For those excited about ASUS’ plans to release a touch screen equipped Eee PC, we have bad news. According to this Digitimes article, ASUS market research has shown that a touch screen is apparently not very important to potential Eee PC users. As a result, it will not be included in the next generation Eee PC devices.
This is interesting, as ASUS planned to have the touch screen feature literally 11 days ago. Moreover, estimates put the manufacturing cost at only $15 dollars.
How do you feel about this? Would you have wanted a touch screen in your next generation Eee PC? I suppose we are the market- let your voice be heard!
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I think this might be a mistake, odds are its a marketing tactic, hold the touch screen until they can play it on a later model to one up the competition. But really, not important? its one of the most talked about mods amongst current users some people enjoy soldering and modding, I don’t like taking chances with a little expensive item and would have paid more to have it factory installed…
I just received my Eee PC yesterday. I bought 701 4G. I certainly would have paid more for a touchcreen model, especially if it is such a cheap addition! They have lost an opportunity to beat their growing competition before there are any serious contenders to the Eee PC in the cheap ultraportable market.
a pro version ’701 12G touch’ would be awesome.. I don’t understand it why not.
I was very excited when I heard that they where going to release a touch enabled machine.. I was going to hold off to see when they would release it, as i firmly believe that a touch screen would be a fantastic addition to this form factor…
I was very excited for it. I was holding off on the risky mod in hopes of an official one. Now I guess I’ll have to do it on my own. I will use touchscreen for Japanese input and handwriting recognition, games, and websites/documents in screen-rotated-mode.
An Eee PC with a 10″ touch screen and more storage, would have me waiting in line to buy several. 7″ is just too small.
A touch screen may cost an additional few dollars. But what about the additional costs of upgrading software? Not unless they bundle Window Tablet PC. Just my thoughts.
Personally, having used a Newton for 12 years, (but never an eMate), I do not find a touch screen on a keyboard-based device that already has a nifty trackpad. I would find it both distracting and disrupting to suddenly have to reach up and touch the monitor to accomplish a task. (The eMate had this problem–since the Newton OS was originally a touch-based OS, you sometimes had to abandon the keyboard, and touch the screen–never appealed to me). And I would suspect that, were Asus to add a touch screen, they would also feel compelled to make the eeePC dependent upon the touch screen–a major mistake, IMO.
Maybe some people think they would like it, but I jus don’t see it as being a compelling feature–and I see Asus agrees with me. Now, if the eeePC were to abandon the keyboard and touch pad…
Leave the touch screens to devices that need them.
-Jon
Touch screen will just give me a greased screen. This device is perfect for carrying around on the job. And the ability to use the keyboard and spreadsheets etc. is the same – touch screen wouldn’t give me a reason more to buy it. My 4G is already ordered, but delayed
The important thing with this machine is stability – and the more special stuff they cram into it – the more things can stop working 
The Register had a review of the s.book (based on the Cloudbook-style reference) that features a touch screen, and as part of the review, they compared it with an eeepc. For those not bothered to read the review, they found the touchscreen a bit pointless and somewhat unintuitive compared to just using the touchpad. (Oh and the EEE PC came out on top, in the comparison).
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/29/review_maxdata_sbook/
(The Register are huge fans of the EEE PC, especially the blonde lady in the adverts)
I’m disappointed, but truth to tell it not a deal breaker for me. I fully intend to examine the merits and move up to a 8″ or 9″ machines when they finally arrive.
G+
I was planning to buy me a second Eee PC upon the release of a 8.9″/touch-screen model. I own a P1510 Lifebook, so I can attest from personal experience that touch-screen works just great in subnotebooks of this form-factor. 701 4G is a wonderful little device that I’m using a lot more than I ever expected to before actually purchasing it, but a slightly bigger display equipped w/ touch-screen would make it into the Ultimate Ultraportable. (Oh. And, Asus, get rid of the fan. Pretty please?)
