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General discussion

Why are there so few desktop monitors with touch screens?

Feb 19, 2016 5:13PM PST
http://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2015/07/28/302d8395-8fb7-4e37-b204-9102f4c63d86/78ad799871a89bec3fe4ae01ba1052d3/microsoft-windows-10-screen-edit-touch-7222.jpg

With Windows 10 having millions of installs, and the best way to use it being with a touch screen, why are there so few desktop monitors with touch screens available? Is it because it is low in demand by consumers? Or more costly for consumers? Or are people simply leaving the touch screens for tablet and phones? Can you please give me some insight as to why there isn't a faster shift to touch screen monitors? If you are currently a touch screen user for your desktop, do you use it frequently or do find yourself using the mouse more often than not? Thank you.

--Submitted by Paul F.

Discussion is locked

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Tablet touchscreens great - on monitors? Not so much!
Feb 27, 2016 2:42AM PST

Touchscreens you can lay flat are great for note taking (2in1) and are handy on screens used as a tablet. I don't see any great use on a desktop or standard clam shell laptop.

I could definitely see a desire for maybe a 12" touchscreen tablet as a normal input device. If I could wirelessly doc that to much larger (non-touch) monitor along standard keyboard and mouse, I'd be pretty happy.

My son uses his surface pro 3 perfectly for taking and organizing his notes. Every document he generates or imports he can annotate using highlighting, adding margin notes, inserting hand notes sketches or math formulas/computations into or over a document. You can capture notes through pics, embed video/audio or record a class/meeting. I see people using these 2 in 1's as a necessary portable standard input device that makes it's way to your desktop.

I did some development using AutoCAD for a number of years. I found that a programmable 12 button mouse was great. Even our drafters and designers had no use for a touchscreen. They look great in commercials and demonstrations, but a mouse is more precise, and reaching for the screen is impractical and completely inefficient.

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Old habits die hard
Feb 27, 2016 4:01AM PST

I have been using computers for several decades now.
I bought a fine touchscreen monitor to see what it is like, but I almost stick to the keyboard and mouse.
Tablet and phone I use the touchscreen, but for a desktop or laptop I still use the keyboard and mouse. It's easy and reliable and consistent and gets the job done.
But I'm 75, the youngsters will probably prefer the touchscreen eventually, supplemented with voice commands. For me, old habits die hard. It is difficult to change a way of behaving that someone has had for many years, especially when the old habits work so well.

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Touchpads are better
Feb 27, 2016 4:17AM PST

If you want touch on a desktop a touchpad such as the Logitech T650 is a good alternative to a touchscreen. I have had one for a long time and it works well, keeping fingers off the screen and supporting gestures. Having said that I usually use a mouse, just using the touchpad when it is useful, like zooming in on a picture

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My experience is disappointing
Feb 27, 2016 4:58AM PST

I've had a nice touch screen monitor for over a year. I bought it because clicking my mouse produces carpal tunnel symptoms sometimes. My monitor is positioned close to me so that is not a problem. The touch screen is not nearly as precise as the mouse so I find myself having to repeat the action / try again so I usually go back to the mouse. It is also too easy to brush against the wrong spot and jump off the page or initiate an action you didn't intend. Occasionally I have a very repetitive task... Selecting items consecutively to take an action, for example... and the cramp in my hand will remind me to use the touch screen for that job. But For the most part it was a bad purchase.

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Great for the grandkids
Feb 27, 2016 5:17AM PST

I have a Sony all-in-one with a 24 inch touchscreen monitor. I don't often use the touchscreen feature because of the same reasons as others have stated, i.e., its awkward and tiring to reach up to the screen and also because I am so used to using a mouse. But for the grandkids playing games, using painting apps, etc, its perfect. Its amazing how quickly even the youngest of the grandchildren can start interacting with a computer when they have the use of a touchscreen. The fingerprint issue is not a big deal; its easy enough to shut the monitor and clean the screen once in awhile.

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OK until a fly lands on it
Feb 27, 2016 7:01AM PST

It is a matter of choice, I bought my first one (HP AllinOne on Vista) about 7 years ago, it was at that time something different, I did use the touch for quite a few months as HP had put some great software on - specifically for the touch, so you had a choice of how you used the OS.
This desktop then went to my daughter (& to XP) and then on to my husband (& to Win7 then Win10)and is still going strong today.
I bought my current one, again HP, on Win7 then 8/8.1 & now Win10, about 4 years ago and again still used the touch screen, but nowadays it is hardly used, like other users picking up the mouse is easier, and changing the OS does not keep the HP Touch software on.
The main user now is usually a fly which when it lands then walks across the screen opens a multitude of windows. Still I wouldn't change it.

