Brief: N-Series QWERTY!?!?!

N-Series QWERTY???

Well, if this report at boygeniusreport is accurate it looks like I may be crossing off at least one of the most-hoped-for items from my wishlist in 2008! The report also states the device will have "DVD-Quality" video recording, and other features that "will take N-Series to the next level". Colour me excited!

The next question of course is what form-factor to use to accomplish the addition of a QWERTY keyboard? The article talks about using a form-factor reminiscent of the E61, but I really hope they don't go there. To my mind the E61 is one of the least pleasing form-factors from an aesthetic standpoint. So if not that, then what? A Nokia patent filing was recently reported at a number of places, and it just so happens to be a Triple-Slider form-factor. Take a look at the image below from Nokia's patent filing - tasty. I really hope they steer away from the E61 look the article talks about and go for something like the triple slider, which handily would also facilitate the use of a beautiful big, high-resolution touchscreen...

Triple Slider

If this were the form factor for the QWERTY Nokia I'll be in UI heaven! Touch screen but with regular keypad, multimedia keys and QWERTY? Of course the obvious concern is how will the build quality be on this phone? Nokia has yet to make a good quality single slider in the N-Series, let alone a triple. If Nokia fulfills another of my wishlist items in this handset, namely better build quality, then this will surely be my Jesus-phone. For a few months anyway... 

How about you?