Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

Touch Screen HTPC Cases--Are They Worth it?

1690 Views 21 Replies 15 Participants Last post by IVB, May 14, 2006

Phil Smith

Discussion Starter · May 8, 2006

Thinking about building a new HTPC. Entertaining the thought of buying a touch screen case. Are they worth the extra bucks? If yes, how hard is the touch screen to configure?

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

avekevin

· #2 · May 9, 2006

It seems to me that the answer to that question will have to do with how close the HTPC is to you. If it's going to sit within arms reach, the I supposed it might be worthwhile. If it's across the room or in a closet, then a touchscreen won't do you any good.

My advice - get a good remote control instead. If you really want to do touchscreen, look for a wireless touchpad.

Kevin

mikeford

· #3 · May 9, 2006

Display on the HTPC is good, touch screen, eh, no thanks I'll use a remote.

A VFD text display is fine too, no need for fancy visuals on the box itself.

David O

· #4 · May 9, 2006

I opted for a separate 7" touchscreen mounted on my armrest - running the VGA and USB cables from the PC was the worst part and I'm not convinced (for aesthetic reasons) it was really worth it, unless I was doing a very fancy custom install where all this would be hidden.

never understood why you would want it in the case, given the noise problems PCs represent the obvious position for the PC is well away from the user, and preferably enclosed.

Also the software (housebot or similar) is very immature and needs a lot of time to set up. Even most dual-monitor drivers are very iffy and tend to lose settings etc.

So a good all-purposes remote is still a better idea.

David

See less See more

Cax6ton

· #5 · May 9, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by David O
never understood why you would want it in the case, given the noise problems PCs represent the obvious position for the PC is well away from the user, and preferably enclosed.

David

The main reasons are situations where the PC is in an equipment room/rack and the main display is not visible from that position (troubleshooting/config is easier), or where users wish to access some functions (like music) without turning the main display on. If neither of those apply, the conventional wisdom is dead-on: The touchscreen is neat and has some kinda bling factor, but ends up being superfluous.

Phil Smith

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 9, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cax6ton
...or where users wish to access some functions (like music) without turning the main display on.

This is why I thought it might be neat to have. I could play MP3s and rip DVDs without turning my projector on. I bet I've put at least 500 hours on my projector from ripping movies.

Cax6ton

· #7 · May 9, 2006

Ouch....yeah, a touchscreen or even a local monitor might be more economical than burning through a lamp just to watch a progress bar moving.

ginnal

· #8 · May 9, 2006

no.

Joe Hendrix

· #9 · May 9, 2006

I've got a touchscreen model. Like you, when I first purchased it I was thinking of all these nifty things I could do without turning on the TV. After the first few weeks, and a lot of pain and suffering of getting everything working right (which is still a work in progress), I had given up the idea of using the touch screen. Then, just a few days ago, I got a bug to try it again. I'm still working out the kinks, but it's closer to being usefull. The only thing that I'll use it for (for now) is to listen to music without turning the TV on.

I turn on the PC and receiver. Then I turn on the touch screen. I have the WMP icon right in the middle of the touch screen which I double tap. Brings up WMP, then I select a playlist, and go full screen with my visualizations and let it go.

The touch screen, imho, is a wow factor first, and a saving on the TV second. Before I tackled this touch screen business again, I would turn on the TV to setup whatever playlist that I wanted, and then turned the TV off again to listen to the music (don't need the TV on while playing a long playlist).

See less See more

IVB

· #10 · May 9, 2006

I mounted a cheap ($250) touchscreen PC in the kitchen to act as a whole-house audio & HA controller. If I want to listen to CD/XM/FM/..., I just use that. It's always on, with 1 min screen timeout, so it only takes 1 tap to bring up the screen in

Widman

· #11 · May 9, 2006

I went with a 12" touchscreen LCD monitor. It sits in my entertainment center at eye-level and I use it mostly for playing music. It works well with large buttons (i.e. JRMC theater View), but it is easy to make a wrong selection on smaller items like an XP dropdown menu. I'm sure a 7" screen would be even more difficult to interact with.

pete

Robert Clark

· #12 · May 9, 2006

Where do you find a 7" touchscreen monitor?

I haven't seen any in a google search...

EDIT:

Never mind, found a few...

dkuster

· #13 · May 9, 2006

Wouldn't it be cheaper to add a standalone touchscreen monitor instead

of looking for one integrated into the case? This is the idea I'm exploring

at the moment.

The problem (with both options) is screen resolution. My front projector

is 720p. If I "clone" that display to the LCD touchscreen then it needs

to be able to accept 720p. As far as I can tell that requires at least a

17" LCD panel. (15" panels max resolution is 1024x768, while 17" models

max out at 1280x1024.)

Also, instead of buying a touchscreen LCD, has anyone been successful

in adding one of those touchscreen overlays to a "regular" LCD display?

See less See more

Lastblade

· #14 · May 10, 2006

I bought the Silverstone LC18 that come with a touchscreen LCD. My RPTV takes about 30 seconds to turn on and even longer for full brightness. So I rather turn on the LCD and touch screen to change albums/playlists, etc. It is working out very nicely but if I have a TV that does not have this problem, I wouldn't bother.

Phil Smith

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 10, 2006

I don't really have room for a stand alone monitor.

It was just a thought. You guys bring up a lot of issues I hadn't thought of, so I think I'll just stick with a regular HTPC case.

Mobie1

· #16 · May 10, 2006

Link to 8" touch screen
http://www.logicsupply.com/product_i...roducts_id/242

mikeford

· #17 · May 10, 2006

Everything "car" seems way over priced to me, $260 for a 640x480 LCD, touch or not, not only doesn't float my boat, it doesn't even inflate it.

I do love having a small monitor in a AV system, LCD, CRT, a factor of convenient size and price. Years ago I was using an old 9" Sony so I could do quick things like check the output of a VCR without disturbing a movie on the main TV etc. My intention is to do the same again soon with a PDA and a wireless connection.

Main issue still is how do you get the signal you want to the display device you want. I used to actually use a pro patch panel, which is an item that can really spoil you, but its even more complicated with a HTPC where you might want pure video only to the main display during movies with all controls on a second display, and other times like to bring up a guide etc. on the main display.

DJ79

· #18 · May 11, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith
This is why I thought it might be neat to have. I could play MP3s and rip DVDs without turning my projector on. I bet I've put at least 500 hours on my projector from ripping movies.

There is a very simple alternative for maintenance -- Remote Desktop Connection or VNC. For music, I just set it, and turn the TV off.

beun

· #19 · May 11, 2006

The touch screen is absolutely worth it for me. I have the HTPC in an equipment rack in the back of the media room and I can do all the management there. After I have picked the DVD to watch or the music to listen do I can use the remote from the chair.

Phil Smith

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkuster
The problem (with both options) is screen resolution. My front projector

is 720p. If I "clone" that display to the LCD touchscreen then it needs

to be able to accept 720p. As far as I can tell that requires at least a

17" LCD panel. (15" panels max resolution is 1024x768, while 17" models

max out at 1280x1024.)

You guys that are using touchscreens, are you running into resolution issues? I'm currently running 1280x720p. If HD-DVD drives ever become available, and they'll play HD-DVDs, I'll be running 1920x1080i.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.