N95 D-pad ... usable, at last !

G

Good Ole Yankie Inside Me

New member
For those who find the 95 D-pad a less than agreeable experience - don't give up in despair, for help is at hand

Nokia's characteristically cursory attention to D-pad ergonomics/usability has in the 95, resulted in an abortion of 'design' that is : -

a) - too small for all but the slenderest thumbs and
b) - a select button spring that is way too stiff - most particularly, given a).

Despair ye not !

Judicious sanding of the D-pad button-contacts (convex side) results in a reduction of spring pressure that makes the pad almost agreeable to use.
Yes folks, I $h*t you not - it transforms the phone.

Surfing in Opera (8.65 of course), is transformed from an ordeal of frustration (trying to engage the Select button rather than hitting Up, Down, Left or Right (take your pick)) into the kind of experience Opera intended it to be.
You can happily click on links using the Select button, free from the frustration and anticipation of not doing so - just like you always wanted.
YAY !

It goes without saying of course, that one should remove said contacts before sanding.

Enjoy.
 
No problems with the Sammy D900.

That has an ergonomically beautiful D-pad - very comfortable, zero frustration.
Also a good slide, with a nice pushbar.

Why are Nokia such bungling amateurs WRT to ergonomics ?
 
I'm prolly within the bell-curve average.
But with my thumb on the Select button, I've also got it on the L/R, U/D buttons.
How pants is that ?

Sure, if you've got lady-hands, then you're prolly just fine.
 
Dude, using Opera is a killer. First of all If I hold a key to type out a number, it goes somewhere. If I'm fiddling around trying to write something, I eventually press the END button, and there goes Opera closed

Other than that it's nice, I like everything, but for people that like to text, or write with ease, E65 keypad is gorgeous.
 
Come on, dude.
Surely you're more confident in your own sexuality than to get worked up about a little comment like that ?
Or have I unwittingly touched on something ?
 
lmao....no....well maybe?! Seriously though, I was just making the point that most people feel it's perfectly adequate considering the overall size of the phone. Unfortunately being married I can no longer have ANY confidence in my sexuality.
 
And I was making the point that some people feel it's perfectly inadequate considering the overall size of the phone
But seriously, I guess the radius of your thumb's curvature at its tip makes a difference.
A broad, flat thumb would cover more of the pad than a more cylindrical thumb.
Either way, I hated it - and now I don't.
But I shouldn't be placed in the position of having to mod a $900 phone.
I think Nokia should send its design dpt. to South Korea for some instruction.
 
I personally don't think the d-pad isn't big at all. I've sold loads of N95's and have never heard of anyone complaining about the size of the d-pad.

On top of that how is the selection button 'stiff'? If you're having problems using it then maybe you've got a slight defect with your phone.
 
No defect, just a personal pref.
It's like my mouse, I HATE the degree of travel and force required to click it.
So I modded it so it's almost thought-clickable.
Clicking is now fast, relaxed and easy - rather than something requiring so much force that it occasionally results in gross movements of the mouse.
Using click-buttons should not be a challenge, but an agreeable almost sensual experience.
It avoids frustration and RSI.
 
we need the expiry date now so we can buy n95 for everyone in hofo s60 forum

btw the d-pad is always usable to me...well i dont have big hands i guess.
 
That I agree with! Similar to the videos in the Nokia Blog I found myself hitting the menu/multimedia buttons every other time I played a game on the N95. I think had I spent more time with it I would have gotten used to it like any Nokia.
 
I had the same problem with the N75. I'm just not a fan of the new "Button Cluster". I much preferred the S60 buttons to be along the sides of the keypad, a-la N80/N73
 
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