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MOney is one reason !
Feb 27, 2016 7:53AM PST

For what it would cost to buy a monitor with this option a person be better off buying a Ipad, or 2&1 laptop. However they are out there most are not worth the money they cost.

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Try typing a letter
Feb 27, 2016 8:03AM PST

Really, there are dozens of great responses here. I would like suggest to Paul F. that he should try typing a letter on a desktop touchscreen (if one can be found). That should go a long way to answer the question.
For desktops, keyboards are best, and the mouse may be the perfect invention.

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Upright vs flat
Feb 28, 2016 1:24PM PST

I assume you mean try typing a letter using an upright monitor?

Almost everyone here complaint no about the productivity and ergonomics has the upright use of a touch screen monitor in mind. Agreed.

As per my post of yesterday, that's the wrong model. The best way to use these is flat to about a 20-degree angle. Then with a decent resolution, the windows on screen keyboard casually makes them more useful than a traditional keyboard. Yes, they do take some getting useful, but I bet I can type a letter, create a block diagram, browse detailed pictures and diagrams much quicker and easier than with a keyboard and mouse.

https://cathcam.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/touch-screen-and-the-desktop/

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tried and true
Feb 27, 2016 8:29AM PST

To me the touch screen issue is how do you type at fast pace on one. toggle between, desktop and word, switch browsers all in seconds when a mouse can way faster than fingers with arms behind them, simple ergonomics tied in with ingrained habits of whole generations of users as well. I find that if i'm in a recliner with a tablet or laptop that has touch screen and i'm just puttering yay easy and likable. Desktop, NO WAY MAN. It become too time/energy consuming to use the desktop touch screen setups. Tried my friends for two weeks while they vacationed In HAWAII. I really tried to overcome the problems and found many ways that it was ok with, but for the learning curve needed by average user it's too much. And frankly i'm not an average user as I do alo9t of pc/windows repairs. Just couldn't make it functional for me, really hoped I could though...
All this ties into the idea that most users only change their usage by necessity or by class envy, I find many of my customers to be overwhelmed by just having to re-customize their same old puter after reinstalling windows of the same version, I spend many hours on phone walking them thru simple things, so hope any of this helps. As I am a self taught windows guy who never took any classes or courses, just trialed and mainly erred until I figured it out on my own, but I am a very minor uncommon section of users.. If I could have made it work I would have invested and encouraged others, now I just ask them to test drive Before investing..

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A few reasons
Feb 27, 2016 11:20AM PST

1. It's uncomfortable.
2. Cost.
3. Added weight and power consumption.
4. Probably the biggest reason: there is not as much consumer demand for touchscreens on desktop monitors. A desktop with a keyboard and mouse is the most efficient form of computer for creating content. A touchscreen doesn't significantly improve the content creation process and is more for content consumption.

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Content Creation vs. Consumption
Feb 28, 2016 2:44AM PST

Well put. It's a matter of content creation vs. content consumption, and I'm a content creator. In fact...

The best authoring tool I ever had was WordStar for DOS. You could do everything from the home row on the keyboard. I've never since been able to work as fast with Windows and a mouse as I could with DOS and a keyboard.

To me, the touchscreen is another, very similar, step backwards.

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Consider the benefit for a low vision user...please
Feb 27, 2016 11:53AM PST

One member of our household has lost their all central vision due to an eye disease. Before this loss they were an avid user of our PC. With the loss, they could no longer use a pc. It was impossible to find the cursor on the screen. Text was unreadable. Then... along came the touch screen all-in-one pc. WHAT A BLESSING. No need to use a cursor any more. And one can increase the size of any text information on the screen. Now this person spends hours each day doing research work, composing documents, scheduling trips, making on line purchases. It is as if all of the capabilities of the pc have returned. The touch screen pc has been a blessing one could never have imagined.

(Side note: An Ipad was tried - it did not seem to work well. Because of size, the use of a tablet is not a solution to this eye disease issue. The screen is too small. Turns out we needed a minimum screen size of 23".)

