The question of touch screen vs non-touch screen laptops is often asked by newcomers to the world of technology. This article will take a look at both types and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
Touch Screen Laptops
The first type we will cover are touch screen laptops, as these seem to be the most popular type for new buyers. Touch screen laptops have been around in one form or another since the 80's, but they didn't start becoming mainstream until about two years ago when some manufacturers decided that it would be a good idea if all their computers included touch screens. The thinking behind this decision was likely based on the fact that although touchscreen monitors have generally not caught on for desktop use, tablet sales were increasing rapidly thanks to Apple and Android devices.
The first touch screen laptops were not very popular because they suffered from the same problems as tablet computers. The screens were small and low resolution, making them hard to use, and battery life was poor to say the least. Today that has changed and touch screen laptops are now a viable alternative to regular laptops for many users. Touchscreen functionality can be very useful in some situations, like when using two hand held devices simultaneously (e.g. surfing the web on your laptop while checking something on your smartphone).
Touch screen laptops do have their disadvantages however, and here is what you should consider before buying one:
1) Battery life - having a touchscreen drains your battery more quickly than a regular laptop that doesn't offer this feature. The difference can be as much as 1-2 hours, depending on the type of screen and its settings. Even if you don't intend to use your touchscreen all the time, having it enabled does consume power so keep that in mind.
2) Cost - touchscreens need extra components such as a capacitive layer or similar which means there is some added cost with each unit. This translates into a higher price tag for laptops equipped with this feature.
3) Resolution - because most people are used to phone and tablet screens with poor resolution compared to even low-end desktop monitors, most touchscreen laptops come with 1366x768 screens instead of full 1080p HD. If you plan on connecting an external monitor make sure that it has the same resolution as your laptop or it will either appear very small on a large screen, or you will have to use software tricks to make it fit (which never looks good).
4) Screen size - these days laptops are available in all sorts of sizes from 11.6" units up to 17" screens. Unless you really don't have room for a larger laptop, I would recommend going with one that has at least a 15" screen if not also full 1080p HD. A smaller screen makes everything more difficult to see and use especially the whole page web surfing experience which is something you may want from time to time. Touchscreens are also harder to use with an external mouse compared to regular non-touch screens since they don't offer a large enough surface to properly use one.
Most of the best laptops under 300 are Touchscreen laptops which are quite useful for doing some tasks, but they don't come without their share of problems. As with most things in life it's best to consider all the pros and cons before making a decision rather than just picking the first option that catches your eye. Non Touch Screen Laptops
The alternative choice is not having a touchscreen at all, or more specifically: buying a regular laptop that doesn't have touch capabilities. This may seem odd considering touchscreen laptops are so prominently featured these days, but there are several good reasons why many people prefer to avoid them:
Design - laptops are designed to be used on the go and not so much when sitting in one place making use of a tabletop. Touchscreens can interfere with using other devices like pens or external keyboards and they usually add to the overall footprint of the laptop, thus taking up more space to store and carry around.
Quality - touchscreens often come with cheap plastic covers that feel flimsy and make it difficult to type properly (due to their elevated position). The touchscreen itself is also made of low quality materials which means you get reduced accuracy compared to regular screens. If you plan on doing any kind of precision work I would suggest avoiding this feature all together since it will likely cause problems for you later on. Performance - while processors have become much better when it comes to their multitasking capabilities, they still can't compare to desktops and pretty much always lag behind in this area. Touchscreens take the brunt of this impact since they are constantly polling for input which means your FHD/4k videos will have stuttering and lagging problems while playing them back.
Conclusion
Touchscreen laptops are good for some things but there is a lot to be said about going with non-touch screens. Doing so will give you a better quality build, faster performance, and less problems in the long run. This doesn't mean that every laptop should avoid touchscreens, it just means that you should carefully consider how you plan on using your laptop before making a decision. Monitor can boost your gaming experience so if you want something for gaming and multimedia then maybe it would be best to go touchscreen since those activities do require fast response times; however if you need a laptop for work or school I would definitely suggest sticking with the standard design which has stood the test of time. Once you have already chosen the type of laptop you need, you can check the laptop manuals available at manualsnet.com to know more about their features and functionality.
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