Multi-touch display giving Dell Latitude XT users fits?

Dell's Latitude XT is a pretty special piece of equipment, namely because it boasts multi-touch capabilities while being a Tablet PC. Unfortunately, it seems that quite a few users are growing increasingly frustrated with the touch-lovin' screen, with GottaBeMobile going so far as to call Dell out to remedy the myriad issues with its N-Trig digitizer. Among the problems are "digitizer not found" errors upon restart, a digitizer that won't work properly without a few reboots and a nice selection of applet loading errors to top things off. It seems the readers of the aforesaid site aren't faring too well either, with the forums filling up with folks eager and willing to yell "amen!" and "me too!" Are you also experiencing wonky N-Trig problems? Are you fed up with Dell's public silence on the matter? Or have you figured out a solution that you've been keeping all to yourself for the past seven months? Chime in down below.

[wxrman @ Oct 20th 2008 9:01PM]

cheap chinese crap... with little actual input from Dell... they just brand it and sell it.

...and fix it in the next version.

[Guruboy @ Oct 20th 2008 9:12PM]

This is a software issue. It didn't come up before the multi-touch SOFTWARE upgrade became available. It has as much to do with Chinese people as the number of Chinese programmers Dell employs.

[Information Central @ Oct 21st 2008 3:35AM]

Clearly the computer is full of melamine instead of memory.

[sim @ Oct 21st 2008 9:27AM]

melamine? did Dell really need to boost it's apparent protein for each new laptop?

[Guruboy @ Oct 20th 2008 9:10PM]

I own a Latitude XT and I haven't had any of these problems. I don't use the multi-touch very often though. Sometimes to scroll whilst in tablet mode. Using it for zoom isn't necessary or very useful. It's still the best tablet on the market though.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 20th 2008 10:25PM]

I have a Latitude XT which I religiously use every single day (it's all I use for notes, and it serves as my 24/7 notebook). I can honestly say I've never had any of these issues.

Keep in mind that as far a N-Trig goes, these are extremely new. The biggest problem (if you can call it one) is that tracking on the edges of the display sometimes isn't as good as it is somewhere away from the edge. That makes it a problem to scroll properly sometimes, but only if you're already a marginal distance away from the screen. Wacom had these same issues before they wizened up to making the sensor area a bit larger than the screen, N-Trig will do the same, likely.

Honestly, the XT gets a LOT of flack as well for the ATI graphics driver issue. This is entirely fixable with drivers, and I wrote something up on those forums about how to fix it, and bundled a modded INF/driver package as well.

The only issue I can speak to is that yes, occasionally the pen does randomly tap after resuming from standby, but I always assumed that's because I am rough with my pen and write with a lot of pressure. Other than that, it isn't _nearly_ as bad as they're making it out to be.

[Joshua Auger @ Oct 20th 2008 9:13PM]

I have a Latitude XT, i feel ripped off some days, when i think that they could at least implement support for the touchlib type things. They could also fix some of the issues with the digitizer like the fact that it won't recognize touch imput until it has pen imput.

This could be a great product and i'm sure it will be better when "Windows 7" comes out.

[ajfarson @ Oct 21st 2008 2:27AM]

That is a settings issue. I can use touch without even ejecting the pen. just put it in dual mode for touch/pen config and it should do what you want. you have to double tap with your finger to enable touch when in dual mode.

[Joshua Auger @ Oct 20th 2008 9:13PM]

By the way, if anyone is able to get either Ubuntu to work easily or OSx86 working on it i would like to know how you did it, i was wondering how the touch works in either one but am having a hard time with getting them working properly.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 20th 2008 10:32PM]

I'd second that, OSx86 would make this thing amazing.

[iofthestorm @ Oct 20th 2008 11:43PM]

Dunno about this one, but for my HP TX2000Z I just had to compile and configure linuxwacom. It's fairly easy if someone's done it before for your laptop because then you can take most of their configuration verbatim. I don't use Ubuntu much though because Vista's tablet integration is really nice, whereas Linux's is nonexistant.

[MrLegend @ Oct 20th 2008 9:21PM]

I got tired of dealing with the thing... the only reason I didn't sell it is because I have hope for its potential, but it's not used for more than solitaire and ink ball now....

[Leindurstit @ Oct 20th 2008 9:26PM]

I'm an XT owner as of two weeks ago, and so far during my trials, I've had the "digitizer not found" error occur only once. This was during a driver shootout with an apparently incompatible Intel wifi card I was trying to stuff in here though, so probably wasn't their fault entirely.

Works fine now though. Could be a little more responsive to the multi-touch gestures, but overall it seems to work great. I can't get over how clear and bright this screen is...

[Bryan Mancuso @ Oct 20th 2008 9:39PM]

Yeah, I am afraid I can confirm the problems with the digitizer software. The crashes were mitigated by reinstalling the USB bus drivers or something (I should know this) but either way it is R165337 on Dell's site.

