Ask Engadget: Best multitouch monitor?
By Darren Murph 
posted Nov 12th 2009 11:06PM
posted Nov 12th 2009 11:06PM
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?"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?"
I really doubt anyone has bought one. I could imagine using it for 10 minutes until my arm is dead tired...
Whats the other arm doing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#Gorilla_Arm
Oh you thought I was talking about touching the screen...how novel
Indeed. Outside of select situations like a POS system or those listening stations at places like Best Buy or Barnes and Noble, there's really no practical use for a touch screen display. It's not ergonomically sound.
now some competition for things like the Cintiq I can handle. especially with built in drivers so you don't have to deal with installing software and it will work in a variety of programs. while bringing down the price. that I can totally handle
@Charli
How feeble minded are you to assume there are not more than 2 practical uses for a touch screen?
I bought one. I got the HP L2105. I have it set up on an arm mount that can swivel in any direction and tilt anyway I like it. I find when I am web browsing I like to bring it in close and use touch, it isn't arm tiring with the mount because I can rest my elbow on my chair. The flick and drag that you get on phones is such a natural way of browsing, and there is a firefox plugin that makes this possible with the monitor. Pinch to zoom works in everything, even in games where I was sure it wouldn't have. That is actually very well done, I was impressed.
I will admit it is a novelty more than a productivity tool for me, however it is a very fun novelty. I do not regret the purchase at all.
I would also like to know....but I plan on waiting a few months for some longterm reviews and let prices drop....
You'd be surprised. My laptop (HP Touchsmart tx2z) has a multitouch monitor that I find surprisingly useful, even when not in tablet mode. After using one for awhile, you see that it is incredibly intuitive to just press the area on the screen you want to click, and it happens, especially with the new layout of Win7. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend a desktop monitor yet, as they are just too expensive, unless you were going to upgrade anyway.
I'm pretty sure your arms would get really tired of touching for EVERY LITTLE GESTURE.
because we all know that moving a mouse requires no effort from your arms, hands or fingers... what are these people thinking? we are supposed to going for technology that makes us lazier and fatter, not something that requires us to actually do something.
I agree with Mannyftw....
Noswal @ Nov 12th 2009 11:48PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#Gorilla_Arm
how bout the one being used by the japs in that one vid where they didnt turn on Windows 7 multitouch?
wow.. i feel like a real noob....double post= fail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jap
Srg, not sure what era you are from but "Japs" doesn't really fly anymore...
Come one people.....
Seriously man, abbreviations are not cool
diesel, is it just me or did that wikipedia article (+1 for ultra-reliable source, btw) say that japanese-americans are oversensitive, compared to the rest of the world?
yeah, those nips really need chill out...
jk
Ha ha ha! You guys are cracking me up. I dunno what people from other parts of the country/world call them, but in Western Massachusetts 50ml bottles of alcohol are called "nips". I guess in the American Southwest they're called "minis", and I've heard them called "redtops", apparently from some episode of "Intervention". I had a friend who was working in MA but who had come from Colorado, and she couldn't understand how come I was being racist about little bottles of alcohol. It had never even occurred to me to make a connection, since "nip" in that context just means "a little bit" of something... "a nip of brandy" made literal in a 50ml bottle.
Ironically we worked at a place with a lot of Japanese people... had to be careful where and when we used this otherwise perfectly normal word.
@ streetfights
wow I didn't know that placing "j/k" after a racist slur made it alright.
thanks for the information.
I really don't like all of this "politically correct" stuff, when did people become so sensitive that an abbreviation becomes offensive?
Also (because I don't honestly know), are other abbreviations offensive? Like "brits" for british people? If so, when did that happen? And if not, why is "japs" any different?
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?
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.
wow i wasn't even being racist, just abbreviating a name. But guess the world is to sensitive to abbreviations nowadays........
how bout the one being used by the japs in that one vido where they didnt turn on Windows 7 multitouch?
My hand has been resting on my mouse the entire time I was reading this page.
I couldn't imagine going back and forth between a touchscreen and... where do you put your hand?
Well, depends on where your screen is. At a desk, sure, the screen is far away and uncomfortable to reach, but in maybe a living room when all you want to do is change music at a party, tapping a touch screen beats leaning down to use a keyboard.
I know its not for all the time, but no one said you can't have a touch screen AND a keyboard.
-taylor
I would just go with an all in one.
I think I have to limit my touchscreen experiences to smaller portable devices I can quickly wipe on my pants legs to clean or maybe large cool displays like Microsoft Surface for the fun of it.
Otherwise, it is touch - clean - touch - clean - touch - clean... ugh. Might as well ask what the best monitor cleaner is to get greasy fingerprints off your multitouch monitor.
My thoughts exactly. Which monitor can still look great for gaming and movies AND be multitouch? Trick question: none unless you keep a bottle of windex handy at all times.
The apple tablet of course! I've only heard good things! Not one single person has complained about theirs yet!
I dunno, mine is getting on my nerves.
I don't know about the tablet.... my Apple tablet's battery blew up and my fingers burned.... lol
They all use similar technology, so I would go with the HP L2105tm purely based on price and the slimist/most minimalistic styling.
i personally don't really care for/ see the use for a multi touch monitor because i would end up buying a keyboard and a mouse because i my arms were tired and i was just plain annoyed. unless some really good touch game came out or something remotely useful
I guess we can all agree:
The best monitor has some sort of harness to hold your hand.
Honestly, I just want one so I can play Osu! and DJ Max Technika (if I ever find a hdd rip).
With that in mind, I'm looking at the HP Compaq L2105tm, mostly because it supports a stylus... and it's pretty damn affordable compared to the other ones available.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/21/hp-unleashes-compaq-l2105tm-touchscreen-multitouch-monitor/
multi touch seems kinda pointless at the moment. more of a gimmick than something useful.
