iPod touch yesterday (and love it). I figure I have 30 days or so to wait for a jailbreak. If not, I'll go back for the unlocked iPhone.

bethdean... you are were right about the calender thing... but in a recent upgrade that was fixed... so now u can use the calender without haveing to synk it..
I have the ipod touch and its great! But i miss some of the apps from the iphone.

If you're planning on using the calendar at all, you should know you can't edit calendar events (or so I am told) directly from the iPod Touch

Completely false... if you buy an iPod it will come with OS 1.1.2 and you can edit/add/delete events from the iPod as well as import. That was a 1.1.1 issue that was quickly fixed.

I've had no issues with my screen, I've had no issues with jailbreaking the thing and I have iPhone apps on it which work just as well on the iPod as they do on the phone. one thing to note... the article from TUAW linked in the original post is SERIOUSLY out of date... 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 can both be EASILY jailbroken within minutes of your purchase on both Windows and OS X.

What's really ticking me off about the iPod Touch is that everyone who reviews the thing, reviews it as if it's the retarded cousin of the iPhone no one wants to talk about.

It is NOT a Phone, it's an iPod. If you're looking for something with 24/7 internet access, a camera etc... get an iPhone...

The iPod wasn't bundled with email, maps, etc because (in the US) we don't have 24/7 all over WiFi access so including an app you can only use if you happen to be near a hotspot would not only be stupid, it WOULD eat into your sales of iPhones.

Simply because it shares a form factor with another Apple product, doesn't make it the same thing and it shouldn't be compared as such.

Anyone who's been around Apple long enough, knows they plug products based on their place in their product matrix. Do you see people complaining that their MacBook lacks the illuminated keyboard of a MacBookPro? No, because it's a different product (even though they share the same basic form factor). The iPod Touch is an iPod, plain and simple. You can't add notes to your iPod Classic unless they're from your Mac... why would you think you could on your iPod Touch?

I purchased my iPod Touch on November 30th and I've never been disappointed with it, not once.