It appears the next generation of computers is upon us in the form of touchscreen or multi-touch PCs. There is no doubt this new arrival is making some computer functions far easier, and there is an element of fun too (though this might just be because the technology is so new). Let’s take a look at how this new technology applies to our everyday computer use. Is it just a fad or is this something that is here to stay?

Touchscreen is not an entirely new technology and has actually been in our everyday lives for years. One good example would be the self-service checkout systems that you find in many retail stores. Some ATMs or cash points also utilise touchscreen technology for their customers to use. These have limited capabilities when you compare them to the new Pc models released for personal use. Everything needs a starting point and these systems laid the foundation for today’s more advanced equipment and applications.

There are always pros and cons for any situation or product that you are evaluating. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons for the touchscreen computers on the market today.

Pros:

• Better user interaction
• Personalisation through personal contact
• Multi-touch features allow for easy manipulation of photos, videos and other windows
• Work faster
• Work more effectively
• Ease of scrolling through internet pages, document folders and other things
• Experience data in a more intuitive and natural way as you literally move things where you want them within spreadsheets, documents and presentations
• High fun factor

Cons:

• Monitor screens need to be cleaned more often
• There are currently a limited number of made-for-touch applications available
• Can be a slight delay with finger interaction though as the technology evolves this will likely disappear
• Some interfaces are not as finger friendly as others

The pros always tend to outweigh the cons in this category. This is the future and they will probably become almost as common as your keyboard. Touch-screens are no fad, not by any means. These products have hit the mainstream computer market and are becoming more popular with every new version that is released and as manufacturers incorporate even more features.

When you are ready to upgrade that old computer, you may want to take a hard look at a touch-screen. So the next time you’re in one of your favourite electronics stores, stopover in the computer isle and try one of these systems on for size. It will be that moment in time that you will see what you’ve been missing. Then come back here and find out which machine is right for you and how they stack up against each other.