The XT (both mine and a friend's) have issues with the ATI integrated graphics drivers too...it causes fairly frequent bluescreens. Definitely frustrating. I still love the computer though. It doesn't give me as much heartache as the Asus R1F, and the people supporting the issues for me are not total assholes (like Asus was). I also am more fond of the Wacom digitizer for stylus-input. The N-Trig digitizer just never felt quite as right.

[SJH @ Oct 20th 2008 9:54PM]

I had similar problems with the Dell-provided ATI drivers bluescreening Vista, but these virtually disappeared after installing the "Motherboard/IGP" Catalyst drivers from ATI: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

[Resolution @ Oct 20th 2008 10:10PM]

I feel like it's the entire machine at fault here. I can't use aero (it's easier on the eyes for long duration usage) because the graphics card driver crashes intermittantly with it on. The pen sometimes goes crazy all over the screen requiring a system reset, and the number of times the digitiser 'fails to connect to device' and a usb error comes up is getting ridiculous. At other times the digitiser will work but every other input device is inoperable. The XT seems like a flawed product from start to finish. I'd return mine if I had the luxury of owning another machine.

[Jimmie Holman @ Nov 11th 2008 3:12AM]

I've bought MANY Dell business computers, we also have recommended to our clients for use with our companies equipment, and have been pretty much satisfied over the years. THAT ALL CHANGED shortly after the acquisition of the Latitude XT. Dell has been unwilling and unable to help ...and non-responsive. It is understandable that they are now facing legal issues over this model. Even many Dell resellers I've spoken to are likewise seeing the same level of frustration. The unusually excessive number of Dell XTs appearing on E-Bay is probably the best indication of a serious dumping program going on. If you have a relatively well-working XT, consider yourself lucky. Frankly it appears the much hyped XT is turning out to be an albatross around Dells neck ... one that they seem to want to ignore. In MY case, I have an expensive paperweight that wont boot, 2 service centers haven't been able to restore, who Dell ALSO will not respond to, ....... basically I have a device that does little other than raise my blood pressure. I feel let down by Dell and because of their responses to myself and many others who have had similar experiences ... i cannot see EVERY purchasing another DELL product nor will I ever recommend to another friend or business associate. SO LONG DELL !

[BobTurbo @ Oct 20th 2008 10:59PM]

Finally Engadget have reached the lowest journalism possible: false headlines.

[diode3diode @ Oct 21st 2008 12:34AM]

"false headlines"?
You're being sarcastic right. If you follow the read link to GBM and you check out their "Inkshows" and their "x200t vs 2730p" battle showdown, you'll know the site is run by people who love tablet PC's. They test, review, investigate tablets for us to decide if the tablets we see are worth purchasing. In fact if you are into the x200 tablet you might want to look at this: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2008/10/20/gbm-review-the-lenovo-thinkpad-x200-tablet-pc/

So for someone to indicate that GBM are false, I gotta say you gotta check yourself. 'Cause you are wrong.

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 20th 2008 11:02PM]

I love my dell 30inches screen!!

[Mark @ Oct 20th 2008 11:26PM]

Every Dell product I've bought has left me feeling shortchanged within a few months once the problems start occurring and they refuse to provide any reasonable level of service. I realize it's an overreaction, but during the summer my Dell Latitude and my iPod had problems at more or less the same time; I don't intend to ever buy from Dell again, whereas I'm taking Macbooks, etc. far more seriously than I otherwise would have before.

You can guess who had the better customer service as well as who, from my point of view, has the more reliable products.



I wish Dell was just more accountable for its products.

[HyperHacker @ Oct 20th 2008 11:42PM]

Not to defend Dell, but does anyone these days *not* have shitty customer service?

[gonintendo @ Oct 21st 2008 5:40PM]

Nintendo.

[Jimmie H @ Nov 11th 2008 9:02PM]

I've NEVER been more disappointed in a product than I have THIS Dell XT. As a tool, it is WORTHLESS, as far as reliability ...WORTHLESS.
I cant blame the problems strictly on N-Trig ... but rather on Dell in promoting an "unproven" product, advertizing AND selling features not even there yet, then pleading ignorance with no apparent accontability. Dell continues to ignore requests to address my and others problems.
The buying public should NOT be Dell's unwitting lab rats.

[Mark @ Oct 21st 2008 12:34AM]

Works fine for me about 95% of the time. Every now and then the touch stops working, but it's easy enough to reset from the N-Trig control panel applet. I'd like the overall multitouch experience to be a bit more smooth, but I'm fairly confident that will come in time as new drivers are released.

Overall, the XT is a great little system. It's at least as reliable as my MacBook Pro...

