Is the Touch-Screen Monitor Age Here?
In this, the last of my three-part series on choosing the right computer monitor, we get to the fun part: touch-screen and 3-D technology. Is it worth paying more to get your hands on the newest technology?
Touch-screen technology is everywhere — from mobile devices to kids’ toys. As consumers start to expect all screens to respond to touch, monitors that integrate touch-screen technology are becoming more prevalent. The increased demand has started to drive down price, but you should still expect to pay a premium. A 22-inch touch-screen monitor starts at around $275, while a comparably sized LCD monitor without touch ability will cost about $100. A 27-inch touch-screen monitor will likely set you back $500 or more.
Before the release of Windows 8, I would have cautioned buyers away from touch-screen monitors for a desktop setup. Previous generations of Windows do not seamlessly integrate with touch technology, and using a touch-screen monitor with Windows 7 or Windows XP is typically a clunky, frustrating experience.
However, Windows 8 was designed to be used on touch-screen devices. If you already plan to use Windows 8 (either you’re ready to upgrade or are in the market for a new PC that will come with Windows 8 preinstalled), a touch-screen monitor makes sense.
Look for monitors that bear the words “Windows 8 Certified.” Microsoft’s certification process ensures that the monitor will be able to react to five simultaneous touch points, have firmware that is upgradeable by the user (a big advantage over having to send it back to the manufacturer if it’s incompatible with another piece of equipment) and will work over USB without requiring that you install a separate driver program.
Acer’s T232HL 23-inch touch monitor ($549 suggested retail price) is an IPS 10-point touch-screen with edge-to-edge glass (making it pretty), wide viewing angles and lots of connectivity options. It’s responsive enough for gaming and even supports NVIDIA 3-D LightBoost technology. It’s also currently available while a lot of next-generation touch-screen monitors (like Samsung’s much-anticipated Series 7 Touch) haven’t yet been released to the general market.
Another monitor buzzword is 3-D. Frankly, unless you plan to play 3-D-rendered games or watch 3-D movies on your computer, you’re likely wasting your money splurging on a 3-D-capable monitor. If you do plan to watch 3-D media, make sure your video card can render 3-D; the manufacturer will make it pretty clear if it can.
The primary benefit of a 3-D monitor is its higher pixel refresh rate (120Hz vs. 60Hz in a typical LCD monitor). There’s debate over whether there’s any real-world benefit to the increased refresh rate. Many argue that the LCD pixels aren’t capable of responding quickly enough to take full advantage of a faster refresh rate, and then there’s the question of how many frames per second the human eye can perceive. That said, the majority of field testers report that 3-D monitors render images with better clarity and are more smooth and responsive, even when performing basic functions like navigating among programs or icons on your desktop.
The Asus VG278H ($550 from Asus) is a 27-inch 3-D monitor that supports NVIDIA 3-D LightBoost and comes with two pairs of 3-D glasses. You’ll get excellent color and 3-D imagery for the $550 price tag. For 3-D capability without breaking the bank, the Acer GD235HZ ($235 from Amazon) is a 23-inch 3-D monitor that offers a solid gaming experience with lots of color customization to achieve the perfect image.
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