Touch screen laptops are nifty devices that can convert from standard laptops into tablet PCs. The hinges of touch screen laptops are specially designed for this transformation to allow the screen to turn 180 degrees and then fold backwards flat onto itself to take form of a tablet. While is a cool feature, the design also leaves the hinge much weaker than a traditional laptop. The design allows for the screen’s flexibility but also compromises the durability. Another weak point is the touch screen itself. Despite the protective layer of coating, all touch screen devices come with a very limited lifetime since any particular screen can only take so many taps before the wear begins to show.
The good news is that the advancement in technology has greatly improved the quality and durability of touch screen laptops, not just the screen and hinge but the fan and all the internal parts as well. Each new model displays at least some level of improved design. Another option to help offset the inherent weakness of the hardware is by paying upfront for a warranty since a touch screen laptop can be expensive to repair.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
DouSense Touch Screen Add-on
There are a couple add-ons available in the market today that would allow the touch screen functionality to be added to a standard laptop. Of course this does not change the design to allow the tablet mode that true touch screen laptops are capable of, but still some add-ons are worthy of mention. Of these products is the DuoSense released by N-Trig. It is currently, arguably, the leader in digitizers that offer multi-touch capability.
The device fits over your computer screen and using a stylus or your finger, the software will force your operating system to work as if it were a touch screen laptop. Dragging and dropping folders and files with your finger or stylus is now possible as is composing handwritten emails and documents or drawing directly onto the screen to emphasize a point during a presentation. However, because it does not change the fact that a standard laptop cannot induce full tablet mode, some of these features are limited in usability by ergonomics.
The device fits over your computer screen and using a stylus or your finger, the software will force your operating system to work as if it were a touch screen laptop. Dragging and dropping folders and files with your finger or stylus is now possible as is composing handwritten emails and documents or drawing directly onto the screen to emphasize a point during a presentation. However, because it does not change the fact that a standard laptop cannot induce full tablet mode, some of these features are limited in usability by ergonomics.
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