I'm on Vodafone and wanted the European Hero. But I just couldn't get the deals to move from Vodafone to Orange in the UK :-( So did the upgrade and had the choice between the Magic and the Tattoo.
I went for the Tattoo, but it was really personal reasons about how I use the phone and my wife was adamant that I didn't get a white phone (you can only get the Magic in white here)!! The Tattoo worked out quite a bit cheaper for me, it allows me to get into Android and try the apps, I use it as my main MP3 player -- so the 3.5mm jack was a big plus for me. I also liked HTC Sense (though now I know a bit more about Android, I don't think this is such a big thing) but it does offer quite a few niceities the Magic doesn't.
Anyway, your questions. I get on fine with the screen. The resistive vs capactive ain't such a big thing (hey and in the recent snow i put mine in a clear bag and could still use it with my mittened fingers - try that on a Magic) - but the smaller size of the screen has more impact on usability. It can make typing a bit of a pain, but it is just a case of putting it in landscape or switching to the phone type keypad. You'll probably find it more of a pain after a Hero. Actually, thinking about it, you both having HTC Sense might be a positive.
Apps - the Tattoo has about a third of the apps available to standard sized screens. Quite a few are being updated though and I see more becoming available. Quite a number of the ones you might want, might not be available. Bar code scanner simply do not work. However, I have found that manually installing apks gets around the market place and a lot of the apps do actually work. In the main though, I'm relatively happy with the amount of apps available.
HTC Sense as you know will also get you Facebook links into your contacts (if your wife facebooks) which I don't think the Magic has.
I really think there are positives and minus points for each and it comes down to personal preference. I do sometimes wonder if I should have got a Magic, but I'm happy with the Tattoo.
- Mark
Edit: Oh, and must say each time I see the Magic I always think, actually its quite a small and neat phone ;-)
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