Touch screen laptops

[CowboyCoder]

Possibly not the right section of the forum, but as it's vaguely under 'purchasing decision' I will post it here anyway...

I'm curious to know how many people actually 'want' touch screen laptops? Microsoft seem hell bent on forcing us down this route with Windows 8 and it's Metro UI.

Personally, I like laptops to be... laptops. I think touch is great for tablets and phones but isn't practical (or desirable) on a desktop PC or, in the context of this post, a laptop.

The very thought of smearing my fingers over my immaculate LCD sends a shiver down my spine. I can't bear it when someone stands over my laptop and prods the screen to point to something, leaving a big greasy blob. So then, when it comes to Windows 8 and buying my next laptop for this reason alone, I do not want a touch screen.

Finger prints aside, I still fail to see the fascination with touch in a laptop or desktop. Why is it easier to reach forward (getting back and neck strain) to slide your finger over a screen, when you can just wiggle the mouse or use the touch pad? Particularly those with external displays (which may be several feet away).

Am I alone on this one or do you agree with me? Please vote and let me know!

[mushypizza]

Unless you plan on writing out your notes or doing graphic design/photoshop work, then a touchscreen is pointless.

[troyguitar]

Touchscreen is for tablets and phones. Why would I reach across my desk to the monitor instead of using a mouse/keyboard?

[Renaissance 2K]

We all seem to agree that touchscreen is pretty silly, but Microsoft seems to be hamfisting it with the Windows 8 release.

Maximum PC | Low Cost PC Makers Freaking Out as Windows 8 Nears Release

[CowboyCoder]

Only three votes?

Bump!


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[pepper_john]

once window 8 is released, people will line up behind touchable screens

[CowboyCoder]

once window 8 is released, people will line up behind touchable screens

Only the sheep among us. Those that want a laptop for productivity/business use will stick to Win7. I've been using Win8 CR for a couple of weeks to see if it grows on me - but sadly it hasn't. It's just too disjointed. To shut down for example, you have to put the mouse to the right hand edge of the screen, wait for the Charms menu to appear, click Settings icon then select Shut Down then select whether you want Shutdown, Log Off or Restart.

On Win7 it was two mouse clicks. Yes, you can use Alt F4 which is my preference anyway, but I'm using this as just one if many examples where the user experience is just worse.

As for Metro - the IE browser is awful. The email client is cumbersome, you can't even drag/drop an email to a folder - you have to open the options toolbar at the bottom of the screen, select Move then select the folder.

For a desktop OS and on PCs and Laptops, particularly in a business it just doesn't work.


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[JonCordova]

While Window 8 and touch might seem to be all about placating the "sheep" among us, the only reason Microsoft is shoving touch down our throats is because the iPad killed the Netbook.

First of all, no, it's not easier to use the touch screen as a mouse input for the whole time. It's useful only as a fun novelty, to switch back and forth. It's useful when holding the laptop in your arm, as with a convertible tablet. Why should convertible tablets only have pen input?

But Netbooks are basically dead, and laptop sales are hurting too. Think those sales are going to the Galaxy Tab and the Transformer Prime? Nope! It's all the iPad. Netbooks were a big deal for a while there. Remember? The iPad came along, and I sneered at it for not allowing drag-and-drop and requiring iTunes. But Apple laughed all the way to the bank.

I actually think it could be worse. If Microsoft weren't trying to break into touch screens, they would be like the cable companies trying to clamp down the natural transition from paid TV service to a la carte online streaming. At least Microsoft has its heart in the right place, even if its execution will be terrible.

[pepper_john]

touch screen can be very useful when traveling, especially in a crowded place such as an airplane.