I have to say I am not too fussed about a touch screen, I think a larger screen is much more important – not that they need be mutually exclusive, but I also think price is important too. So a bigger screen please, but keep the price down
I’m surprised there aren’t more people who remember the Psions about here, as the eee occupies a similar niche, one would think, to the series 7 and netpad. (But for a fifth of the price!) Anyway, psion showed that with software properly integrated a touchscreen and keyboard was a very compelling combination. However, that is a big *if*. I think Linux and windows software tends not to be well configured for touchscreen use. Not surprising perhaps, but a shame. (I know, I know that there are tablet editions out there. I’ve never used or even seen any. Are they any good?)
And by the by, I had eight hours battery on the series 7/netpad, and an *instant* on and off capability, which meant that in practice one could use one for a couple of days without charging, as when one paused typing to think what to write next one could switch the thing off for a few moments and turn it on again to resume. When, if ever, will Linux or windows finally catch up with that capability?
Touch screen was always a ridiculous and unworkable idea which most people couldn’t give two shakes about
imho, bigger screen resolution (and possibly bigger screen) is far more important than touch screen.
Anyone saying touch is not good in Eee has never used it..
Even OS is not optimized for touch, it’s pleasure to use.
In many places where the mobility factor of the device is needed, touch screeen makes it even more mobile…
..having a version with touch doesn’t mean it has to be on all models. More options is allways better than none.
I’ll take bigger screen over touchscreen any time.
Not a mistake. $15 is a lot when the price point is low. I’m also not interested in a touch screen unless it is multi touch. I’d rather just use a mouse. Besides, if they’re gonna hike up the price of the new model(s) I’d much prefer the money to go towards a higher resolution screen. I’d also like to see a bigger screen more than a touch screen. I’d even be ok if they put the speakers on the bottom of the laptop to make room for more screen real estate. A bigger higher res screen would make the laptop more functional in viewing most big dialog boxes, and most standard website sizes. A single touch, touch screen I feel would be more like a gimmick that’s cool at first but ultimately not used that much.
There isn’t much special software needed for touchscreen in linux.
Touchscreen in general is built in to the display configuration…and it’s tried and true.
Linux has also received a lot of “tablet pc” style applications in the past few years.
I can’t say I’ve ever used a linux pc with touchscreen yet but I can tell you that AFAIK, it would be nice and usable.
The touchscreen is the only reason why I’m waiting to buy the eeeeeeeeeePC. If there is no touchscreen on the EeePC I will simply not buy it.
My main use for the EeePC would be for public transit and currently when I use my laptop, using the track pad is nearly impossible because when there’s a bump in the road, it makes me click on just about anything on screen which is a real pain.
A touchscreen would be really usefull if you could convert the EEE into some kind of tablet PC.. so the screen should at least be able to flip all the way to the back. If you can open the screen not all the way I don’t see why a touchscreen would have much added value (apart from te cool-factor)
I think the touchscreen would be great for other uses.. I’ll be using my Eee in my car, on a bracket right in front of the radio. A touchscreen would make interaction a lot easier. Fortunately the conversion is pretty easy, so I’m not too worried about Asus’s decision.
A Touch screen would be great for creativity-software .. I for one would love to use Inkscape with a touchscreen, for example, and all the Linux Audio apps that are out there, with their virtual knob interfaces, would also benefit greatly from having easy-to-use touch-screen capabilities. It seems a bit short-sited to me, but maybe ASUS need to see some examples of people using their EEE PC’s for really creative things before they realize that the mouse/keyboard paradigm is limiting a lot of creative potential ..
A touchscreen sounds very user-friendly but I prefer to use the touchpad and the keyboard. Save the $15 manufacturing cost for other improvements such as moving the speakers and making the screen larger.
A touchscreen would have been the perfect addition to the EEE. Compared to the track pad, a touchscreen is extremely fast.
Those who say it’s awkward having a touchscreen on a keyboard-based device, I’ve used devices like that, and the touchscreen is great.
True, it’s a pain to get out the stylus if you’re using a word processor or other software where you switch between keyboard and mouse frequently, but any application that primarily uses the mouse would be helped tremendously by a touchscreen.
