My touching experience...

Coke Robot

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So today, I went with a friend to the not so best buy to get an external hard drive. As usual, I ended up playing with the AIO touchscreen PCs they have their. My friend was looking around at them while I was playing with the jumplists on Windows 7, and my friend found a touch AIO that had the Windows 8 Release Preview installed! I literally ran over and pushed her aside to play with it! :eek: After installing the blasted driver to get the touchscreen working as a friend of mine that works there said the geek squad derps couldn't even get it working, it was just YES.

OH MY LORD. I want a touchscreen now.

Using Windows 8 on a touchscreen, WOW!!! It was so fun!!!! It was so fast!! Oh my gosh!!!

Although I got the swiping to work on the right, left, and bottom parts of the screen, I couldn't close out of apps by dragging it down as the derps used a touchscreen AIO PC that had a raised bevel around the screen so swiping was a tad difficult to get it work, as one needs to be precise in doing it. But overall, speechless. It was such a fun experience, metro IE 10 was superb to use, the Desktop was fun to use. Windows 8 works great with a mouse, but stupidly awesome with touch! And yes, I did use the physical keyboard, although I did use the handwriting to text feature that worked real well.

After now using Windows 8 with different sized touchpads on laptops, several mice, and NOW a touchscreen, it's perfect! I do find it now blasphemous to hear that touch doesn't work on the Desktop or anywhere for that matter. Using the Ribbon in Paint and Explorer was real easy and didn't need a lot of precision. It just worked.

Touch is truly the future, and if you'll excuse me, I need to do some research on touchscreens.
 

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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
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    x2 3 TB Toshibas
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I'm glad that you enjoyed the touchscreen experience so much. I think there are quite a number of us who don't find touching our screens appealing. Having to move my hands from my keyboard to my screen, would just be annoying. I make this judgement from the fact that I find in annoying on an iPad with a keyboard dock, a samsung galaxy tab and a dock, and an asus transformer and a dock. But I do realize that others will feel quite differently.
 

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Hi there
I can't think of ANY compelling reason to have a touch screen on a PC whatsoever -- the size of monitor I normally use anyway makes this quite impossible as I sit too far away from it to touch it -- even if I wanted to -- and putting greasy fingers over a nice expensive 60 inch backlit TV screen doesn't seem in any way ideal either.

Even with a smallish laptop I tend to sit too far away from the screen to touch it anyway.

IMO touch is only viable on some type of tablet device which is placed HORIZONTALLY on a desk (like say a paper notepad). Most computers are viewed with the screen VERTICAL so touch is not really convenient in any case unless you have a detachable lid or screen and can lay this FLAT on your desk.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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IMO touch is only viable on some type of tablet device which is placed HORIZONTALLY on a desk (like say a paper notepad). Most computers are viewed with the screen VERTICAL so touch is not really convenient in any case unless you have a detachable lid or screen and can lay this FLAT on your desk.
Yeah, that's how I feel. i don't like switching between fingers down here, fingers up there, fingers down here, fingers up there. I don't have any issues sliding my right hand over to the right for my mouse/trackball, or down slightly to my touchpad, but changing planes and having to go up to my monitor just doesn't do it for me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
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    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
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    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I don't know, I used to think that to have the best touch experience on a desktop would be to have a touchscreen AIO PC as usually the ideal setup is that the screen is 6-12 inches away from, much like a laptop screen is. But, from how I used the touchscreen, it was pretty much as far away as it is at home with my monitor at arms length away from me, and I could just real easily touch the screen and type without looking at anything, even use the mouse as well.

I'm kind of feeling that one must try it for themselves thoroughly before judging, as much goes with Windows 8....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Is any of this even true...??? Or is this just another of your pro-metro fluff pieces...???
 

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    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
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    PX2710MW
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    Noctua NH-D14
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    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
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    60meg cable
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Of course a touch screen should work on a desktop machine.

I don't think anybody has said otherwise.

What they have said - countless times - is that it is not practical.

I don't fell disposed to keep reaching out in front of me for hours on end.

If you only to do a few little things - and you just happen to be using a desktop - sure you could use a touch screen.

If you are doing anything that takes a while or involves a lot of input - then it is no use.

It is a bit like - you could use a teaspoon to turn the soil in in a mini indoor plant pot.

No one in their right minds would use a teaspoon to turn the soil in the entire garden.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
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    PC/Desktop
Touchscreens are fun, but they're not ACCURATE, and unless they include a decent active digitizer and pen, your fat fingers will keep it that way. As a result, despite the fun factor, single touch is ENTIRELY worse than a mouse, and multitouch very few actual advantages. I have my computer to get stuff done, not have fun while switching tasks. There are games that I use when I want to have fun.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM (Retinas taking damage...)
    CPU
    i5 2500
    Motherboard
    msi p67a-g43
    Memory
    16 GB DDR3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    2x Nvidia 9800 GTX+
I'm kind of feeling that one must try it for themselves thoroughly before judging
Agreed. And I have tried countless times to come to grips with various touch screen computer devices over the years and I've never enjoyed the experience.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Coke Robot said:
I'm kind of feeling that one must try it for themselves thoroughly before judging, as much goes with Windows 8....

Coke Robot: You could not said it better! This one sentence sums up everything I've been thinking for the last few weeks.

jimbo45 said:
IMO touch is only viable on some type of tablet device which is placed HORIZONTALLY on a desk (like say a paper notepad). Most computers are viewed with the screen VERTICAL so touch is not really convenient in any case unless you have a detachable lid or screen and can lay this FLAT on your desk.

