Dear Lifehacker,
All of a sudden, it seems like there are touch screen PCs everywhere. I've even seen monitors and all-in-one desktops touting their "built for touch" features. While I like the touch screen on my tablet, I'm not sure what the point is on a laptop or desktop. What advantages do these new touch screen PCs really offer?
Signed,
Torn about Touch
Dear Torn,
Depending on whom you talk to, touch screen computers are either the natural evolution of the PC or the dumbest idea ever. (On one side you have Microsoft and Intel touting the latest Windows 8 touch screen PCs and on the other you have people quoting Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook about touch not belonging on laptops or vertical displays.) So who's right?
Well, no one, really. As with deciding on any other computer feature—for example, display size or processor—choosing to have a touch screen or not is a matter of preference and your needs.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of touch screens on a computer so you can make up your own mind about them.
Using a touch screen to interact with your PC is faster, easier, and maybe even more fun than using a mouse or trackpad. And while we love using keyboard shortcuts to work faster on our computers, you have to learn and remember them.
Tapping and swiping on a touch screen, on the other hand, is more intuitive, since you're interacting directly and immediately with the elements on the screen. If you use trackpad multi-touch gestures or have used a tablet or smartphone, working with a PC touch screen feels just as natural and fluid. Photo by Intel Free Press
If you have a touch screen PC with pen (stylus) input, you get even finer precision and can write or draw naturally on the screen. The pen input panel on Windows 8 (and Windows 7) is remarkably smart at translating your handwriting into text, so if you're faster at handwriting than you are at typing, using a stylus can be a time saver. (Writing has also been shown to help us learn and remember more than typing on a keyboard.)
One of the earliest criticisms about touch screen PCs is that programs and desktop windows are hard to use with touch. The close button, scrollbars, and other navigational elements are small and hard to accurately hit. Windows 8 has changed that to a big extent, with things like the Explorer ribbon creating a more touch-optimized interface in desktop mode and, of course, its new full screen apps. Desktop programs like Microsoft Office are even pretty touch-friendly. And with those that aren't, you can easily zoom in and use gestures to make working with a Windows 8 touch screen PC at least as easy as using a tablet (or you could use a stylus and tap very accurately on the screen).
All that said, a touch screen PC might not be for everyone. Some things you need to consider include:
More smears on your screen: Greasy, scummy smears are the bane of every smartphone and tablet user. It's no different when you're constantly touching a PC screen. Getting out the microfiber cloth more often is a hassle, but for most of us this alone isn't a deal-breaker.
The so-called Gorilla arm: Gorilla arm is a term describing the tired arms users get after reaching out and touching a screen for a long time. It's been cited by many as a reason why touch screens will not take over. Photo by Bob Familiar
If you're continually holding up your arm to point at a vertical display, sure that's going to hurt. However, the truth is you're probably not going to be perpetually holding up your arm. If you're using a touch screen desktop PC or monitor, you might tap and swipe, then switch to the keyboard and mouse, and back. Touch screen laptops and hybrid tablet/laptops (with screens that can detach from the keyboard or swivel into tablet mode) can be positioned closer and at angles that are more comfortable, which makes this whole "Gorilla arm" argument moot, as ZDNet's Ed Bott writes.
Added thickness: Touch screen panels are usually thicker than non-touch ones—especially if the touch panel has an active digitizer for pen support. CNN argues that the hybrid laptop/tablet will never work because of the size issue: "The Surface Pro is more than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. That's fine for a laptop. For a tablet, it's borderline obese." The added thickness, however, is pretty negligible (a few millimeters, maybe) unless you need the absolute thinnest device possible. (Also, it's strange to hear complaints that a tablet which functions as a complete laptop replacement weighs two pounds and is a bit over a half an inch thick.)
Possibly shorter battery life: Touch screens require more power. Laptop Magazine compared a couple of touch screen laptops with their non-touch counterparts (same model and size) and found that the non-touch laptops lasted over an hour longer. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you need as much battery life as possible for your next laptop (check the battery life ratings for both the touch screen laptop and the non-touch model if available).
Cost: Finally, the biggest disadvantage of touch screen PCs is the added cost. Touch screen PCs cost more than their non-touch counterparts. The difference can be between $100 to $200, with pen-enabled touch screens costing the most.
