A touch screen laptop is the new trend in the making of laptop computers with the first such laptop released in 2010. These laptops have replaced the traditional use of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
This type of computer has a monitor, which can detect a touch and its location within the display area. This screen prompts one to use their finger, hand, or certain devices to touch the screen. Other objects that are sensed by the screen include a stylus and light pen, which are often used in operating the computer.
Touch screen technology dates back to the 60s, when E.A. Johnson invented a capacitive screen. In the 70s, the technology gained popularity and Sam Hurst developed the ‘Elograph’, the first touch sensor. Since then, the technology has been applied to other devices like smart phones, ATMs, game consoles, and PDAs.
Common Technology Used in a Touch Screen Laptop
• Capacitive touchscreen technology utilizes electrical conduction. The screen has a capacitive panel with an insulator coated with a transparent conductor like indium tin oxide. When one touches the screen, change in capacitance occurs and the detected location is relayed to the controller for processing.
• Resistive touchscreen has a panel with numerous layers, with two distinct transparent electrically resistive layers separated by a narrow space. These metallic layers are connected at this point when you touch the screen. The panel then works like a pair of voltage dividers applying voltage on one layer and the other senses this at the contact point. This change in electrical current is taken to the controller for processing.
• Surface Acoustic Wave technology utilizes ultrasonic waves. When one touches the screen, the waves pass over it and registers the location of the touch, then alerts the controller for processing.
The Best Touch Screen Laptop
When one thinks of a touch screen laptop, they most likely envision the Samsung Galaxy Tab because of its popularity. However, there are many alternative laptops in the market. It is good that you know some of the available options to determine the right one for you. It is estimated that in the US, 70% of business travelers carry their laptops. Therefore, lightweight laptops will come in handy due to their portability and convenience.
Vye V-91015 Touch Screen Netbook
This is one of the cheapest netbooks in the market and it features a twistable-tablet style, which allows the 10-inch screen to convert to a tablet. It also has a multi-touch screen. However, the specs are limited with only 1GB RAM, and a 160 BG hard drive. Nevertheless, it is light and weighs 1.3kg.
Lenovo ThinkPad T400s This touch screen laptop features a 14.1-inch screen and even a fingerprint coating for protecting the screen. Its most appealing trait is the simple tap application where a single tap opens an application and a double tap opens the control panel. This makes it convenient for busy users. HP TX2-1020US TouchSmart Laptop
This touch screen laptop also has a twistable screen, which makes it possible to convert to a tablet. It is lightweight weighing only 2.1 kg. Furthermore, it has 4GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive, and is powered by 2.2. GHZ Turion X2 processor. It also has great multimedia and display capacities.
It is advisable to do thorough research when looking to buy a touch screen laptop in order to find something durable, efficient, and affordable. Therefore, find ample reviews, analyze them, and make the decision to buy the best touch screen laptop.