For all of those full sighted people out there who can see no sense to a touch screen pc, I ask that you try to put yourself in the mind of a person that totally loses the ability to use a pc. Then the touch screen pc restores that capability. Our thanks to the computer manufacturers that are willing to put these touch screen pcs on the market.

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there is no denying there are benefits
Feb 27, 2016 12:05PM PST

everyone is just answering the question asked as to why there are not that many touchscreens.

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U nly hav 2 rd this 2 know
Feb 27, 2016 12:02PM PST

You see "text speak" everywhere. Why? Because typing words on a screen sucks. This is something that has to be endured on a phone because you want the phone to fit in your pocket or purse. Cell phones do what they need to do. They text and phone, they take only mediocre pics and vids but the best camera is the one you have with you. , Most pictures taken with cellphones are either pasted to Facebook and then never looked at again, or simply never looked at again. Cellphones surf the web fairly well when using websites that are designed for people using cellphones.

But keyboards and mice do everything better and faster except for fitting in your pocket - which is a big exception, admittedly.

I recently spec'd a business system for a millennial who imagined her whole store set up with iPads because she likes them. I asked her if her employees would be working at their desks or maybe away from the office or out front taking a customer's order. I asked her if information taken on one device needs to be shared on others or all. Turns out most at desks and all employees need access to the data.

She had no idea about servers (I recommended a cloud service since she has no computer expertise and couldn't justify an IT person on staff) and a hybrid system using mobile and stationary devices. I can't wait to see what she does when she prices iPads vs other tablets.

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Often it's a nuisance more than a helpful feature
Feb 27, 2016 1:06PM PST

I have a laptop with a touchscreen and more often than not it is a nuisance more than a helpful feature.

When my boss or coworkers are looking at my screen and we are discussing things they will touch my screen and often this actually results in undesired behavior because we may be focused on a different item when this side item now has focus and covers the main screen.

On my own as I work I use the keyboard and mouse and very rarely have I used the touch screen. Why? Because the mouse and keyboard are faster.

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What need would a touch screen address?
Feb 27, 2016 8:01PM PST

I've just retired from an senior engineering Dell, specializing in software and firmware but I also participated in a number of usability studies for hardware/software combinations. I was the originator of the NFC enabled server systems management concept. I'd offer a few thoughts to confirm what some others have said, but also a slightly different perspective.

1. yes reaching across a keyboard to a monitor mounted at the back of a desk is ergonomically unpleasant.

2. Touch is an interesting technology, but for fixed monitors and TV's etc. it is less than optimal. There are numerous efforts underway to come up with a more responsive, natural way to control a UI. Think X/BOX or Nintendo, or the Samsung SmartTV gestures, voice ala Amazon echo etc.

3. That said, I for one would never go back to a non-touch laptop screen. I can lift my arm from the keyboard and prod the "submit post" button below much quicker that I can use the touchpad, or grab an extrnal mouse and click.

4. If you want a touch screen desktop I'd highly recommend getting an all-in-one with a touch screen and mounting it into a desk. I had one of the Dell XPS 27's and had an IKEA draftmans desk. We cut a whole 99% the size of the screen, mounted it into the hole and secured it with picture wire in a # format across the back. I gave up using a physical keyboard and mouse, bought a Targus Stylus and went 100% touch. The advantage of the IKEA desk is that you can easily angle the surface to one that suits you. Also, it came with a medal lip which stopped things sliding off the edge; also it came with a built in glass area, which was great for to-do lists, notes etc.

One final note, on Touch screen PC's. As with Windows 10, when switching over to touch screen you have to try to stop doing the way you did them with a mouse and keyboard. The Adobe PDF app for Windows 10, is much easier to use than the Adobe desktop app for Windows 10. Using a drawing program for line art, block diagrams etc. either with your finger, or with a stylus is a huge leap forward to messing about with Word and Powerpoint. In the case of slides, and powerpoint, it made me released me from decades of serial text mode slides.

So rather than ask why so few touch screens for desktop computers. Ask, what are top-5 applications I use, and how could touchscreen make them better, easier, or me more productive. If it's email, calendar and web browsing, it probably won't. Although even in those cases, zoom in and zoom out is an improvement.

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My pet peeve
Feb 27, 2016 11:11PM PST

Fingerprints suck ?

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Lack of Demand
Feb 28, 2016 4:59AM PST

Most computer users don't like change. Every time Facebook makes a change, it's users blow a gasket. Windows makes a substantial change (i.e. Windows 8 ) and people lost their collective minds. How could a computer interface work like a mobile interface. Windows 8 didn't fail because it was sloppy. It failed because of a lack of mainstream applications and because 90% of mainstream computer users don't like change.

