So, here I was… teetering on the edge of making the leap to the iPhone 4 from my beloved Apple Empire. Yes, there are some pretty cool changes to the latest edition to the family. And I’ll agree there is something a little George Jettsonish about video conferencing from a cell phone while I am sitting in rush hour traffic.

But in the end, I decided against it. Here’s my reasoning, in case you’re contemplating whether to make the jump or wait a while:

After all the glitz and glamour wears off this is still an iPhone.
The changes revealed in the iPhone 4 are nice and all but do they really demand the upgrade? Unless you are planning to sell the compact camera you got for Christmas and break Aunt Judy’s heart, I think you may want to rethink this. Screen resolution is much better huh? Yeah, I’ll give you that, but you really need to see the roots of the hairs on the gnats’ bottom?

Video Conferencing, Really?
Yes, yes Virginia while the idea of being able to teleconference with Santa Claus will be really awesome on Christmas Eve, have you investigated the possibility that Santa may not have an iPhone 4? Are a bunch of your friends and family taking this dive with you? Because if they aren’t, you’ll be video conferencing in the mirror with yourself. So if you are thinking you’ll be able to see your soldier halfway around the world on the phone, think again. Oh, and do you really want people to see you on their phone first thing in the morning?

Money, money, and more (or less) money.
If you are currently in contract with your cell carrier and without an available upgrade you’re going to pay a pretty steep price. If you aren’t in contract you’ll need to consider if you want to remain with your current carrier or wait until the first of next year and have another option. If you do it now you’re locked in probably for two years.

iPhones are such sweet candy to those of us who love our apple toys and Mac gadgets. Just make sure you’re getting a new phone for the right reasons and not becoming a serial upgrader. For me, this wasn’t the right time.