Ask Engadget: Best multitouch monitor?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Matthew, who just can't wait to let his fingers do the talking within Windows 7.

"With all the new multitouch capable monitors coming out, which one is the best? With the release of Windows 7 I really want a touchscreen monitor for my desktop. I'm looking to get a Full HD monitor that supports multitouch and can still look great during gaming and movies. Which one has the best specs for the price?"

We know this sector is still in the early stages, but we're guessing there are a few options out there and on the horizon for those looking to take advantage of one of Win7's most enticing features. Any tips here, wise ones?

[NoSuch Posted Nov 13th 2009 9:08AM]

I bought the HP 2105 - it's only $300 right now and does 1080p which is a decent deal (much better than what Dell offers). So far I like it - there are cool apps like Bump Top that make the device really interesting. The value in this device isn't that Windows is automatically amazing to use with multi touch, it's that there are great 3rd party apps coming out.

One cool use of multi touch monitors is for peer use - instead of having to point and something on the screen and say "click that button" i can just click it, and whoever's driving can continue using the keyboard and mouse. It's actually pretty cool if you do peer programming.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2009 9:51AM]

Well thanks for all the feedback, even though i had to sift through a fare amount of junk.

Special thanks to Ted and Robert for the reviews on the HP model, thats the one i was looking into and you have only furthered my descision.

HP's site has some unclear info on the model they make. What is its contrast ration. I think they list the standard number but i want to know the big number that would be comparable to the others on the market. Anyone know this info.

[Ted2 Posted Nov 13th 2009 12:31PM]

The HP site is very confusing about it! I don't know why, but the information is hard to find and that frustrated me also. The following page should have all the specifications you want:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01914787

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "the big number" with regards to contrast ratio, otherwise I would tell you.

[Foo Bar Posted Nov 13th 2009 9:57AM]

I would love to have touchscreen on a monitor I use for home entertainment. It would be great to just walk over to the screen and tap a couple times to bring up some music, or a movie. Right now I have a wireless keyboard and mouse in the cabinet under an iMac for doing this, and it sucks.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2009 10:03AM]

I know it is just a thought right now, but the 10/gui is going to actually change things.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2009 11:45AM]

I'm from Northern Ireland, but don't get offended being called a 'brit', 'paddy', or whatever... is it actual Japanese people voting this guys comment down?

Why should we have to worry about being politically correct if we're not politicians?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2009 1:24PM]

I have a touchsmart tx2 right now. The thing is great, but I have a few thoughts.

touchscreen and full HD for gaming and movies do not go hand in hand. Go downstairs to your 60 inch sony tv you blew 5 grand on with the top boss hd picture. rub your fingers around it. proceed to cry because you are probably going to mess the screen up. if you aren't messing the screen up over time by touching it then you are 1. sacrificing image quality for durability and 2. getting your dirty monkey grease fingers all over it so you will be 3. cleaning your screen every 5 minutes like I do (maybe im ocd?)

multi-touch is pretty sweet. I haven't upgraded to 7 yet because im in grad school right now and classes are a time suck, but even on vista the multi touch is cool. but this is the beginning of the hardware you will see. I would recommend buying either a touch screen or a sick HD screen. its fun having touch right now because even though i don't use it that much, I get to play around with it as the software develops.

However, unless you plan to be wiping your screen off every time you sit down to a game or movie, I would go dual screen. Play your games on the Hd and play with paint and win7 on the touch screen

[Michael Pollard Posted Nov 13th 2009 1:58PM]

I thought the comment in question was a reference to particularly sensitive body areas, ones which sometimes poke out when cold or over-stimulated.

I guess I'm just not up on the racial slurs.

[Relyt Posted Nov 13th 2009 3:26PM]

The iMac. Oh wait.....

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2009 5:34PM]

I bought the Gateway One which is going to be on sale at Best Buy for $599 this Sunday and my toddler loves it. I like when you are looking at photos, and my toddler uses it for his games and the internet. I was waiting for windows 7 before I got one but I have been looking at the HP touchsmart, but the Gateway price was a good deal. At first I was going to just buy a monitor but figure for a couple $ more I get a whole PC and my son could have it in his room and it looks nice. http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668315.php

[ecsw Posted Nov 13th 2009 6:56PM]

I just bought a Gateway AIO ZX6800 for under $1000cdn with Core-2-Quad and 4GB DDR3.

Wonderful computer and kids love it.

Mult-Touch is just an assistant to mouse. Some of the kids games are good with it (simple touch, not multi-touch). But compare the applications available on iPhone/iPod, it needs more time. It's a little more than none touch AIO, but I think it's worth it.

[ecsw Posted Nov 13th 2009 7:00PM]

btw, zx6800 comes with 23" LCD.
ZX4800 comes with 20", but it was not available here in Canada yet.

[SrgBacon Posted Nov 13th 2009 7:03PM]

wow i wasn't even being racist, just abbreviating a name. But guess the world is to sensitive to abbreviations nowadays........