Lenovo unleashes three new monitors, one boasting multitouch

Lenovo's quietly unleashed three new 1080p resolution-boasting monitors. Up first, the 21.5-inch L2261 Wide LCD, a pretty basic affair with VGA and DVI inputs. The L2361p Wide is 23-inches, with a more stylized look than the L2261, with integrated speakers and microphone, a webcam, and three USB 2.0 ports. Finally, the real star of the show, the L2461X Wide is a 23.6-inch, multitouch display. It also has integrated speakers and microphone, a 2 megapixel webcam. There is no official pricing or availability information for any of these bad boys yet, but there are two more images after the break.

[Techno1q Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:02PM]

It looks pretty good on papers, but we'll have to wait and see the real thing.

[treats Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:16PM]

Multitouch? What is this madness, Apple please sue them NOW.

I bet Jobs threw his toast this morning after reading about this.

[prometeum Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:40PM]

@Techno1q: I could get the touch-sensitive monitor as long as it turns out economical

[emopoops Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:51PM]

@Techno1q dont u just hate how those things get dirrty? LOL

[bigsofty Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:02PM]

Woop, 1080p... Zzzzz , looks weak to me!

[Mr Death Posted Mar 15th 2010 9:17AM]

@treats Toast? Jobs always seemed to be more of a Yogurt and Granola person to me.

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:05PM]

Is this a Resistive or Capacitive touchscreen?

[Jeff Kibuule Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:18PM]

@MoonWalkerCTE

At this screen size, I'm pretty sure it's optical like the Dell and HP screens before it.

[Brent1700 Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:03PM]

@MoonWalkerCTE your avatar is creepy

[Gery Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:17PM]

@MoonWalkerCTE It's capacitive. http://www.desktopreview.com/default.asp?newsID=915

[PrezBO Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:07PM]

Multitouch? They are just begging for a lawsuit from Apple.

[psu12 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:12PM]

@PrezBO
Correction: Competition = lawsuit

[oldpass56 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:13PM]

@PrezBO
yes, because Appple really has that patent...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/some-more-perspective-on-the-droid-and-multitouch/
And they're really the first to have multitouch moniters...
http://www.engadget.com/tag/windows7,multitouch

[tinutapori Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:10PM]

Multi-Touch = Lawsuit lol.

They should REALLY invalidate the multi-touch patent. It stiffens innovation when companies can't use something like detecting 2 points of contact on a surface.

I need to get a license from Apple too. My skin is multi-touch capable lol.

[tinutapori Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:15PM]

@tinutapori
Aah, that was meant to be a reply to above post.

[oldpass56 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:25PM]

@tinutapori There ISN'T ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.engadget.com/tag/windows7,multitouch
Otherwise everyone else'd be pretty screwed...

[rockSY Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:14PM]

@tinutapori Yeah I am sure your skin is MT capable but I bet "Pinch & Zoom" is only limited to certain parts of your body only.. (Sorry, couldn't help myself..:p)

[pencilmind Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:13PM]

why would you EVER want to touch your monitor???

[oldpass56 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:16PM]

@pencilmind excactly, these are gimics...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#.22Gorilla_Arm.22

[PBB Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:24PM]

@pencilmind
I would love one of these for surface development. Other than that, the only thing that comes to mind is store front kiosks (multiple customers) and MAYBE graphic designers. Other than that, not much.

[TareG Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:26PM]

@pencilmind
I know. It's a LOT easier to scroll up and down with your finger on a mouse/trackpad to zoom in, than it is to use your shoulder and wrist muscles to raise your arm and do it "manually".

It's also a fact that finger muscles are more accurate (fine movement) than arm muscles (gross movement). It's 100% gimmicks.

[teco221 Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:47PM]

@pencilmind YES!!! I 100% agree why would you want to touch the screen when you have a keyboard and mouse which work just fine.

[DougieBear Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:51PM]

@pencilmind

Surface seems like a much better idea.

[joelaf Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:51PM]

@teco221

In most desktop setups, you have to reach past a keyboard and mouse to touch the screen. I'm sure my cats would love an interactive aquarium on it, though.

[phreakincool Posted Mar 14th 2010 6:36PM]

@pencilmind Here are a couple of reasons:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyC_XphsAWo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EByII_BmnKI

[stasiu Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:49AM]

with the main PC that sits on a desk/table and is used to what normal PCs are used for... no.
But with a home entertainment server, for calls, videochat, etc.. big YES!
And you know what, make the screen in smaller sizes as well. Say, 15''.
I'd use it on a bedside table -as a sort of remote- to run the 'central server' - managing music, video, chat, videochat, home automation, doorphone, alarm clock to wake me up with a tune or news channel,...

