Touchscreens! Part 2

You forgot some things on your last post…

I did. Thanks for reminding me. The images were sourced from www.touchscreensolutions.com.au. They’re a good site with various touchscreens and good prices.

Now… Where were we?

The HP Touchsmart?

Yes. That one.

Well, the HP Touchsmart is an all in one computer (meaning no box, just a screen with everything in it) with a giant twenty-something inch touchscreen.

So… I can buy this one?

Yes.

Okay. You’re very quiet on the subject, though.

Yes. I don’t like HP. They’re systems are dodgy at best, and the horror stories about HP support… you don’t want to know.

So… avoid?

Yes.

Any others?

There’s the Dell XPS One.

Your thoughts?

It’s a Dell. It’ll work.

How much?

From $1999.

You’re joking.

No, I’m not. It even says on the Dell website (That’s an Australian website, too). The right hand one is the only with the touchscreen included in the base price (I was fooled, too, thinking that they all came with it)

Okay. Tell me more.

That’s what it looks like. By default, it comes with a pink trim (eurgh!), but if pink is not your thing, it can be changed to the illustrated blue, a smart looking charcoal grey, a Tuscan red that almost matches my hair, or choose a fully white system. I liked the red, so for my sample build, I chose that.

I reasoned that a Core 2 Duo E7500 was processor enough for Vista (let alone Windows 7), so it would suffice for now.

You’ve got no choice in OS at present (Vista Premium only), so that’s all good.

Office will come in useful for the kids (if you have them), but I’d recommend going out and buying it at a local retailer: contrary to what Dell say, it isn’t cheaper to buy Office preinstalled on a new computer. If you walk into almost any computer store, or Dick Smith or Hardly Normal (Harvey Norman) store, Office 2007 Professional Academic sells for about $200-$300. That’s anywhere from $180-$280 cheaper. And you get a pretty box. But you have to install it yourself, but it’s foolproof. You would think the academic implies student only, but provided you don’t use it in a business, you’re good.

Extended warranty is a must for any computer. Don’t skimp on it. That $150 extra you spend on the warranty also includes some form of insurance for it, I believe.

As with Windows, there’s no choice with RAM: 4GB only. However, being Windows Vista 64bit, it can handle a lot of memory. I can’t remember how much, but it’s quite a large number

You can add a bigger hard drive, right up to 750GB, so I added a 750GB in lieu of the 500GB hard drive.

It comes with an optional Blu-Ray reader\DVD burner and reader\CD burner and reader. However, I don’t think that Blu-Ray is quite mature yet, so I’ll stick with good ol’ DVD.

I left the graphics as is, as I didn’t know what the difference between the two offered models were (an nVidia GeForce 9200 and an nVidia GeForce 9400)

Don’t buy Dell’s printers. They charge an arm and a leg for the cartridges. Buy yourself a good Epson or Brother when you go down to a computer store to buy Office.

Again, no choice for keyboard and mouse, its Dell’s provided wireless keyboard and mouse or Dell’s provided wireless keyboard and mouse, or perhaps even Dell’s provided wireless keyboard and mouse. Your choice, really.

I’d recommend upgrading the wireless card to the b/g/n model. That $20 may save you a lot of headaches in the future.

If you’re a computer novice, welcome to my blog and how did you find it? Also, you’ll want a Gizmo service to come and help you with Mr. Computer. I opted to not have one, as I am quite proficient with a computer.

Online Backup has its pros and cons. I am a fan of physical backup media, like an external hard drive, so I just kept the default 2GB of which I am unlikely to ever use.

Eurgh! McAfee! I’ll take Trend Micro, thanks. If we lived in the US, this would be an option. It isn’t so add this to your shopping list with Office 2007 and printer, and make a note to remove McAfee the moment you get the computer.

Living in a regional area, I don’t get after hours delivery, so default delivery it was.

Mmmm… Nice system! How much?

AU$2,336.40.

That’s not bad.

Well, a 19″ LCD touchscreen alone is $1119 without GST from the aforementioned Touchscreen Solutions (which means $1230 with GST), and if we were to assume that the touchscreen in this system costed the same amount, then the actual computer component costed a measly $1105.50. Which, for this system, isn’t bad, it’s bloody brilliant.

Now I want one!

Go buy one. But not now.

I’ve got the credit card ready, let me at it!

No. Seriously. Windows 7, the next version of Windows, is due out before Christmas. Windows 7 includes (you guessed it) better Multi-touch support.

So… I could get someone to buy me one for Christmas?

