Touchscreen Review

[ashardin]

(Mods, I know this is really a monitor thread, but I thought that since it would be of interest to those making and using jukeboxes I would put it here, move if needed)

Just wanted to give a little review of a piece of hardware I got last night to use with Virtual Jukebox, but could work with a variety of jukeboxes.

Splurged the $79.99 plus shipping for a TouchRight 17" Touch screen addition, found here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3400815021&category=3697

(actuall, there are a couple of different makes/models on Ebay right now)

I got the unit in last night and hooked it up.  Not a bad little solution for a jukebox.  It has its pros and cons though.

Pros:

1.  Cost.  Its not that expensive.  $90 shipped and it fits on any (just about any) 17"  I've got a Gateway with a large Bezel and it wouldn't fit, but I snagged my roommates 17" monitor and it fit fine.  It has adjustable mounts and it is very flexible in the mounting.  If you don't have a 17" monitor you can get them dirt cheap now.

2.  Ease of setup.  Plugged it in and installed the driver.  Worked flawlessly within 90 seconds.  No calibration routine or anything.  Very easy

Cons:

Diminished picture quality.  If I was using this as an add on for a normal computer, I would say this would be a big problem.  It does degrade the picture quality as the touchscreen is not completely clear.  Small text was hard to read (ie, control panel in windows)  For the jukebox, It is fine, I bolded all of the text and you are running full screen on a 17" monitor.  The flexibility of Virtual Jukebox helps in this manner.

Auction says "BRAND NEW units in the manufacturer's factory-sealed packages!!."  I'm not 100% sure about that.  Mine looked like it *could* have been a refurb.  There were some very light scratches on the touchscreen.  Could have been done by something coming loose in the package during shipping too.  

Overall:

Its not a terrible solution for the money.  I'd love to get a 17" ELO touchsceen monitor or something else like that.  Fact is, I'm not in the position to spend, $300, $400, or more for that type of unit.  

The biggest problem is the diminished picture quality, kind of like holding a window screen up to your monitor.  Its not that pronounced, but the same idea.  You can certainly see something over it.  I had tried a Liberty 14" monitor that I abandoned because I could not find the drivers for it, and it has a diminished picture quality as well due to the touchscreen mechanics being present, but not as bad.  I guess it is just something you have to deal with if you are trying to find a lower cost solution.  

I'd give it a c+/b-.  Acceptable, but it makes me want to get a better touchscreen monitor, but it will certainly work fine.

[BobA]

Thanks for the review.  I was wondering how those add ons worked.  One question:  How is it attached to the monitor?

Thanks

BobA

[ashardin]

Self adhesive foam pads.  You can also slide the borders of the screen in and out to fir the size of the outside of your monitor, this helps it hold as well.