Gadget Dilemma: iPhone or iPod Touch + Nokia E61i?

Another gadget dilemma is haunting me. It's hard being addicted to gadgetry whilst trying to be just slightly financially responsible at the same time. It's that damn iPhone 3G luring me into its Apple lair of beautifully crafted interface and apps - to integrate seamlessly with my iCal, Address Book and my generally sleek Mac experience.

I've greatly enjoyed having an all-in-one smartphone since I got the Nokia E61 (E61i in the meantime) but the iPhone interface appeals so much more than Symbian S60 and I can't wait to get my hands on those apps and dirty the screen with my greasy fingertips. However, something is holding me back.

Well actually, a few things are holding me back: not least the fact that I am still under contract with Vodafone until March 2009. I am quite satisfied with Vodafone as a provider so far, even if they are rather pricey. They are reliable and have excellent reception throughout the Netherlands. The iPhone on the other hand appears to be experiencing serious problems with reception and call quality whether it's in the USA with AT&T or here in the Netherlands with T-Mobile.

Also, I promised myself I would never again sign up for a 2-year contract with a provider just to get a phone 'cheap'. It's simply much too long for a gadget-lover like myself to get locked into one piece of hardware (which I am basically paying for through the nose over the 24-month period anyway). What if I hate the iPhone? What if T-Mobile sucks? I'd be stuck, stuck, stuck til I'm a month shy of turning 40 - argh!

Then there's the virtual keyboard. Having given it a try on a friends' iPhone, I couldn't even type out a simple SMS message without a string of frustrating typo's because my fingers are too big for the keys and the iPhone won't allow you to use your nail to tap. Apparently the keyboard takes some getting used to and if you learn to "trust" the auto-correct feature you'll be typing flawlessly within hours. But I switch between Dutch and English regularly, even within a single SMS message sometimes - so I don't think I can rely on a single-language auto-correct system. If anyone out there has experience with using auto-correct bilingually, please do let me know. Is it a quick switch between languages?

Battery life is another worry. Charging your iPhone at least once a day seems to be the norm whereas my E61i usually goes about 3 days without a charge. Admittedly I have turned 3G off on the Nokia to preserve battery power and I could do the same on the iPhone, but that would kind of defeat the point of getting a phone specifically promoted for its 3G capabilities, wouldn't it? Even if I turned 3G off I'd probably run down the battery playing with all the other cool stuff, so I suppose the iPhone is the victim of its own fabulousness in all things app.

So a combination of these iPhone complaints and a dose of impatience to really try out that sleek interface has made me look to the iPod Touch (iPT) as a PDA - especially now that Apple has released the new version. I have figured that I would then get to play with all the cool stuff without being trapped into a lengthy phone deal or risking frustration with the iPhone's phone functions/faults. The downside is, of course, that I then have two gadgets to carry around with me. Would that be practical?

I could theoretically keep syncing both the E61i and the iPT to my Mac so that even if I leave home without the iPT, I'd still have access to my up-to-date calendar and contacts, albeit through the clunky Symbian interface.

Speaking of which, one thing which really annoys me about the Nokia E61i is when I am talking to someone (away from my desk) who wants to make an appointment with me. I then have to put them on speakerphone and somehow get into the calendar without accidentally disconnecting them which I rarely do successfully. I suppose that contradicts my above statement about loving an all-in-one smartphone - but I do love having everything in one device in my pocket... I just don't like having to multitask on that device during a phonecall. I want it all don't I?

There are even rumours of the iPod Touch being capable of making VOIP calls if you use a headphone/mic combination accessory. Hmmm... interesting.

So by now I think I have convinced myself that the combination of the iPod Touch and E61i is the way to go. The next dilemma is : to 16GB or to 32GB?