If you wanted. Failing that, wait a month and a half. Microsoft are doing their Upgrade Voucher offer again, meaning that you buy the computer, keep the voucher, and when the next version of Windows is released, you win a free (or cheap(er)) upgrade to Windows 7!

Cool!

Indeed. Although I would wait for Windows 7 to actually come out, and buy it with Windows 7 Professional, as Professional has features I would use that Home Premium does not.

I’ll take your word for it.

Yes. On the note of multi-touch and Windows 7… Linkage.

Now what’s next?

A Brief History of Windows.

BOR-RING!

Not really. There are pretty pictures…

Ooh!

Glad I’ve got your attention. See you next time, then.

Touchscreens! Part 1

Woo! Touch screens! Screens you are allowed to fondle and touch and rub and so on. You’ve probably seen them, and you may have used one. So you’re probably wondering: what’s so special about them that make them work just by touching your finger to them, and if you can get one yourself for your home computer.

So, continue forth, fine reader, and find out more.

How do they work?

Well, as there is with almost anything computer-related, there’s about four or five different technologies that all achieve the same task. These are:

• Capacitive
• Resistive
• Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)
• Infrared
• Multi-touch

We’ll go on a bit about each one in further detail.

Capacitive

Look! Pretty Picture!

So… what essentially happens with this type of screen is that a slam small amount of electrical charge is applied to the four corners of the touchscreen. Now, because you, being a human, conduct electricity, you complete the circuit. The capacitance of the circuit is then measured, and the controller card for the screen transmits the X,Y location of where you touched to your computer, hence moving the pointer to where you touched.

There are some disadvantages, however: only fingers (or other human body parts) can control it: you can’t use a coin or a stylus to move the cursor around the screen as these won’t conduct the charge. If you’re wearing gloves, then it’s not going to work both (although we have this type of screen at work, and they are more than happy to work with a latex gloved hand fondling the screen). You also need to recalibrate the screen on a regular basis: otherwise your cursor can get way, way, WAY off (and it is most irksome when this happens).

Resistive

Look! Another pretty picture!

Resistive technology has a glass or acrylic panel with some electrically resistant layers, separated by invisible separator dots. As with capacitive technology, an electrical current is passed through the screen, and when you press the screen, the layers touch together, and cause a change in the electrical current. The pointer then follows your bidding and proceeds to where you touched.

As with capacitive technology, there are some disadvantages. You need to calibrate it every now and then, otherwise the cursor ends up somewhere undesirable. There are some clarity issues with these screens as well. They are also easily damaged by scratching, poking and impact (The latter two confuse me: the whole point of a touchscreen is that it is poked and impacted. So, poke gently, I guess.), and they aren’t considered suitable for public access applications. And they can wear out over time.

However, they are cheap. So, bonus.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)

Yet another pretty picture! WOW!

SAW Technology sends sound waves (also known as acoustic waves) across a clear glass panel with transducers (Perhaps a Dr. Furter played a part in its creation…) and reflectors. Upon your touching of the screen, the soundwaves are absorbed, and a touch is registered. Tada!

It is quite similar to infrared technology in regards to its sophistication, and is well-suited to things such as public access terminals. However, because it is similar in sophistication to infrared with regards technology, but is more expensive than infrared, it’s not as highly recommended. It also must be touched by a finger (gloved or otherwise) or a soft tipped stylus. Anything else, i.e. coin, credit card, fingernail, pickaxe, won’t work. And it can also be affected by dirt, dust and water.

Infrared

You’re probably sick of the pretty pictures, aren’t you?

Infrared technology is simple: the screen is crossed with infrared beams. Your touch obstructs two beams, and a touch is registered by the computer. Hooray!

Apart from being quite possibly the best form of touchscreen, it’s also the easiest to explain. J

As a general rule, if you can afford it, go infrared: it’ll last longer, and doesn’t need calibration, and, unlike SAW technology, isn’t really affected by dust, dirt and water.

Can I Get One?

Short answer: yes.

Really?

Really.

Really Really?

For the last time, yes.

So, I can walk into Billy’s PC Shop, and buy one right there and then, and take it home and be fondling my around Windows licketyspit?

No.

So then I can’t buy one, then, can I?

Well, the thing is, at the moment, touchscreens are niche items and cost around about $1000 for a small screen (I’m talking 12 to 15 inches, here), and when most people see 22″ screens, they suddenly want that one.

But, wait! Something about a Touchscreen computer springs to mind!

The HP Touchsmart?

Yes.

Well, that is valid. But, unfortunately, we’ll have to talk about it in the next post. Mmkay?

Oh, alright. But you better post it… or else!

I will.