For example, think of how it would speed up web browsing. Instead of navigating to the link with a track pad, you simply click on it. The track pad on the EEE is for some reason easier to use than the one on my laptop, but it still takes me about a second and a half to navigate to a link and click on it. Compare that to half a second with a touchscreen and stylus.
In other words, use the track pad for those times when you just need to click something while you’re using a keyboard-based app, but use the touchscreen for mouse-based apps.
I was actually disappointed because they announced the touchscreen version the day after I received my EEE, so I was planning to save up my money and buy another one later. I guess I’m glad I didn’t wait after all.
For the record, I will buy the first decent touch screen 10 inch machine that is anywhere close to the eeePC I bought a few months ago (4g). Great machine. I want bluetooth and touch and I want it to stay linux. Fifteen bucks additional expense and I would gladly pay another hundred for the option. Do the math.
Make it dedicated tablet and add another hundred. Still a fantastic deal.
Enjoy.
Another thought. Their Imac TV will be a huge hit.
Enjoy.
I would love a touchscreen on my EEE PC. In fact, I often catch myself subliminally trying to use the screen as a touchscreen.
as ian mentioned psion did this already with a touch screen and keyboard. i loved the psion and kept using it years after they stopped selling them.
however the most annoying thing was when doing a lot of work on it having to pick up a stylus to tap the screen for dialog boxes. most of them you could use tab, esc and enter but some were easier with the stylus. using your finger in place of the stylus meant that eventully you had to clean the grease your finger left in tiny amounts of the screen. typing while holding the stylus was akward. resting the stylus on the device when out and about like on a train or bus was akward.
another issue would also be that if you are traveling while using a stylus you are poking a screen while moving and that can result in damage if there is accelerating and braking. wasn’t an issue when the device is hand held but when the eee is on a table or fixed spot and you are sitting you might damage the screen.
better to not have a touchscreen. my 2c. ymmv
that been said i can see myself getting either the e-monitor or e-dt. i already have a eee and really love the little bugger. my psion has finally been surpassed. only took 11 years.
I’d defenitly love to have a touchscreen. The eee’s reduced size leads to reduced comfort when working the keyboard and touchpad. A touchscreen would just remove any complications with the EEE’s small size as far as interaction is concerned. (not to mention remove the need for a wireless mouse for those who lug them along)
I think the touch screen would be a nice addition, but really only a must have if the screen could swivel around and lay flay like on a tablet PC. IMHO, without the swivel feature a touchscreen would not be a must have.
I would definitely buy an EeePC with a touch screen… RIGHT AWAY…
Id love to see eee with touchscreen, it would be handy, i assume
There’s surely a market for this, so if ASUS wont sell it, then someone else will just have to sell modded ones.
IMO As a feature touchscreen would be nice, but I wouldn’t use it much. I can live without it.
Eee PC should have different design (something like tablet pc) in order to use touchscreen with comfort.
I think a touch screen would give the eee-pc
more ease to use when it could be turned around like a tablet PC.
Just imagine the possibilities!
As another Ex psion 5 user the touch screen was a great addition (especially if you can use any object as the pointer) A finger/finger nail was good enough for most things and the stylus useful for more accurate work. I never tried using it on the train or in a car but as long as it is a hard screen I don’t see a problem. I waited and waited for Psion to add a colour screen, built in modem etc but the 7 just wasn’t what I wanted (back then it was too big!!!)
That’s bad news for ASUS. Yes, they were first to market and are reaping the benefits.
But this summer and fall, the sub-notebook-as-accessory market is going to get cramped. They should reconsider offering a touch screen sub-notebook if they want to retain their market lead and offer a desirable offering for those willing to pay the premium. $15 for the part but $50 markup in price – I’d pay it. (More use out of it than the camera.)
The upcoming competitors are going to match their EeePC price and probably go lower.
In fact, due to lack of EeePC availability & the news of the Touchscreen, I had decided to hold off until the ASUS 9″ touchscreen was coming out. Now, my hold out will be for the price to bottom out this summer due to EeePC competition.
It’s going to take a lot to pry my $$$ from my hands after ASUS more than doubled their initial price point. I know one of their competitors will even more affordable.
Smooth move ASUS.