There's been a lot of backlash in the media about these newer touch screen PCs and how they're doomed to failure. However, most of that really isn't about touch as a user interface at all, but rather Windows 8 and the bad rap it's getting for it's radical interface redesign. Before Windows 8, people criticized tablet PCs (which have been around for over a decade) because they were thick and heavy and expensive. Those barriers are gone, though, with today's thinner, lightweight laptops.
Like it or not, touch screen PCs are becoming the new normal. Windows 8's new interface was developed primarily for touch. Intel has also changed its laptop partner requirements so that all future Ultrabooks (with Haswell processors) will have to sport a touch screen.
Keep in mind that the touch screen is really just another way to interact with your PC. You still have your keyboard and your mouse (or trackpad) when you want them and can use the touch screen as little or as much as you want. (After using a touch screen for a while, though, you may find yourself attempting to tap and swipe any non-touch displays you come into contact with.)
If the added cost of the touch screen and the possible battery life hit don't matter much to you, you don't have anything to lose—and you might very well enjoy that touch screen as much as you do the one on your tablet.
Sincerely,
Lifehacker
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Despite being a relatively new invention, portable monitors are rapidly increasing in popularity.
A touchscreen portable monitor is an external monitor you can connect with your laptop, phone, television, or gaming console— basically, anything shooting a video signal. But the best part is that you can take these compact monitors anywhere you go.
Hence, portable monitors are perfect for school, business travel, vacationing, and countless other activities.
If this is your first time purchasing a touchscreen portable monitor, you might feel intimidated in the face of countless options. Between various styles, models, and sizes, there are a lot of things to consider before you finalize your purchase.
But fear not, as this post will walk you through some essential tips to ensure you find the perfect touchscreen portable monitor for your needs.
Screen Size
Screen size is often the foremost thing people consider when buying any display device, and a touchscreen portable monitor is no different.
Portable monitors are generally smaller than your average laptop or desktop computer monitor. This is by design since these external display devices are built to be compact, portable, and lightweight.
As such, portable monitor screen sizes are, on average, 15 to 16 inches. However, screen sizes can range anywhere from 7 inches to 24 inches. The size you ultimately pick depends upon how you plan on using the portable monitor.
If you’re using a portable monitor purely as a second display (like for gaming or giving presentations), then a larger size screen will suit your needs. Keep in mind, though, that large screens are more susceptible to damage, especially if you try to travel with them.
However, medium-to-small-sized screens are better for students or frequent travelers, as they’re more lightweight, compact, and portable.
Connectivity
One of the biggest selling points of portable monitors is the “plug and play” action. You can connect them to anything shooting a video signal via an adapter, and you’ll have a second display up and running without any reconfigurations or adjustments. For example, you can connect them to your phone, laptop, gaming device, PC, or television— the possibilities are endless.
As such, a good touchscreen portable monitor will have not only one but a plethora of connection options. The most common connection ports in portable laptops are:
HDMI
Mini HDMI
DisplayPort
Mini DisplayPort
USB-C
Micro USB
At the same time, you should check the available connections on your device and whether they are compatible with the connection options on the portable monitor. For example, some Macbook Pro models don’t have HDMI.
Some portable monitors also offer wireless connections. However, they aren’t as reliable as wired connections and drain the monitor’s battery faster.
Response Time and Refresh Rate
These are two very different but ultimately interconnected things. Response time is the time it takes your monitor to shift from one color to another, given in milliseconds (ms). The average response time for monitors is 10 ms, although LCD, AMOLED, and OLED screens usually have an even lower response time. Some even go as low as 1 ms.
On the other hand, the refresh rate is the number of times a screen displays a new image every second, given in Hertz (Hz). Most portable monitors use a refresh rate of 60 Hz. For example, unlike response time, a higher refresh rate is generally better as; more images per second leads to smoother and lag-free videos.
These two factors are inconsequential if you’re using your new portable monitor for web surfing, editing photos, or writing emails and assignments. Hence, the only display-related spec you should worry about is resolution (discussed later).
But if you’re using it for gaming, you need to pay extra attention to the response time and refresh rate. A low response time and high refresh rate will give you the ultimate smooth and lag-free display to bag the win.
