Hey,

I'm building a computer for my sight and mobility impaired father. I've discussed it with him and he would like something touch panel operated like a tablet/iPad, etc... but he wants the screen much larger.

Can I create a computer with a newer operating system that will drive a large - 22 to 25" touch display and act like a pad?

What operating system would work? Windows 7? 8? He's currently familiar with XP.

Thanks for the ideas!

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Windows 8 is designed for a touch-screen and will be compatible with all of the typical applications designed for Windows. His learning curve will be just getting used to working with the tile interface rather than clicking a start button, and it's a pretty short learning curve.

The trick will be to find a quality touch-screen in that size that is affordable.

Since this sounds like new ground for you, too, you may wish to just buy a pre-built computer. We buy a lot of HP desktops at work and have very few problems with them. They have some that are just like a large monitor (an "all in one" PC), with no separate tower, etc., so that might be the way to go just for the sake of simplicity. Moreover, the cost of a touch-screen in that size and buying an operating system...well, it might be more cost-effective to buy a pre-built one, too.

Good luck to you and your dad!

Touchscreen monitors are still pretty expensive. There are a few no-namers on places like newegg for around 300$ though if you're willing to try em out. In addition, for that price it might be a low res, 4:3 screen, which will look terrible over 20". Whats your budget?

Avoid those pre-built all in one systems unless you like tossing the thing in the garbage if anything goes wrong with it.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Wacom Cintiq 21UX Touch Screen Flat-Panel

Amazon.com: Viewsonic VX2258WM 22-Inch (21.5-Inch Vis) Multi-Touch Full HD Monitor with 1920x1080 Resolution - Black: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Dell ST2220T 22-Inch Screen LED-lit Monitor: Computers & Accessories

Jeff Han demos his breakthrough touchscreen | Video on TED.com

I'm kind of a Microsoft dis-liker and I suggest you take a look at Linux (Linux Mint is a good one) or Red Hat, you can get paid support, I believe. There are also quite a few mobility enhancements available.

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

Thanks for the quick reply. I've actually built quite a few high performance computers but they're all traditional with mice and keyboards.

The main things I'm wrestling with are:

Operating system - optimized for TS but still somewhat intuitive.
CPU - cost of upgrading the MB/processor/memory/HD vs a new unit.

It can be a bottom-of-the-line computer since all he does is browse the internet and keep come calendar entries. I've also seen some tiny computers about the size of a dictionary but I'm not sure what class they are and I'm wondering if that would be adequate. His existing computer is a regular Dell/ATX case.

Oh, and in addition, this is going to be integrated in to a control system so it has to run IE since that's the only platform that eControl will run on.

Budget will be around $1000, most of which will be in the TS I know. At work here we install elo panels and they seem to work OK.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Windows still kind of sucks with a touch device. The start interface works great with touch, but once you're in the desktop, traditional windows mode, it's still hard to be precise with your inputs. For an older gent with old eyes it might be even harder. Has he looked at any of the new 10-12 inch tablets at all? Might be easier to use since he'd probably be able to get it closer to his eyes than he would a 24" monitor.

In terms of CPU, I'd go with an AMD or an intel i3. Cheap and work fine for the average user. Also dont be suckered by a slower CPU with 6 cores or anything like that. A fast dual core will crap all over it in 90% of tasks.

I been an AMD guy for the past 12 years, but intel has kind of taken over the market for the past 5 years, and i decided to build an intel i5 system. AMD's new chips are a big improvement, and have better integrated graphics than intel, but for regular applications the intel will still be superior. AMD's single threaded performance still sucks tbh.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Hardware is so cheap these days, it's hardly worth worrying about. You might consider an SSD if you want it to be superfast. I've never liked those ELO touchscreens.

You could consider an iPad or Android based tablet, with a local server and desktop sharing for the Windows / "IE only" bits. He might like the portability.

Or here is a 22" android ViewSonic VSD220: 22-inch Android touchscreen PC - Pocket-lint

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

PS Intel graphics suck ****.

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

You must not know very many elderly people who are also sight-challenged.

I know a few, and the last thing ANY of them would want is to learn a completely new operating system. Really, they'd have to be serious M$ haters to want to go that route.

Ara, while I tend to personally dislike AIO computers, they're much better than they used to be (even a few years ago), and if it makes things simpler for the user, so be it. If his dad's not going to be gaming or doing anything else rigorous, there's no need for high-end speedy graphics or tricked out overclocking, either, and the AIO then becomes very, very portable, you just need a power outlet and you're good.

HP has an AIO -- with Office -- for $830, which is high, but you consider the cost of a quality touch-screen monitor and you're off to the races. Still comes with a regular KB and mouse (wireless) so typing and stuff is the same, and you can nav with the mouse when you need more detail.

PM sent

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

If you knew anything about it, other than that fud, you'd know that many Linux variants look and feel more like WinXP, and the interface is therefore more familiar than Vista, 7, or 8. If the person isn't the system maintainer, and if all they do is web browsing, there is a good chance that they may never know the difference. But you keep spouting your ignorant tripe if that's what you like.

As far as the sight-challenged go, can you tell me who offers a computer OS whose install media comes configured for use with a braille display? Hint, it isn't a Microsoft product.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Linux_for_the_blind
Blind Linux Users - Mandrake 9.1

A link from 1998, when Linux was much more difficult to use than it is today. A blind person's Linux installation story

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

Oh, I must bow to the master!

Hardly.

I've used a few flavors of Linux, as well as a few more-odd things. Why you're on the personal attack wagon I'm not sure, but the "fud" isn't mine. Rather, I'm thinking about his dad (you know -- the focus of this thread -- instead of my personal preference). I don't know too many elderly folks that get all hopped-up and excited about change anyway, and when you add the sight issue...well, you'd have to make one huge sales pitch to get most of the people in those subsets to want to play ball with you.

But hey, next time just say it like you mean it, "MICROSOFT IS THE SPAWN OF THE DEVIL, LINUX RULES" instead of masking it with soft terms such as "dislike." Then some other unfortunate soul won't be misled by your nonsense and be attacked for actually responding to the thread and thinking of other people (instead of his own personal vendetta).

Good grief you're a blowhard. Yeah, let's examine my initial statement: That's the part where I disclose my own opinion, as an opinion. Filled with the hate and rage of a thousand suns I am.
I guess that's the part where I slander Microsoft, and engage a stereotypical Linux-tard rant. I probably should have said "I kindly suggest" so as to not seem so angry.
Me droning on and on ad nauseam about the diversity of Linux distros available.Another unfounded attack against Microsoft.

I'm starting to see what you mean. Thanks, I'll try to moderate my tone in the future.

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

Buy a MAC!!!!

__________________
For the Saved, this world is the worst it will ever get.
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Clk's Ebay Stuff BUY SOMETHING NOW!!!

How about this?

Toshiba Excite 13 review: a big-screened tablet with a price to match -- Engadget

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!