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo, you're not the only one that I've heard say this. I often use my iPad wih a Zagg folio case with a Bluetooth keyboard. It places the surface of the iPad in a mostly vertical angle, and I find it most ergonomic to put my thumbs on it wrapping my fingers around the back of the iPad. In fact it works quite well. I have a coworker who loves the iPad and says the same thing that you do. But he never tried it with the same set up that I have.

You NEED to try it first!


That said, I realize most of this thread is talking about a touch monitor and NOT a touch device such as a tablet. So perhaps I should be the one going down to Best Buy and testing out a touch monitor before commenting. But I think Coke Robot has hit on something.

And of course, I can NOT expect all of you who take the TOUCH taste test, pardon the pun, to have the same Eureka moment Coke Robot has. For those of you who really don't find TOUCH to be an advantage, perhaps Windows 7 is best for you. I have a large Windows 7 desktop at home, and probably will never put Windows 8 on it. But you can bet that my Samsung Series 7 Slate will never have Windows 7 on it. There is room for both Windows 7 and Windows 8 in my arsenal!
 

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    11.6" touch screen w/ digitizer & Asus 27" external monitor
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    1920x1080
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    256 GB SSD
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    Internal fan
    Keyboard
    Slider keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech T650 Touchpad & Microsoft Touch Mouse
Is any of this even true...??? Or is this just another of your pro-metro fluff pieces...???

Both, but more truth than fluff. Why?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Touchscreens are fun, but they're not ACCURATE, and unless they include a decent active digitizer and pen, your fat fingers will keep it that way. As a result, despite the fun factor, single touch is ENTIRELY worse than a mouse, and multitouch very few actual advantages. I have my computer to get stuff done, not have fun while switching tasks. There are games that I use when I want to have fun.

Actually, the touchscreens I used were running Windows 7 and those were surprisingly very accurate to use, especially with a Ribbon UI. On Windows 8, it was the same preciseness. Even the little UI elements on it were easy to tap, it's like if you used it with a mouse, you have a little more precision to click on that element than a larger one. I didn't use the Desktop or Explorer a whole ton, as if I can selectively pick files and folders with touch like being able to hit Ctrl and click, but with touch, I can see myself using my mouse less and less.

Who says you can't have fun with a PC or even have fun doing work!? :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Hi there
I can't think of ANY compelling reason to have a touch screen on a PC whatsoever -- the size of monitor I normally use anyway makes this quite impossible as I sit too far away from it to touch it -- even if I wanted to -- and putting greasy fingers over a nice expensive 60 inch backlit TV screen doesn't seem in any way ideal either.

Even with a smallish laptop I tend to sit too far away from the screen to touch it anyway.

IMO touch is only viable on some type of tablet device which is placed HORIZONTALLY on a desk (like say a paper notepad). Most computers are viewed with the screen VERTICAL so touch is not really convenient in any case unless you have a detachable lid or screen and can lay this FLAT on your desk.

Cheers
jimbo

I don't get it, is your notion of touch on the desktop STRICTLY touch? There is a keyboard separate you know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Coke Robot said:
I'm kind of feeling that one must try it for themselves thoroughly before judging, as much goes with Windows 8....

Coke Robot: You could not said it better! This one sentence sums up everything I've been thinking for the last few weeks.

jimbo45 said:
IMO touch is only viable on some type of tablet device which is placed HORIZONTALLY on a desk (like say a paper notepad). Most computers are viewed with the screen VERTICAL so touch is not really convenient in any case unless you have a detachable lid or screen and can lay this FLAT on your desk.

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo, you're not the only one that I've heard say this. I often use my iPad wih a Zagg folio case with a Bluetooth keyboard. It places the surface of the iPad in a mostly vertical angle, and I find it most ergonomic to put my thumbs on it wrapping my fingers around the back of the iPad. In fact it works quite well. I have a coworker who loves the iPad and says the same thing that you do. But he never tried it with the same set up that I have.

You NEED to try it first!


That said, I realize most of this thread is talking about a touch monitor and NOT a touch device such as a tablet. So perhaps I should be the one going down to Best Buy and testing out a touch monitor before commenting. But I think Coke Robot has hit on something.

And of course, I can NOT expect all of you who take the TOUCH taste test, pardon the pun, to have the same Eureka moment Coke Robot has. For those of you who really don't find TOUCH to be an advantage, perhaps Windows 7 is best for you. I have a large Windows 7 desktop at home, and probably will never put Windows 8 on it. But you can bet that my Samsung Series 7 Slate will never have Windows 7 on it. There is room for both Windows 7 and Windows 8 in my arsenal!

One doesn't use the touch keyboard in Windows 8 on a desktop touch monitor. It's impractical to vertically type as it makes you look like a sitting zombie. That's why there's ALWAYS a keyboard with touch AIO PCs as well as a mouse, although I think the mouse will be used less. I kind of always wondered why Microsoft put a Ribbon UI on an OS built for touch devices, I found out why, it works perfectly normally fine as with a mouse. Even then, you can actually change the icon sizes in Explorer if needed, which also changes the size of the icons in the Ribbon.

I find it really depends on usage and how you use a touchscreen on a desktop. I've always thought that touch AIOs should be used for touch as if you were to set it up, the screen would be closer to you ideally. But, if I were to use it at home, I don't think that matters too much anymore. Touch works!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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