Touch screen laptops are quickly becoming the new rage and the wave of the future. It combines the functionality and power of a regular laptop with the convenience of an interactive touch screen to make certain activities easier. It is also advanced enough for the everyday business person or the modern day techie, yet simple enough for your everyday mom or “Average Joe”.
How to find one that is Right for You
With touch screen laptops still fairly new to the market, many folks have a tough time deciding on what type of touch screen laptop is right for them. If you are one of those people, there is nothing to worry about, as you are going to learn what you should look for when shopping around for a new touch screen laptop!
The Basics Still Apply
When shopping for a touch screen laptop, most of the basics still apply. You want to look for something that has enough power and features that allow you to accomplish everything you need to. Whether you need something basic or more advanced, you can find either in a touch screen model.
Some of the basic things you want to look for as far as speed, power and memory in a laptop are:
- The size of the hard drive. The larger the hard drive, the more storage space you will have available.
- Screen size. The larger the screen, the more room you will have to work.
- Processing power. The faster the processor, the quicker your laptop will perform.
- Memory (or RAM). The more Random Access Memory you have, the more multi-tasking you can handle without your laptop bogging down.
- Connections. USB, HDMI, VGA and other connection types are out there. Find out what connections you absolutely need to have.
- CD/DVD Drives. Most laptops these days come with a CD/DVD drive that allows you to burn/write both CD’s and DVD’s.
Screen Type
Most touch screen laptops come with two different screen types – a matte or glossy finish. A matte finish won’t look as vibrant or colorful, but it dramatically reduces fingerprint trails and smudges. In other words, you won’t have to constantly clean your screen.
If cleaning your screen often doesn’t bother you, then a glossy finish may be the way to go. A glossy screen offers a better screen resolution that makes colors stand out.
Screen Response Time
Another important factor in choosing the best touch screen laptop is the screen response time. This isn’t as big of an issue as it was when these laptops were first introduced. Most of the modern touch screen models now have speedy response times and are more sensitive, resulting in a better and enhanced user experience.
To Stylus or Not to Stylus
Nearly all of the touch screen laptops today come with the option to use a stylus (an electronic pen that is used to control your screen). While using a stylus may come in handy (if you wanted to capture your handwriting, for example), most people can live without these. In fact, most will find it easier to simply touch the screen when they need to carry out a command, rather than use a stylus pen to carry out the same command.
Now, that doesn’t mean a stylus isn’t useful. In some instances, it can come in handy, as certain businesses in various industries use touch screen laptops with a stylus to make the input of information much faster (think about the auto insurance industry, for example).
Rotating Screen
A lot of touch screen laptops are built with the functionality and ability to move/rotate the screen. I strongly suggest that you look for one that has the largest degree of rotation. For example, a touch screen laptop with a 180 degree rotation will allow you to turn the screen and fold it down over your keyboard, which can make certain tasks easier.
Check the Reviews
Once you narrow down your search for the right touch screen laptop, my next suggestion would be to dig a little deeper and find what other consumers have to say. This may seem like a menial task, but I can guarantee it is worth the extra effort (especially when you know that you will be investing quite a few bucks in one of these new laptops). Checking reviews adds just another layer of self assurance and confidence to the buying process, giving you the comfort in knowing you’re getting the best model for your money and needs.
Now that you are well aware of what you need to look for in a touch screen laptop, you should have all of the confidence in the world in finding one that is perfect for you. There are plenty of options out there, so be sure to shop around until you see what fits your specifications. Happy hunting!
