I like the idea of just the screen sliding. At the same time, make the keys rise up a little more, maybe put some space between them, get them into a staggered arrangement...

Then:
- Place the camera on a swivel.
- Add a "lock" switch.

Now you are getting closer to what I consider the ideal design...a clamshell. Instead of having the screen slide have it close. This affords some screen protection. Leave some room for basic controls for MP3's and possibly video and mic recording and you are all set.

Lower the dpad and I like it.

I would call it "Sidekick III"

http://www.mobilegazette.com/images/...dekick-3-1.jpg
(Well, I guess except the sidekick screen does this interesting 180 rotation action, as far as I recall...)

Sidekick is a really nice device, no doubt about it.

I dunno. I'm fine with the way it's looking aesthetically . could do without the screen bevel, but other than that I think its fine. or maybe move the webcam/light sensor to the top. but I', sure there's reason they put it there. I guess, to each his/her own. i mean there are some who love the design of the n800/n770 which I dislike. I've always been a fan of clean/minimalist design. I'm not 100% in love with the n810 design. but its bearable.

That's why I kept referencing the Sidekick Slide when I was talking about the "screen slides only" design idea.

The Sidekick 1, 2, and LX have the rotation you're talking about, but Motorola is about to release the "Sidekick Slide", which slides out instead of rotating out:



Plus, the ElectroBit red chinese linux PDA has that same form factor, and i-Made just announced a similar device as well. I like it because you don't really shift from holding the sides of the screen to holding the keyboard - the side rails are stationary, so your grip doesn't change just because you started using the kbd.


Oh, and, again, the thing I would add to this (that the sidekick slide does not have) is the tilt. Have the screen be able to tilt in either closed or open position. (tilt when closed -> no need for a stand; tilt when open -> use it like a tiny laptop)

Slide out with tilt option (along the lines of what was shown in the 2005 Nokia patent someone recently linked) would be ideal IMO.

Like this:




(centered the dpad, and the right thumb buttons, put the menu button just above the dpad instead of below)


And, here it is closed:

But see, using the dpad is still awkward with screen up. Hard to get to.

Lower... lower...

I don't agree

If you put the dpad down in the lower corner, then your thumb has to flex a lot to use it. Whereas if your thumb is on the dpad, in my last 2 pictures, then you can reach the keyboard from there without much flexing (a litte bit of downward stretching, but not flexing). More ergonomically sound.


I also thought about doing 2 dpads (one left, one right), and removing all of the other buttons (escape, menu, home). Then you'd have a control panel to select "dpad left, button cluster right" or "dpad right, button cluster left".

When one of the pads is acting as the button cluster, then left would be escape, clicking on the center would be menu, and right would be home. Up would be zoom in, and down would zoom out.

That would get you a nice ambidextrous solution.

I don't think I need to work up an image for that ... it should be easy to imagine it.