I'd like to see those same 800x480 apps actually be able to run on an iPod touch. Cue the upgrades in processor speed and memory and the requisite "upgrade" in price from Apple.

My feeling about my N800: jack-of-all-trades and master of none, which is cool with me right now.

Well said. But let's be honest, even the NITs can't run 800x480. Video anyone? Although, that's the difference between Apple and the NITs. Apple may not always be bleeding-edge with features, but the Apple stuff just works, and well.

And if you think the multitouch is the only difference, you haven't used an iPhone or iPod Touch. I own an iPhone and a NIT. Apple's video, responsiveness and screen are on a "Ferrari"-level. I like the stylus alright, but the way multitouch works, it's just too much of a pain to have to reach for the stylus. The finger is such a natural way to interact with the screen once you're used to it. (Like my ThinkPad trackpoint - never had one before, now I never use my touchpad)

I have both devices sitting next to me. If I need to check weather, email, surf, which one do I reach for? People here don't wanna know.

By the way, a little jailbreak and there are hundreds of FREE apps available - in the Apple AppStore too - only some cost money, and most pay apps would blow a NIT away. I'm not being a fan boy - just setting the record straight on that.

jeebus will this never stop...

Not until IKEA stops selling desks that go so well with Apple hardware.

is it me or is the thread starter long gone?

Ah, but these iPhone/iPod vs. Internet Tablet threads are self-sustaining once activated. If only the power of righteous indignation could be harnessed as an alternative energy source.

I was doing a yacht delivery last week (Largs in Scotland down to Cork in the South of Ireland). At one point our GPS started playing up and as we were in 200m visibility, taking a bearing for a fix was a no-no. Now we knew where we were an hour previous, but DR (Dead Reckoning) is only so good when there are lots of rocks around.

Fire up the NiT, get a fix - oh and while I was at it noticed there was just enough phone signal to pick up a synoptic chart and the latest shipping forecast while I was at it.

Where am I going with this? Well, with regard to the OP, I don't care if the engine is a Mustang, it stil potentially saved my life by allowing me to position myself in limited visibility.

Regarding the iPOD Touch/iPhone vs NiT, well even though one of the other crewmembers had an iPhone, on the same provider (O2-UK) they couldn't get a signal, and as it wasn't the new 3G iPhone they couldn't get a fix either.

/sets fanboy mode off for a moment.

There's no denying the visual appeal of the UI on the Apple candy-bars. It's smooth, intuitive and well thought-out; perhaps there is a proportion of the NiT userbase that would like something similar. But there is no comparison between the two when it comes to customisability and all-purpose capability.

Horses for courses, I suppose.

problem with the interface is that to get it so smooth, one have to put limitations in what things can do...

The major difference I see is the following:

* Apple every day bets more for closed business, with closed software (yes, less its BSD kernel), very closed devices (you cannot change your iphone battery!), etc.

* On the other hand we have to Nokia, Google and other phone companies, every day they are betting more for opened platforms, free software, more freedom for the user, etc.

Yes, Apple's software is very cool, very well made, just works and so on, but the software can be written and everything good that has Apple's software can be obtained by the other companies with little effort and money, but Apple's mentality with closed platforms is very difficult to change.

I really don't know where people get this apple products just work nonsense. Anyone in the tech support or repair fields know otherwise. If apple products "just work" then why is the wait at most genius bars several hours or more. The main thing the NIT has over apple products, the NITs arent put together by chinese children for cents a day. Oh, and your device doesnt get bricked for trying to break the reigns a bit. Thread over, moderator lock this mess up please.