[Man Unit @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:00AM]

"Or have you figured out a solution that you've been keeping all to yourself for the past seven months? Chime in down below."

Yeah. I bought the Lenovo X200T. Problem solved.

[Joe H @ Oct 21st 2008 12:42AM]

I just received my refurbished Dell XT on Friday, after using a 20% off coupon at the outlet store to get it for even cheaper.

I've had the driver error once out of probably 20-30 reboots already (after doing a fresh install and then needing to install updates, drivers, etc). Really, with how infrequent its been for me, its not a big problem to just reboot once in a while. Admittedly, I also don't use iTunes, which apparently causes problems as well.

I even had issues with the pen buttons not working properly all the time. I emailed Dell Friday afternoon, received a reply Friday night, and already had the new pen when I got home today. If that's not good customer service, then I don't know what is. (And I didn't pay a dime extra for any extended service, just the standard 3 year mail in warranty).

I was a little unsure about the Dell, I really don't like them in general, and preferred the HP 2730p, but for the price I paid, $725 for 1.33GHz, 2GB RAM (which I've since upgraded to the max of 3GB for $11 shipped after rebate from Crucial/ Frys), 120GB 5400rpm hard drive, the daylight viewable screen, 45w charger, Bluetooth, and 802.11a/b/g, I'm very happy. The same machine from HP would've been another $1100.

Its a great machine period (though yeah, maybe N-Trig does need work on their drivers, but for me that's only a slight inconvenience. Even my desktop with an ATI 3870 has driver issues.) However, for the price I paid, it's amazing.

[Joe H @ Oct 21st 2008 12:46AM]

Though I do have to agree just slightly that I do have just a very little issue with tracking the pen at the edge of the screen. For me, three of the sides work pretty much completely to the edge, but the fourth, the bottom edge in regular landscape mode, has slightly worse problems when I get the pen near it.

[Mike @ Oct 21st 2008 2:12AM]

I fought with the N-Trig errors for months before sending it back to Dell. Even with a long running thread running on the Dell Forums (since January IIRC), the Dell techs denied that there was a problem or that it had been reported. I reported the issue to N-Trig as well (no reply).

One of the techs finally admitted that a bench-test was required, but I didn't hear from anyone at Dell volunteering to do that.

[ajfarson @ Oct 21st 2008 2:28AM]

Overall it is the best tablet experience I have ever had. But I had to tweak quite a few things to be able to honestly say that. Power issues sudden shutdowns when docking and undocking, and I have had digitizer stopped responding and was closed msgs ever since loading up the multi-touch drivers. I just turned it off, as I didn't find it very useful. Here's hoping DELL picks up the pieces on this one and releases a better driver.

I also disabled the internal network card power management and disabled the power saving features on the USB ports, that solved all my power issues.

[霽月瀛台 @ Oct 21st 2008 2:57AM]

Do I need to be an Austrian Tunk to hold this?

[Mike @ Oct 21st 2008 3:04AM]

Here's a link to the Dell Forums discussion of this matter:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&thread.id=271479&view=by_date_ascending&page=4

As many people note:
1) it's an out of the box problem
2) even if you send that link to Dell, they say that you're the first person to report it.

[ionman @ Oct 21st 2008 8:06AM]

Yep. I have had these issues since this thing was released. The updates have made it a lot better, because it was pretty much unusable when I got it from Dell, but there are still software issues that need to be worked out.

[ARK @ Oct 21st 2008 9:33AM]

Never had a problem with my XT.

I think its just a matter of a few cases of a new product having some glitches. All of which sound like they can be fixed with a few software patches/fixes.

Stop giving this thing slack - I could live without it.


P.S. Microsoft OneNote on the XT is brilliant. All my lecture notes in one place - No random peices of paper having to be stored and filed away for revision later in the semester. - I just download the lecture info from my university's website and write directly onto it. I would even go as far as saying OneNote is the best program I have ever used.

[MbZ-buGSy @ Oct 21st 2008 7:53PM]

Hey I must say I totaly agree with you on OneNote. I wouldn't say its the gratest program i ever used, but certainly one of the best Microsoft apps ever. It goes so well with tablet PCs :P

[poj @ Oct 21st 2008 3:57PM]

Are you guys all running vista? I have had the xt for half a year now on xp - none of the issues above has appeared and i use it extensively every day. Great tablet - n-trig a bit of a joke i though, i just wish the graphics had a little more juice.

[MbZ-buGSy @ Oct 21st 2008 7:53PM]

Hey, mine started to act wierd when i updated the n-trig software along with a Vista update. After that particular Vista update n-trig sometimes crashes on startups. Dell,, FIX THIS NOW!..please :D

[Marc Notenboom @ Nov 14th 2008 10:49AM]

The Dell XT is a BETA product. It should never been released on the market. If you want to know more about my experiences. Please read it at http://www.marcnotenboom.com