Re: How they should have designed it
 

I partially agree with the original mockup, though I'm not sure if the D-Pad is an issue, since it SUCKED for navigation in Opera. Maybe microb is better, but I'm on a 770, so I can't say.

The keyboard does need bigger keys, so that the "hump" on each key is an easily discovered target, though what would really save the day would be a Sidekick-style thumbboard. Those things are probably the best thumbboards ever, and I've even heard similar usability complaints in, say, the Blackberry 8830 versus the Curve. Spacing counts.

The big issue is, how can they make more room for the keys? My first thought goes to the D-Pad. Shrink it! Put in a mini joystick, or a trackball, or anything but a D-pad!

After that, I'd love a capacitive touchscreen, for better usability with fingers, and a magnetic/conductive-tipped stylus to match that for those of us who prefer stylus ops, or want to sketch.

Beyond that, well, an SD slot under the battery, and a rear camera would be nice additions. Let me slap in 16GB of pseudo-permanent storage, and use the miniSD for data that I'd shuttle between the N810 and my non-BT devices, like a camera.

Overall, if that back piece is as big a battery as the preview users claim, this is pretty damned close to perfect. I'd happily take another 10% boost on CPU, but that's just to avoid the tiny bit of lag that I'm still seeing on the video that Thoughtfix posted.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

You could shrink it if you make it an optical mouse port. D-pads are for joysticks and videogames. Computers deserve mice.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

I love that it comes with a keyboard, what I don't like is it "forces" you to open the slider just to access the D-pad to navigate.

If they could have put a scroll wheel on the side or use the same technology used in the new crackberry's(touch sensitive) on an external D-pad or nub etc. then it would be much more user friendly.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

I like the hardware layout of the 770 very much,
with the protecive metal slider.

However didn't give up hope so I have my third Nokia 770 here,
and none of them is/was stable when using
the _most important_ application, the web browser!

And those trials to port a Mozilla-based browser to the 770 were all unsuccessful so far,
and cost me (the user) even more time to revive the unit.

This thingy simply doesn't do very well what it was advertized for IMO.

As an interesting note, other great applications,
like Maemo Mapper just work as expected.


Not neccesarily.
But as written above, the main application (web browser) should simply be stable (which it isn't),
at least from the second firmware update on.

MicroB on the 770 showed that the problem is not only the rendering engine,
but the surrounding framework.
MicroB on the 770 is very likely to crash instantly,
and leave your unit in a corrupt state, so you'll have to reflash.

The 810 looks very nice, much better than the 800,
and even if the keyboard is not meant for intensive use,
it's better than no keyboard at all:-)

So I think I'll give the 810 a try, despite the experiences with MicroB on the 770.
Hope it won't disappoint me again...


Ray

Re: How they should have designed it
 

There could be a DPAD on the front and something mouselike on the keyboard. I want a DPAD on front so I can manipulate my MP3 player while driving. I admit this is about all I use it for but its important to me. Also my hands are small and this kind of keyboard doesn't add a lot for me.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

You're kidding, right? I run MicroB on both a 2006 770 and a 2007HE 770 and they both run quite nicely. Not as stable as the N800, but quite nicely all the same and browser crashes don't leave my units in a "corrupt state" and don't require a reflash.

Personally, it sounds to me like you're doing something wrong that's unrelated to the browser.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

The large buttons in media player pressed with your finger on the touch screen isn't good enough? Sounds like it would be even safer than needing to use the d-pad.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

The tablet has a touchscreen. What's wrong with using it to navigate? No need for a d-pad.

Re: How they should have designed it
 

Personally, I RARELY, if EVER use the d pad. The only thing I have ever used the d pad for is to repeat a command in xterm (up up up touchscreen:enter). The tablet is a touch screen device and I use my fingers or stylus to do all the navigating.

What do people use the D pad for?

Re: How they should have designed it
 

I use it to scroll through pics on say, Mirage or Obscura. Sometimes I try to use it to navigate when I can't/don't want to pull out the stylus (one hand use) but it rarely does what I want/expect it might do, so l leave it alone.

I. for one, welcome design/usability comments/criticisms when they are meant as constructive, because user feedback is one of the most critical parts of any design phase, and often overlooked.

If we think about it, this is why Nokia is moving iteratively, bringing out new objects as they learn from early adpoters (bravo 770 users...you deserve a discount:) information about how/when and why people will use them. The cost of design study in the field, using this core group of geeks and this forum to test and comment on their devices, is nothing compared, say, to the cost of a television advertising campaign.

So, yes, the object isn't released yet, but you know there is a design team getting ready for the N900 and I think they're already reading this forum for just these sorts of ideas. So, keep 'em coming (just keep 'em clean)!

All that said, I think the original poster's ideas for moving all that stuff to the front is completely counter-intuitive for a touchscreen device. My vote: please, fewer buttons, not more.