All in One PC's?

I certainly don't want a touch screen image processor. All those finger prints that need constant cleaning off? No way.

Lowner wrote in post #16174836
I certainly don't want a touch screen image processor. All those finger prints that need constant cleaning off? No way.

Photographers don't yearn for touch capability, I yearn for an Eizo ColorEdge 276, and I'll make darn sure no one's fingers come anywhere near it.

CincyTriGuy wrote in post #16173971
Apparently the major PC makers didn't get that memo, because they're all saying that non-touch laptops won't even be available within a year or two.

Touch evolved (principally because of the iPhone) to increase screen size without increasing footprint. This meant removal of buttons. The iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (and their functional equivalents with other OSes) permit small movement of one's arm to manage their use. Once you start increasing the surface area of a touch screen, fatigue becomes an issue in a short amount of time, especially when holding one's arm horizontally.

Tony-S wrote in post #16175182
Touch evolved (principally because of the iPhone) to increase screen size without increasing footprint. This meant removal of buttons. The iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (and their functional equivalents with other OSes) permit small movement of one's arm to manage their use. Once you start increasing the surface area of a touch screen, fatigue becomes an issue in a short amount of time, especially when holding one's arm horizontally.

I've noticed zero fatigue when using my laptop's touchscreen for extended periods of time, like flying cross country or attending multi-hour conferences when my laptop is on my lap.

The entire reason I enjoy a touch-enabled laptop is because it's *easier* and *simpler* to interact with the device in certain situations than a keyboard / trackpad is. Not the other way around.

We're not talking about the viability of touch in small, light, portable devices, it's clearly been proven to work and is fine; but your Thinkpad x1 is a 14" laptop, not a 27" desktop.

If I were to imagine that my iMac had touch, I almost have to lean to reach the top corners of the screen, and I'm 6'1" with fairly long arm length... way too much trouble.

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #16174828
Define "laptop".

"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Laptop is a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use."

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #16174828
Netbooks for sure, I'm pretty sure they're dead already, but full-size laptops will stay quite around a while longer.

Of course they will. And, the OEM's have indicated that they'll be increasingly touch-enabled going forward. Ie., more models with touch screens, fewer without. Same for All In One's.

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #16174828
Just try and tell Apple that touch devices are going to kill the MBP's.

I do not believe touch devices are going to kill the MBP so I would have no desire to say that to Apple. I do, however, feel that OSX will evolve to be more touch friendly over time, and OSX devices will become touch-enabled themselves.

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #16175595
If I were to imagine that my iMac had touch, I almost have to lean to reach the top corners of the screen, and I'm 6'1" with fairly long arm length... way too much trouble.

I agree with you 100% on this. I have a 3 monitor desktop rig and have zero desire for touch on it.

However, you said touch is a fad and you specifically mentioned laptops. My point was that no, it's not a fad, it's a direction the industry is going and that train has already left the station. And, my own experience with a touch laptop is that there are situations where having touch on a laptop really make it shine and makes the device easier to use.

CincyTriGuy wrote in post #16175618
"A Laptop is a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use."

Of course they will. And, the OEM's have indicated that they'll be increasingly touch-enabled going forward. Ie., more models with touch screens, fewer without. Same for All In One's.

I do not believe touch devices are going to kill the MBP so I would have no desire to say that to Apple. I do, however, feel that OSX will evolve to be more touch friendly over time, and OSX devices will become touch-enabled themselves.

Somehow I must have interpreted "touch-enabled laptops" as "touch-enabled devices": e.g. iPad, so I guess that's my fault. If the next wave of large laptops has touch, I guess it's going to bother no one, so long as it doesn't significantly impact the price. I just hope more manufacturers will put a lock switch on the angle adjustment, lest you tilt the screen back every time you want to want to touch something.

CincyTriGuy wrote in post #16175623
I agree with you 100% on this. I have a 3 monitor desktop rig and have zero desire for touch on it.

However, you said touch is a fad and you specifically mentioned laptops.

I can't believe I'm going to quote myself, but:

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #16169352
I would not want to leave my finger smudges on the same screen I'm editing on. and isn't the screen upright? How to you effectively use touch on an upright device? This sounds cumbersome to me, just get a trackpad or a pen tablet with touch.

Whatever you go for, I wouldn't weigh in touch features as a purchase incentive.

Where in the previous two statements have I said anything about laptops? I have no problem with potentially good touch functionality in a small portable device, I was answering in direct response to OP's question of whether touch is worth considering/worrying about in a 27" desktop computer, and the answer is no.

flashpoint99 wrote in post #16173500
The real issue you will have is that windows 8 is a horrible OS.

+1

Maybe I'll change my mind with practice I can't stand how Win 8 conveniently zaps you into some new mode based on "intuitive mouse movements". "Woa, what just happened and how can I get back to what I was doing".

I try going thru the tutorial and, during the tutorial, I cannot duplicate the swipe-actions they describe.

Like Vista; it's just not ready for the road.

That said; maybe touchscreen has something to offer for photography and Win 7 has no support.

If you have to learn a new OS anyway; why not a MAC?

I thought about getting a Sony AIO desktop, but decided to go for an iMac 27 instead. Touch screen makes no sense to me on a large screen desktop. Works brilliantly on tablets and smartphones.

I'm delighted so far with the iMac, though I've only had it a couple of weeks..

2c

Thanks for all the input. I tried the 27 iMac but bootcamp didn't work on it so I couldn't run server 2008 - and couldn't find a decent low level CAD program for the MAC - So back it went. - Pity though, beautiful piece of hardware. Also experienced the anomaly of windows disappearing and the general angst of working with the OS which is supposed to be intuitive (too many years in PC admin I guess) just made it a deal-breaker. If I had more time to mess with it I probably would have kept it and just ran the CAD on my laptop or something - but my laptop fan died and I had to act. Now Im looking at other PC AIO's or I would be open to a tablet or laptop type (small form factor) with a large external ips monitor - but I don't think they will have the resources needed to process photos in bulk or edit video etc. so I'll have to separate my uses by device. (edit on desktop and use tablet for shoot review etc).

Sorry - I know that's a lot of info in a lot of ways.