Converting / adding touch screen to an LCD tv

[tonyc]

I know the big boss man is looking to do this on his kitchen LCDtv, so firstly any update on this, and what would you recommend to get me started on this.

Currently, I have 2x Media pc's (based on Scaleo E design) with 2.6Ghz quad core, 4gb ram, 1tb HDD on the main lounge pc, and a more most 2.4ghz processor, 2gb ram and 1tb HDD on the bedroom pc which has two routers attached and 2x 1tb external HDD's (thanks to Sky - story for another time). However, I'm looking to use the unused DVI port on the bedroom pc to go through the chimney to the kitchen and have a monitor on the wall in there. As the pc in the bedroom has a bluetooth keyboard with trackpad (Microsoft 7000) I can take it downstairs and use, but with Win7 I'd look at coverting an LCDtv in the bedroom and use this in the kitchen and buy another for the bedroom.

So what kits are out there etc ?

[elootos]

Well after promising to upgrade my kitchen LCD to touchscreen, the idea has kind of gone flat, for now at least.

I thought touch would make it much more usable, but I'm so pleased with the way it all currently works with the wireless mouse/keyboard that I'm reluctant to start butchering my screen to fit a touch panel.

I think the ebay ones are the best, although I think they just emulate a mouse so you may not get all the eye-candy finger flick inertia that Windows7 supports. My other reluctance in trying it is I think my Dell screen is microscopically too small to fit the kit. Because of the screen's rounded edges, that eliminates the clearance required for the square touch panel. But once the dust settles with me now running Windows Home Server, I may get itchy feet again and look at the touch screen as my next project.

What you're doing sounds interesting, so by all means post some photos of what you're doing/have done.

[cverrier]

I'm doing the planning for a touchscreen kitchen PC now...

Expensive option - an HP Touchsmart
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The Touchsmart 300 would be about £700 I think, but would have the benefit of being fully self-contained, with some cool touch-enabled apps, etc.

All I'd need would be power and TV cables, which would make the install that much simpler as well.

Too much money, I suspect!



Cheap Option - existing PC in a cupboard with a wall mounted LCD
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Acer have launched a 23" touch panel with VESA mount points (Acer T230H) which might do the job for about £260

I've got an older PC in a low profile case that would be fine, provided I can find somewhere to put it in the kitchen!

It would need Power, HDMI, and USB cabling - so only slightly worse than the HP option in terms of cable hassles.

I suspect that I could use Media Centre, with a few 3rd-party add ins to get most of what I want (media, email, calendar, etc) and get it working as a proper 'kitchen PC'.

[elootos]

(12-09-2009 04:39 PM)cverrier Wrote:  Acer have launched a 23" touch panel with VESA mount points (Acer T230H) which might do the job for about £260

Hello and welcome to the site!

Certainly if you have a spare PC then the Acer option looks best value. And considering the £80 my 19" Dell screen cost in my kitchen, plus the £80 for the kit I'd need to now implement touch on it (and the highly likely chance of me butchering it in the process), £260 for a fully touch enabled 23" 1080 screen seems like a bargain; a great link.

It'd be nicer to think that santa will bring me one though.

The PC in my kitchen has been one of the most useful additions I've ever done and touch-screen would add one hell of a 'wow' factor to it.

[elootos]

I'm convinced that the kit I was planning on using from ebay to convert my kitchen monitor is only a mouse emulator, and after reading this article I need a kosher touch screen monitor! Time to get saving...

[dunks517]

I drool at this beauty:

Dell Touchscreen

[elootos]

(12-31-2009 12:32 PM)dunks517 Wrote:  I drool at this beauty:

Dell Touchscreen

Done. I'll have one of them. Just need to find £390 down the back of the sofa...

[ali_g]

maybe abit off topic, but these are available from trusty Aldi from Thursday

Full HD Multi-touch TFT 21.5'' Monitor
£199. 99 each

[fixiehipster]

(03-22-2010 05:21 PM)ali_g Wrote:  maybe abit off topic, but these are available from trusty Aldi from Thursday

Full HD Multi-touch TFT 21.5'' Monitor
£199. 99 each

great link! i am after a touch screen myself for my kitchen/diner, but the 'optical' sensor is a bit baffling

plus it comes with a touch pen which is even odder.

Perhaps not the capacitive beauty that Acer and Dell offer, but a good deal anyway. Think i'll wait to see if any more info comes available.

[fixiehipster]

(03-22-2010 07:14 PM)fixiehipster Wrote:  Perhaps not the capacitive beauty that Acer and Dell offer, but a good deal anyway. Think i'll wait to see if any more info comes available.

well it seems that optical sensors like on that Aldi special are how all these sub £300 windows7 multitouch monitors work and can be used with pens as well . I think capacitive tech is used by apple on their much more expensive screens as they can take 3 and 4 finger gestures.

Another option is the illyama T2250MTS that gets good words said about pq.