If you're looking for an all-in-one solution, the new Sony VPCL11S1E/S is a drop-dead gorgeous machine with a superb screen. I needed to upgrade a four year old desktop with something, and deliberately held on until this machine was released. Multi-touch screen, fast processor and plenty of memory and disc space too. Much recommended (p.s. I don't work for, or have any connection with Sony beyond being a satisfied customer)
Howabout something that is small/portable, but used as a peripheral. Like a tablet for graphic design that can also be used to manipulate UI via multitouch....
Touchscreens are fantastic on laptops. You don't have to break out a mouse every time you want to sit down for a few minutes, and it's great for art (if you have a stylus). I'm happily doing my math homework on an hp touchsmart tx2. Color quality and viewing angles are sub par, because of the thick, scratch-resistant display, but that excepted, it's a fabulous piece of equipment. I can't say it would work as well on a desktop computer, where a mouse is always handy.
Gaming with a touchscreen? Difficult.
Sniping is fun though :)
My suggestion would be the Acer T230H BMIDH model. I've got one on display at work and it looks really nice so long as you don't mind the glossy finish. Keep in mind, however, that touchscreen monitors attract fingerprints like no other, and you're going to have to fight to keep it clean ;-)
I would personally hold out for a 25 inch or higher. Capacitive multitouch is not a feature that you want to be spatially limited by, and it would be best in my opinion to seek something 1920x1080 or greater (I personally use a Samsung 23" 2048x1152, looking to upgrade to a larger multitouch display).
That would be if any of the monitors were capacative. FYI, they all use Infrared Matrix. See here
http://www.lumio.com/lumio.php?cid=2&id=2
Which means they use triangulation and registering more then 2 touchpoints becomes problematic.
I have not yet seen a capacitive standalone display and my guess it that it would be expensive.
Hey, Engadget idea: Compile the best of the ask Engadget answers and post that too. With you guys posting this, it is as if you are trying to make an Engadget forum, but the comment system is not the best for this.
Totally agreed.
Anything but a Sony...
have a look here > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbJGzyYV_X8
I pity the fella demo'ing the Window 7 multi-touch capa on that lousy piece of HW.
the only thing i can see myself using a multitouch moniter for is bump top, and they are sooooo expensive, so i think that a trackpad is good enough for me. Although, if you moved the monter really close to you, you could touch it with relative ease.
Hi there!
Windows 7 and Full HD and TRUE (!!) Multitouch and on a 47inch LCD and *rataplan* AVAILABLE :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELPBbYN3hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F2pEVIXMts
It seems to me, peoples problems with touch screens are, they break from the norm. It's a new tech (not really new, but new for the masses), and requires a new way of thinking.
Why do people think that the screen "has" to be positioned where their current monitor is? A 30 degree, or less, configuration makes more sense for a touch screen. Your elbow can be resting on the desk and act as a pivot point for your hand.
Then there is the, "I don't want greasy fingerprints all over my monitor." argument.
1) Are you getting graded on the cleanliness of your monitor? Sucks to be you. Clean it off if it gets too dirty.
2) Why are you eating finger food at your computer? Eat food at the dinner table like your supposed to, then wash your hands when your done.
For the majority of people, computers are supposed to make our lives easier. They shouldn't be a dedicated piece of hardware prominently displayed on a desk. I think touch screens are the first baby step towards that ubiquitous incorporation of computers through out the home.
My suggestion is: Don't get a desktop multitouch monitor. It's stupid.
Multitouch phones? Fine, your hands are already there. No problemo. Laptops... maybe. They would have to be more tabelts, though.
But desktops? That would be like having multitouch TVs with no remotes.
Well I can't speak for multitouch, but I can speak for touch monitors in general.
I have the 25" model of the HP TouchSmart at home and I love it. Win7 plays very nice with it (two-point touch support, but I actually haven't used any app that supports it).
On the other hand I bought a pair of 22" touchscreens from ELO (using their "APR" technology) and let me tell you they suck. They might work well in a kiosk environment, but for desktop use they make me regret shelling out $1100 per.
Dell's Studio line uses the same infrared tech that HP does, but for some reason the Win7 drivers don't work as well on it, or at least they didn't...maybe that situations improved.
I just bought the HP 2105 touchscreen at my workplace. As another person mentioned, it is quite easy to use my elbows as a pivot when using the touchscreen (I have it tilted slightly back).
PROS
- the touchscreen is more convenient than the mouse when switching from typing to hit a button or highlight a form field...
- when browsing my morning websites I have left-hand on browser bookmarks and right-hand on scrollbar... much easier than mousing
- demoing a website to a client is much cooler using a touchscreen
- price... I got mine on sale for $325
CONS
- you have to get used to NOT pointing at stuff on the screen when you DON'T want to click it...
- the HP 2105 has a VERY reflective (glare) screen ... not matt
- it does have a stylus, but you can't rest your hand on screen to write or draw because the "touch" works off IR sensors in the bezel
TIPS
- it's much easier to use if you go into windows and change the width of the scrollbars to a larger size
There are Dell 21.5" SX2210T Multi-Touch monitors available in the UK for about £350, theyre supposed to be spot on
We already have touchscreen monitors on AiOs. This is big old news. True that we don't have multitouch monitors on non-AiOs, but we have them on the HP Touchsmart, PDAs, Smartphones, etc.
If the AiOs were customizable, I'd go with an HP Touchsmart and upgrade it to a gaming horse.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I know it is just a thought right now, but the 10/gui is going to actually change things.
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
The iMac. Oh wait.....
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
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.
btw, zx6800 comes with 23" LCD.
ZX4800 comes with 20", but it was not available here in Canada yet.