0) I don't think the layout in general is that bad, I'm aware of the space restrictions. It could be improved, but it's already pretty good. It's other things I want to criticize.
1) I think there should be as many keys as reasonably possible within space restrictions. I think right now, without changing anything else, more keys of the same size could be added without having keys in locations where you hit them accidentally or they are otherwise in your way.
Concretely: There is free space for an additional button to the left/right of q/p. Also around the dpad, axby buttons and nubs. Some people want six gaming buttons. I think that might be possible (and after all you can assign those keys to have regular keyboard functionality too, so they count too).
2) Space between keys: There is pretty much space between the keys, but this also makes it easy to hit the right key without accidentally hitting another one too. I think if that spacing was made smaller to fit more keys, then practised users would benefit: they would still only hit the right keys but they would have more keys. Less practised user would need to adjust the position of their fingers more often to hit the right key (assuming they are sliding their fingers around the area where they think the key is to find it before pressing). Right now you can be off from the ideal position to hit a certain key by at least 3mm and still just press your finger down and still hit it. I think this is not necessary.
3) Size of keys: I think the keys have about the right size.
One wants to be able to slide his fingers around on the keyboard to correct the location of your finger (thumbs) and find the right key (assuming you're holding the Pandora with both hands and thumb typing). This lead to three other things:
4) Form of the top of the keys: I think rounded like they are is okay though it's not the only way (I think like
this (but obviously with other proportions/smaller) would be good too), but
5) Height of the keys: I think they are too high. They hinder you when sliding your finger around. I think you could keep the form (more or less) but just scale it down to make it less high and get rid of the 2/3 of a mm or so that they just reach up vertically.
6) Surface feeling: I think it's probably that glossy coat, but no matter what it is: The fingers don't just glide over the keys, they stick to them a little (hard to describe in a foreign language). If you don't get it tell me and I'll try harder to make it clear.
7) If you put your finger on a key and move it back and forth a bit the key wobble a little (too much). Bad. Related to 8).
8) Pressing the keys: Right now if you press a key a little it goes down a little (without being registered). To actually have it register you need to press it down pretty far (for a keyboard of this size). I think it would be better if the keys didn't move at all when being pressed only a little and then when you press them hard enough move down only a tiny little bit (say 1/5 of a mm, maybe) before again meeting resistance. But this tiny movement should be very sudden, one moment there wasn't enough force and nothing happened, the next moment there was enough force and you have already moved the key down and it registered.
9) Force needed to make a key register: Shouldn't be too much (obviously) but also needs to be enough so you don't press keys accidentally. It should be possible to slide your fingers over the keys without triggering them. I think the amount of force is quite okay now, it's just distributed badly (see 8)).
That keyboard isn't perfect yet and it could use some more thought, that's what I mainly want to say.
