Touchscreen monitors are gaining popularity, and as they’re compatible with dozens of apps, they’re a great way to improve the user interface of your home or office PC. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re considering a touchscreen monitor.
Size – When you’re looking for a standard monitor, you’re generally looking for the largest possible option. However, bigger isn’t always better with touchscreen monitors, as eventually, the size of the monitor might have an impact on its touchscreen functionality.
Most touchscreen monitors will be between 21-23″. Remember that with widescreen monitors, size is measured diagonally.
Touch Technology – Touchscreen monitors offer single or multi-touch functionality. Multi-touch is obviously better, and while multi-touch monitors might be a bit more expensive than single touch options, they’re worth the money if you’re set on a touchscreen.
Multi-touch gestures make it easier to control your new screen and work better with the existing apps and software geared towards touchscreen devices. Some touchscreen monitors like the HP Compaq L2105TM also come with styluses, which can be especially helpful if you’re going to use your monitor for presentations or other work-related purposes.
Image Quality – You’re obviously going to be concerned with LCD quality, so before you buy a monitor, you should head to your local electronics store and physically view a few options to see what you like, as this is the best way to make sure that you’ll be happy with your purchase. However, the specs are important too, so check resolution (bigger is generally better), refresh rates (shorter is better) and viewing angles.
You’ll also want to check the LCD technology. TFT monitors are inexpensive, but provide a lower-quality image than LED or plasma screens. If you’re using your monitor at work, you won’t need extreme quality and a TFT monitor might be just fine, but if you’re buying a monitor for your media computer, go for LED.
Where To Buy – Finally, be sure to buy your monitor online. If you go in to an electronics store, you can expect to spend at least $300 on a touchscreen monitor from a major brand–and that’s not counting sales tax. If you buy online, you can find a decent monitor for under $250.
Don’t necessarily buy the cheapest monitor that you find, because you’ll get what you pay for, but don’t overspend, either. With some light research, you should be able to get a great touchscreen monitor regardless of your budget.