Key Layout Change?

[onthefence]

I find it kind of clumsy for the TALK and END buttons to be on different sides of the phone. Does anyone else have that same feeling? Just seems slightly unnatural.

Do you think it would be an improvement to have the keys rearranged?

 

[johnkzin]

I like them where they are, and I think the ergonomics supports that. You want them to be far apart so that clumsy fingers don't accidentally hand up, or initiate, a call. You should only intentionally move them together if they serve a similar purpose... and those buttons don't serve a similar purpose, they serve opposed purposes.

So, IMO, the right layout for those buttons is what we have now.

 

[onthefence]

well, i guess it's just me.
to me, having similar functions together takes less thinking and coordination.
with things like this, you can't please everyone

 

[johnkzin]

Right, but that's part of my point. They're not similar, they're anti-similar. They perform opposite tasks. That means it's bad to group them too closely, and better to spread them out.

 

[Deleted User]

isn't that how most phones are set up? I dont think very many phones put their red and green button next to each other...? Putting it on the same side sounds more unnatural.

 

[onthefence]

yes, I suppose it has always been a convention, and, well i've always had a different way of looking at things. just wanted to see if anyone else felt the same way.

not to belabor the point, but johnkzin,
TALK & END - are both calling functions
BACK & HOME - are both navigational functions
(this is my logic)

TALK & HOME - similarities
BACK & END - maybe somewhat similar in that one ends a program and the other ends a call.

 

[noonehereyet]

If I were to move any button it would be the delete button on the qwerty.... to close to the enter button for me... but otherwise I'm happy....

 

[johnkzin]

The main physical/ergonomic changes I'd make to the G1 are:

1) dpad instead of trackball

2) move the data/charging/headphone port to the side (on the side of the chin, near the camera button)

3) make the chin flat (not flush with the keyboard, but non-angled)

4) put a second "chin" at the other end, that is also flat, making the screen slide straight instead of in an arc. The second chin would have the ear speaker and status light on it. I'd also make the screen take up more of the sliding mechanism (less bevel area). Internally, I'd use this extra volume to make room for a larger battery.

5) make it a tilt screen

Other than that, I'd pretty much leave the physical design the same. Maybe add an LED flash for the camera, but that's not really an ergonomic change. I'm agnostic about a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the 2nd chin might provide a place for that.

 

[cNo7]

i'd like the speaker to be on the side instead of on the back.

When resting the phone on a table or it laying on my bed, the ringer is horribly muffled and not always easy to hear even if I have the volume cranked

 

[krstofer]

I think that's why the sidekick moved it's speaker to the front (though it wasn't as good). I wish the phone was more even with holding it in "txting" mode. It is weird to have little to hold onto on the left side of the phone.

 

[johnkzin]

I wish the phone was more even with holding it in "txting" mode. It is weird to have little to hold onto on the left side of the phone.

That's why I proposed a second "chin". For symmetry when holding the phone in landscape orientation.