The Cost of a Touch Screen, Why?

[JayShoemaker]

Hello All,

It seems to me that touch screens may be getting cheaper. You can now get an All-in-one PC for around $500 with a touch screen built in.

I know that there are differences in quality, but why are the ELO touchscreens still so expensive. A 15" monitor is around $500! Has ELO just not updated prices and technology?

Are there any sources for low-cost touch screens in open frame style mounts for building jukeboxes with? What about all-in-one PCs that can be mounted professionally with bezels? Any ideas?

Jay

[BobA]

ELO are commercial quality touchscreens and they do command a premium price.   You can get used ELO screens from various ebay vendors for much cheaper in open frame and full monitor style.

Ebay example

[padstack]

Hello All,

It seems to me that touch screens may be getting cheaper. You can now get an All-in-one PC for around $500 with a touch screen built in.

I know that there are differences in quality, but why are the ELO touchscreens still so expensive. A 15" monitor is around $500! Has ELO just not updated prices and technology?

Are there any sources for low-cost touch screens in open frame style mounts for building jukeboxes with? What about all-in-one PCs that can be mounted professionally with bezels? Any ideas?

Jay

Elo's are a high reliability touchscreen.  I've sold both Elo and Planar.  Elo is the big name in touchscreens.  They also have some of the best technology (other than capacitive).  You can buy cheaper (and a lot of those all in ones are resistive touch which isn't as nice as the cheap SAW screens you'll find on e-bay).  The people buying them in high volumes can get them cheap.  Elo is not interested in selling 1 panel at a time.  That's another reason they are cost prohibitive.

Just my $0.02.  With touch technology, I really believe you get what you pay for (and I'm a cheap bastard).  That being said, I was able to score 2 SAW panels off of ebay for $80 shipped.  The deals are there if you're patient.