As far as a touch-screen desktop monitor? I use one at work. It is fantastic. People assume you have to use your right hand to touch the screen if you are right-handed. When actually you use the left hand for the screen and right for the mouse. it allows for much faster scrolling and work operations.

Fingerprints? Really? Unless you have peanut butter and jelly on your hands, you don't notice the prints on the screen and they are easily wiped off.

I also have a touch screen for my laptop. I have become so accustomed to using both hands for moving around on my laptop that when I have to go back to using just the mouse or touchpad, I want to scream.

People who don't like touch screens for either desktop or laptop work have either never tried them or can't open their minds to the possibilities of two-handed computer work. They also probably don't use keyboard shortcuts either.

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No need for inflammatory remarks.
Feb 28, 2016 8:33AM PST

QUOTE "People who don't like touch screens for either desktop or laptop work have either never tried them or can't open their minds to the
possibilities of two-handed computer work."
That is an unjustified remark, verging on offensive. Most, perhaps all, of the previous contributors who have posted reasons for the low number of touchscreen desktop monitors appear to have tried them before concluding that they are unacceptable. Their reasons have been presented logically and respectfully.  They don't find a need to denigrate others who offer a different view.
As to change - my experience is that most users do welcome change - just as long as the change is an actual improvement! Clearly, for most people, touch screens on the desktop are not an improvement and yet introduce a range of very obvious practical disadvantages. 
For people who do like them, or have a very specific purpose for them, I genuinely hope there remains a reasonable selection to choose from. But it's quite obvious that they are most unlikely to ever be more than a niche market, for all the excellent reasons stated.
In essence, most people sinply do not like them.

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Thank you for your note.
Feb 29, 2016 1:53AM PST

I read the post you mentioned, and your reply, and I think you both make valid points.

I don't see any particularly inflammatory or disruptive in that post, and certainly not offensive or verging on... Your own reply makes good points about the issues discussed in this thread.

I see no reason to edit or delete that post, but I do thank you for your alert, and for your contribution to this informative and interesting discussion.

MarkFlax
Moderator

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We Use Them
Feb 28, 2016 4:49PM PST

My wife and I each have an HP Pavilion 23TM 23-inch Touchscreen Monitor (no longer manufactured) connected to our Surface Pro 4's along with desktop keyboards and mouses (I refuse to use the term "mice"). It is a configuration we began using with Surface Pro 2's.

My wife uses the touch screen more than I do. But sometimes, particularly when you're typing it's just easier close a window by reaching over and tapping the "X" on the screen. However, it is easier to do some things like highlighting a few words or trimming a picture with the mouse because the screen is much more upright than when you use a tablet.

We probably wouldn't miss the touch screen too much. But my wife prefers her Bluetooth Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse which sometimes disconnects, so the monitor allows her to finish what she is doing without a mouse.

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Carpal Tunnel
Feb 29, 2016 5:02AM PST

Touching the screen is one more varied execution mechanism on top of the keyboard, the onboard mouse and the external mouse. Utilizing all of these different mechanisms reduces the chance of repetitive action injuries. Additionally, it can be more accurate when painting in edits with a stylus in Photoshop.

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Please, Please make me a HD/UHD touchscreen!!!
Mar 2, 2016 6:41AM PST

[Note: post edited by Forum admin to edit out offensive content]

Post was last edited on March 2, 2016 12:07 PM PST

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TOUVHSCREEN MONITORS FORM FACTOR
Mar 2, 2016 10:05AM PST

Desktop touchscreen monitors will only be practical when they are designed like, well, a desktop. That is, all in one piece - no separate pieces; the keyboard must be integral to the screen, and the whole one-piece unit designed to lie flat or on an angle like a desk top. The key board can be touch or physical, but it must be part of the screen. I would consider a monitor like this.

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Use for testing my personal web site
Aug 8, 2016 12:26AM PDT

I think I already posted a reply but I can't find it so I am posting again.

I bought and use a touch screen for testing/debugging my web site. The site was originally designed to display on desktop monitors. During the past couple of years, I made significant changes so the site would display properly on most devices and I needed a way to test that all the site pages would work and display properly on touch screen devices as well as traditional desktop monitors. I very seldom use the touch features of the monitor except for testing.