Display
Speaking of the display, don’t expect too much out of your touchscreen portable monitor. That’s not to say the picture or video quality isn’t going to be good, only that it probably won’t be as good as your mainstream monitor display, television, or phone.
This shouldn’t be that big an issue if you’re doing basic projects or work requiring simple programs. Most portable monitors offer 1920 ✕ 1080 FHD resolution, which is more than enough for these low-demanding activities.
But if you need 4K UHD resolution for things like gaming or watching a movie, those options are also available. But, of course, they’ll be heavier on your pockets than FHD or HD options.
Internal Speakers Vs. Headphones
By and large, touchscreen portable monitors lack built-in speakers.
Some high-end ones have built-in speakers, which are good enough for gaming or meetings. However, these built-in speakers don’t hold a candle to external speakers, especially for a movie night. So if you want a fully immersive audio experience, you must use headphones or external speakers.
Hence, high-quality built-in speakers are a welcome bonus but not a requirement. However, there’s no wiggle room when it comes to headphone jacks.
Since your portable monitor might or might not have good built-in speakers, it should at least have a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Battery
Your portable monitor should have a built-in battery so you can easily use it away from an electrical outlet. After all, it wouldn’t be a “portable” monitor if it’s tethered to a socket most of the time.
Any lithium-ion battery with a minimum 5000 milliamps per hour (mAH) rating is the benchmark.
Additionally, it would be useful if the monitor could be charged using a USB-C cable. This way, you can always charge it using your laptop in case of emergencies.
Portability
The biggest selling point about portable external monitors is their portability. In other words, portable monitors should be compact enough to take anywhere with you, be it a coffee shop around the corner or a business trip halfway across the world.
Here are some factors that determine portability:
Size— a screen size of fewer than 10 inches is more travel-friendly, but it might be too small for your specific requirements. Hence, you’ll have to make a compromise.
Weight— Most touchscreen portable monitors are only a few pounds heavy. Some can be just a little over 1 lb.
Durability— Since portable monitors spend a lot of time in bags and suitcases, they need to be durable. Check the material to ensure your monitor won’t dent, crack, or break.
Furthermore, the monitor should be travel-friendly in other ways as well.
Since your access to utilities is limited while you’re traveling, your monitor should have universal compatibility. With multiple connections and power options, you will always have a fallback. Plus, you won’t have to carry around long, bulky cables.
At the same time, your portable laptop should be as plug-and-play as possible, making it easy to use when you’re traveling.
Other Accessories
There are some add-on accessories you can get to enhance the efficiency, ease of use, and performance of your portable monitor. These include:
Cover/ stand— in most cases, the cover of a portable monitor doubles as a stand. Hence, if you’re already getting a cover, you don’t need to purchase a separate stand. However, a
separate standis undeniably sturdier and supportive.
Speakers— if you want a fully immersive audio experience, you should invest in external speakers.
Stylus— a stylus can help you improve the accuracy of typing, drawing, and editing. Moreover, it will keep your screen clear of oils from your fingers.
Microfiber cloth— always carry a microfiber cloth to wipe down your screen without damaging it.
Multiport adapter— a
multiport adapterwill ensure that you are able to utilize all the connectivity options of your portable monitor without carrying too many cables.
Maintenance
You would think that maintaining a touchscreen portable monitor is going to be easier than a regular monitor. But you’d be wrong.
A touchscreen monitor becomes dirty faster than a regular monitor, thanks to oils and other contaminants on your fingers. If you use your portable monitor regularly, you will likely have to wipe it down at the end of every day.
But be careful; you can’t use just any fabric on the sensitive touchscreen. Instead, use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the screen without leaving any lint or smudge marks.
Warranty
A touchscreen portable monitor can be pretty costly up-front, and any subsequent repairs and other issues will be expensive, too.
So make sure that your purchase comes with a good warranty. The minimum warranty you should aim for is one year, but 2-3 years is preferable.
Conclusion
A touchscreen portable monitor is a game-changer for anyone with a lot of daily screen time, be it students, gamers, video editors, or office workers.
But before you set your heart on a particular model, take a few things under consideration first. This includes screen size, connectivity, display, audio, battery, and overall portability.
Moreover, keep in mind that portable monitors are priced according to their utility and value. In other words, they can be costly. But in the grand scheme of things, this is an investment you won’t regret making.