BTW, personally having used Palm Pilots and having a Tablet (minus keyboard), touch screens are so much nicer. In fact, the ASUS touchscreen could have been modeled after the Compaq T1000 / T1100. Everything was in the display/tablet. The keyboard was a dockable accessory that could close on the table like a traditional laptop and even swivel. See this PDF for an illustration. (If fact, the ASUS EeePC is about as powerful too.)
http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01126866/c01126866.pdf
Later, Retro.
Just so you understand, $15 manufactured cost translates into $60 to $90 retail cost. That’s the normal markup that as to occur to get the product distributed and available to sell from retail stores.
I would love to the mod but don’t want to mess it up myself so I would have paid Asus to do the upgrade if it was a reasonable price of course. Oh well – guess I will have to look into the mod myself some more.
I also agree with the last post that the $15 cost would have equaled at least $60 – $90 retail cost.
I was hoping that if this would come to market it would be the same sized form factor but with a fold down swivel screen that would be excellent!! Of course then we would need to have a lite version of XP tablet PC edition ;o)
I would hate to see Asus come on strong like they did and then loose it to their more innovative competitors when it comes to additions.
meh. i never thought a touchscreen was all that… no biggie.
People need to stop quoting the parts costs for these kind of things. $15 is the cost of the part alone. Some commenters have already mentioned the potential markup, but also don’t forget that there is a substantial amount of cost that goes into other areas. They don’t just order a crate of touchscreens, and magically have them instantly placed in the eeePC and working perfectly.
No, there’s research, development, creating new plastics for the screen (which costs a fortune, fyi), drivers to make it work, thorough testing, support, etc. All of that translates to an incredible amount of money that need to be gained again, before ASUS can even think about seeing a profit from it.
Well if it means they can come out with a bigger higher res screen sooner than good. I’m still waiting for a higher res screen and ideally more HDD space.
I sell computers all day. People aren’t really excited about touch screens. It’s cool feature initially but at the expense of screen clarity. The best input is the mice!
Mice is not very “cool” in a mobility context. And the eee is so little, it can be used as a big PDA…
The best input in mobility is probably touch screens.
Bigger screen + touchscreen. That’s what I’m waiting for. I’ll rethink my decision to buy EEE.
Touch screen would have been a no-brainer of an upgrade to my existing Eee.
Stupid ASUS, why not? If no reason, then we dealing with marketing retards – not actual engineers. I hope they screw up the EEE PC marketing so we have more competition. Yep. No touch screen sounds great.
I worked for a Taiwanese industrial PC manufacturer before. We make IPC with or without touchscreen. I personally think touchscreen is a good or even necessary feature for many applications, but the truth is, the demand for touchscreen PC is much smaller. I think Asus should release EEE PC with touchscreen before their competitors do so, but it still makes sense if they suspend this plan until there is more demand. Why?
1. First, everyone shall agree even if they have models with touchscreen, they shall still sell models without it. For users who don’t need this feature, touchscreen does not only mean a higher price, but a lower performance. Touchscreen reduces the brightness and sharpness of the LCD screen, especially those cheap ones. And touchscreen is fragile. It’s always one of the main causes of sales return.
2. US$15? No way. This can only be the price of the components (the cheapiest one). There are many different kinds of touch technology, and at this price, you will only have touchscreens with the worst quality and most outdated technology. OK, even if you are fine with that kind of touchscreens, as some have mentioned, there is much more cost still. You have to develop a new model (cost of RD resources, which could originally used to develop other products), make new molds (which are expensive), arrange a new production process and schedule (reducing the production efficiency of the factories), spend more on aftersales service (oh, it’ll be a disaster if they really use the US$15 touch kits) and most worst of all, increase your and your distributors’ inventory (if you had ever worked in this industry, you’d have know how much cost this could be). Because of all these reasons, the cost of touch screen should be much higher than it appears. In our case, about US$ 50 premium is charged excluding material cost.
But I would still say go for the touch screen and don’t leave any niche market for potential competitors. Expanding their product line in the emerging market where they accidentally gained dominance is much more important than developing questioned new products such as EEE desktop or EEE TV.
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