Albatron 22-inch multi-touch LCD becoming a reality in March

After Microsoft announced Windows 7 would natively support multi-touch displays, Albatron was one of the first to show off a prototype panel intended to take advantage of that functionality. Seven months later the company is finally letting you know when you'll be able to buy one, and is also taking another opportunity to talk up its optical touch tech, which features sensors embedded into the bezel rather than the surface itself -- in theory resulting in a brighter image and greater durability. The company is planning to release its 21.5-inch LCD in March, and, while provided details are few, we know that the display will support 120Hz, have DVI and VGA inputs, and will relay touch information to the PC over USB. We also know that the company's motto is "captures the spirit of the Albatross," which we're going to go ahead and assume is a reference to Monty Python and not Baudelaire.

[absinthe party @ Jan 20th 2009 9:13AM]

Yeah, I'd multi-touch that right there.

[eggothewaffle @ Jan 20th 2009 9:15AM]

I wonder if it supports multi-motorboat.

[Acidox @ Jan 20th 2009 9:14AM]

No pricing yet? D:

[JohnJohn @ Jan 20th 2009 9:17AM]

While I think these types of displays would be a novelty in my own daily computing life, I still think they're cool in some situations...just not for ones sitting at a desk.
http://www.woopid.com/

[Leo Richard Comerford @ Jan 20th 2009 9:19AM]

Presumably not Coleridge either...

[Brazell @ Jan 20th 2009 9:22AM]

And horrible photoshops becoming a reality TODAY.

[Michael @ Jan 20th 2009 9:24AM]

Awesome. I used an Albatron monitor for several years, it was very dependable and they use good panels. It was one of the first with DVI.

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 20th 2009 9:55AM]

Really? AFAIK, Albatron used to be 青雲, and their products back then, were of average quality and creativity.

[NoAndThen @ Jan 20th 2009 9:29AM]

Nifty, but I'm just not gonna wanna have to touch a screen; kudos to them for advancingthe tech tho. Really the only multitouch I'd be interested in is in a trackpad for gestures, and even then not really; I'm a keyboard whore.

Could be fun to break your LCD playing whack a mole, though.

[E71 @ Jan 20th 2009 11:20AM]

I do... but not until they release 24+ inches >= 2ms response... I don't like going backwards spec-wise even if a new feature is introduced.

[DJChill08 @ Jan 20th 2009 9:38AM]

Its bound to happen, but I don't know if these photos are real. I don't think windows is advanced enough to handle that yet.

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 20th 2009 9:44AM]

ALBATROSS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_u7VGiMO0U

[nutts @ Jan 20th 2009 9:46AM]

Sorry but why would I ever want to purposely touch my desktop screen!?

Fingerprints are horrible all over any screen, you've only got to look at any capacitive touch-screen phone to know that. But at least phone screens are easily cleaned on your shirt or whatever.

[teamallyn @ Jan 20th 2009 9:49AM]

... or a reference to Hot Rod ... (and with the tenacity of the domesticated housecat...)

[Kurian @ Jan 20th 2009 10:00AM]

Mmmmm...multi touch boobies on screen..

[PchyoNaughty @ Jan 20th 2009 10:25AM]

I'm multi-touching myself now.

[Mitur Binesderti @ Jan 20th 2009 10:24AM]

I'm multi-touching myself now...

[Kelmon @ Jan 20th 2009 10:50AM]

I rather thought the wandering Albatross was a rather lonely bird, which is what I am expecting these displays to be.

[CosterMonger @ Jan 20th 2009 10:51AM]

hopefully this 120Hz touchscreen LCD supports the nvidia shutter glasses?

[pissa.pissa @ Jan 20th 2009 1:13PM]

3D Multi touch! Imagine the possibilities!

[Doug @ Jan 20th 2009 11:58AM]

I'm not sure that multitouch on a desktop monitor makes a lot of sense. Or even touch capability for that matter. How tired are your arms going to get if you're doing all of your mousing with your arms held up in the air all of the time?

Time for a new form factor. Maybe we need these sorts of things to be become the tops of our desks, complete with virtual keyboard built into same. Maybe Edward Dillinger was on to something.

[si @ Jan 20th 2009 8:18PM]

I can just imagine the possibilities. I'm waiting on the edge of my wallet.

[eric @ Jan 21st 2009 12:41AM]

Isn't this monitor just using the same technology as the HP Touchsmart? I think the company that makes this technology is called NextWindow.

I heard the accuracy is not so good.

[Neo @ Jan 21st 2009 8:00PM]

Is that how it looks like on the opposite side of the matrix when you touch the mirror?

[Jack @ Jan 21st 2009 8:05PM]

No, that's how Stargate arrivals look like...