Asus to release touchscreen EEE PCs. Why?
Asus can’t seem to have enough different models of EEE PCs and are seemingly always looking for variants they can produce. Word has appeared that they are going to start producing EEE PC models with touchscreens in the next six months. I have been a long-time supporter (and user) of touchscreens in a Tablet PC form factor but I cannot see the benefit of having a laptop with one.
Sure it’s cool to tap on the screen and make stuff happen but I personallly find that difficult to do with a clamshell laptop. I don’t like lifting my hands from the keyboard when I’m working. Maybe it’s just me. Plus I hate smudgy screens with all those fingerprints on them. 
(via Gizmodo)
Once saw a drug rep with one of the Fujitsu clamshell LifeBooks. Since her screen didn’t rotate, she had the keyboard in the air and the top of the LCD pressed onto the counter to write. Not my thing, but I guess it was working for her.
Posted by: MiniMage | October 9, 2008 at 7:17 am
It is just you…
I’m loving it… multi love:
http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/10/touchscreen-eee-pc-finally-coming.html
Posted by: jkkmobile | October 9, 2008 at 7:45 am
jkkmobile, I’ve seen your homebrew video so I know you love it. But what do you do with it, seriously? I’m trying to see value, it’s so uncomfortable in a standard clamshell to interact directly with the screen for me, especially a fairly small screen. Do you customize the interface to make buttons bigger or something?
Posted by: James Kendrick | October 9, 2008 at 7:48 am
I’m with you James - as much as I like touchscreens, I can’t see the utility in having on on a clamshell. Maybe if asus implemented some sort of convertible HTC shift for-factor or even the mock-up, twin screen version of OLPC version2
Posted by: Patrick | October 9, 2008 at 7:58 am
A touchscreen on a netbook small and light enough to hold with one hand is much different than having touch on a notebook.
Posted by: Travis | October 9, 2008 at 8:12 am
On a 8.9 inch 1024 x 600 screen i don’t need to make anything bigger. On smaller ones I do need. Here is my settings on U2010:
http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/09/setting-up-fujitsu-u2010-u820-ub50n.html
Maybe our difference is that you and other tableteers typically use touch for writing, where I don’t.
Another difference is that when I use my netbook, I’m mobile.. not on the desk and no tables near me.. so I don’t lift my fingers from keyboard as they are not there..
I actually like light netbook + touch more than convertible with touch as the screen hinges are sturdier and specially on Eee 900 the one hand grip is better becouse of the hinge design:
http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/07/asus-eee-pc-900-with-touch-screen.html
I’ll try to make a video explaining and showing the actual use.. but not now as i’d need someone to shoot while I use…
Posted by: jkkmobile | October 9, 2008 at 8:33 am
The article just indicated a plan to introduce a touch-screen version of the Eee, but it didn’t say what the exact form-factor will be. I would hope that they would plan to put a swivel hinge on it to make it a convertable tablet. I have a Vye S37 that has that basic design and absolutely love it. I don’t use it much for ink (my handwriting isn’t very readable even by me…), but I love swiveling it to slate mode while reading an ebook or during some types of web-surfing sessions. In those situations, touch screen is definitely great to have.
-Jeff
Posted by: JeffGr | October 9, 2008 at 10:42 am
I’m a touch lover. Really miss it on the mini-note. I’ve become quite used to using the touch screen for navigation around windows instead of using the trackpad. I launch and close programs, copy files with drag and drop, switch tabs in Avant Browser (the BEST browser by far) and most other navigation tasks. I prefer it to both the touch pad (yuck!!) or a mouse.
Gordon
Posted by: Gordon Cahill | October 9, 2008 at 2:13 pm
IF asus comes out with a slate eee i’d buy it in a heartbeat. all i use my tc1100 is to ink, no internet, no games, just notes.
imagine a cheapo 450$, 5hr battery, webcam yielding, ssd packing salte.
Posted by: gonzalo | October 9, 2008 at 5:22 pm
You are right, except if they make a touch screen enabled Eee PC in a convertible Tablet PC form factor…
What ? I’m dreaming ???
Posted by: Spads | October 10, 2008 at 2:00 am
Its a similar case to people not understanding why you would want a pc without a keyboard. Once you’ve used it a lot and have got into the habit of using it, you don’t want to go back, There are definitely good reasons to have touch on a notebook. See this pic for on example.
http://flickr.com/photos/umpcportal/2836512403/
Steve - Reading feeds on the M912M and yes, using the toucscreen as i lean back into my comfy sofa!
Posted by: Steve Paine | October 10, 2008 at 8:18 am
Car.
As a traveling sales rep, I’d love an eee like laptop mounted in my car. With a finger-tap and on screen keyboard integrated app offering:
- cell phone dialing / contacts lookup
- texting (sms)
- GPS navigation
- ToDo list
- E-mail (read only for safety)
These functions would all have large fonts, because you look at it from further than normal laptop use.
Of course, when parked you can switch to more regular apps and type mail on the regular keyboard. (all the other modules above I will not use when driving, honestly officer)
So a sort of giant iPhone with a physical keyboard thrown in, my ideal for an in-car all-in-one setup.
~henq
Posted by: henq | October 12, 2008 at 6:35 am