[wolverine Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:22PM]

Whatever said, that does look good

[Hazdaz Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:24PM]

This multi-touch nonsense is getting out of hand. It's becoming another Twitter... another useless technology that has gotten ridiculously over-hyped by the media and services little-to-no benefit.

There is nothing I want more than smudged fingerprints on my monitor to accomplish the same thing that I can do easier and faster with a mouse. :rolleyes:

[BergerFan Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:52PM]

@Hazdaz You must be failing at Twitter then, because Twitter has many benefits(depending on who you follow, of course).

[frederick52785 Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:49PM]

@Hazdaz

Not many friends I see, or maybe just an extremely uninteresting life.

[velo02 Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:56PM]

@Hazdaz

Does this look appealing to you?
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_han_demos_his_breakthrough_touchscreen.html

This video is over 3 years old. What that tells me is the touch technology is ahead of the software. We need a full OS, suites, and applications built completely around touch! My hope is that Apple will continue to add to the iPhone OS to the point of where it is no longer a mobile OS but a full featured OS.

[Pguard Posted Mar 15th 2010 7:18AM]

@frederick52785

when was the last time someone said something interesting on twitter?

[TareG Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:27PM]

Unless it's 100% smudge-resistant, this technology is a step back.

Hell even if it's smudge resistant, it's still a step back.

[Xyan Posted Mar 15th 2010 10:39AM]

@TareG it.Seems like that you don't like touch screen anyway

[BrianH Posted Mar 14th 2010 2:35PM]

1080... stop with 1080, we want 1200

[greatbam Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:01PM]

multitouch monitors = using/having a computer where a mouse and keyboard isn't really conducive.

[azengadgetfan Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:02PM]

I have an HP all in one. I always used to laugh at those health warnings on mice and keyboards, although I could see carpel tunnel being troublesome for older folks. I never thought about shoulder trouble until 10 years of poor mouse use on top of desk reaching all the time lead to tendinitis, calcifications and a rotator cuff tear (I'm sure softball and tennis also had something to due with it). After reading that elbows should be on arm rests with shoulders hanging down and not reaching, I never use the touch screen on the HP, but rather use the mouse and keyboard (with proper shoulder ergonomics now:)). There is going to be a lot of people with shoulder pain and disability in the future from all that unnatural reaching if this takes off (and lots of business for orthopedic surgeons :)).

[Ed T Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:08PM]

Monkey see, monkey do. Here's our new multitouch - just for you.

[LAY Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:58PM]

@Ed T

I hate choice too.

/s

[azengadgetfan Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:08PM]

One more comment, at least with slates like the iPad and smart touch phones, there shouldn't be any shoulder problems since the arms can hang down, but I'm sure there might be a lot of sore necks, hunched backs, double chins and thumb arthritis if messaging a lot using a Qwerty with thumbs :).

[josebr Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:38PM]

I don't understand why companies are creating multi-touch monitors which are to sit on desks. I can not imagine having my arm extended to ding what I currently do with a mouse (with arms in the down position), but with a multi-touch monitor. Has no one else thought of the arm strain, and injuries incurred from extending one's arm all day?

I can see if the monitor is laying down flat on a table, but not in front of you. Cause having to extend ones arms will grow tiresome and painful quickly.

[joebob Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:43PM]

@josebr
If you look closely at the multi-touch monitor, it looks like it has a support like a picture frame, if it can fold in like a picture frame, then you can just set it flat on a table and use it that way.

[z0phi3l Posted Mar 14th 2010 3:55PM]

WAY too much over thinking on this based on the comments

Me if it had a decent resolution would make a great secondary monitor and I can see a few situations with graphics design that could benefit

[pankomputerek Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:20PM]

Engadget please get Fingers on!

[JeffreyScott Posted Mar 14th 2010 4:55PM]

I have a touch screen for my computer and I don't use the touch feature. The reasons that I don't is (1) I set the monitor slightly back on my desk and if I want to use the touch screen I have to lean forward. It actually takes longer and more effort then to simply use the mouse. (2) The screen smudges whenever I touch it, and I am an OCD hand washer.

[SpeedyJDK Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:18PM]

Uhm. The L2461X Wide is listed for only $1,009.38. I'd think i'd buy an Acer instead, it's only $400 or so :D

[Temanek Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:19PM]

Very nice device

[ango Posted Mar 14th 2010 5:23PM]

Ibm china next lenovo it's going in multitouch app.

[VampyrByte Posted Mar 14th 2010 6:18PM]

That looks so awkward to use.

[Aftershock108 Posted Mar 14th 2010 7:07PM]

GET EM APPLE!!! GET THOSE UNPRINCIPLED SCAMPS!