Vendors stop developing touchscreen notebooks according to DigiTimes

[Joonikko]

Vendors stop developing touchscreen notebooks according to DigiTimes
Source: http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140929PD205.html
 

As demand for touchscreen notebooks has been far weaker than expected, notebook vendors have stopped developing touch-enabled notebooks for the fourth quarter, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

While demand for smartphones and tablets continues to dampen notebooks' sales, notebook users still favor the mouse-and-keyboard mode. Touchscreen noteboos are even less appealing because of the fact that adding a touch panel means extra production cost and higher retail price for the device. The weak demand for touchscreen notebooks is greatly impacting Intel and Microsoft, both of which have been aggressively promoting the touch functions on notebooks, the sources noted.

Notebook vendors will now only add touchscreens to their 2-in-1 devices and products such as ultrabooks, but gaming notebooks and traditional notebooks, will no longer see such a feature.

The sources pointed out that vendors are now placing their hope on Windows 9 in 2015 and hoping new hardware or software innovations will stimulate demand.

Looks like Linus' touchscreen dream is somewhat coming to an end.

• ultrabooks and 2-in-1 devices with touchscreens will continue to exist
• gaming- and traditional notebooks won't have touchscreens in the future

Personally I can't really comment on the usefulness of a touchscreen on a notebooke since I've never used one extensively, though nor have I ever seen anyone else use one either, but reducing the cost by removing a feature that wasn't widely used does seem like a good idea for the consumer and for the manufacturer.

[scaryjam823]

Doesn't affect me, I never seen the usefulness in having the touchscreen option either. Seemed gimmicky.

[Thorium19]

I've never bothered with touchscreen notebooks, so I'm not too bothered by it all. But to those who do use it *cough* Linus *cough* it must be heart-clenching to read this.

[jbr]

Their talking about clamshell notebooks, not the ones that fold into tablets. (2-in-1's as in the article)

[harrynowl]

I bought my notebook specifically for the touchscreen and I find it very useful for myself, shame that it might be phasing out but oh well.

[LinusTech]

Lame. I guess I'll have to get a Blade 14 2014 if I want a touchscreen gaming grade notebook!

[rashdanml]

Ultrabook convertible devices are more versatile anyway, especially ones with digitizer pens. 

[Bogica]

I sort of avoided them when buying, also advised other people to avoid them. No real world use, you get the display constantly dirty from your fingers and have no advantage of it unless in metro mode. It was a fail to begin with. The only touchscreen laptop I would buy is the Dell XPS (like the one Linus has) and similar ones, that can convert to tablet mode.

[SuperfastJellyfish]

Good, it's awful, battery wasting, expensive tech. I can't believe M$ and Intel pushed this crap.

[mr moose]

Touchscreens are just one of those features that only applies to a certain subset of users.  It may well make a comeback or it may not even be as bad as the article makes out.

 

Lets see what on the shelves next year.

[LukeTim]

Touchscreens on notebooks never made sense to me. A desktop interface is not designed to be used with a touchscreen so I don't really think it works. Though, it makes sense with Windows 8's start menu.

What makes more sense to me is what Apple does with the MacBooks, using gestures on the touchpad which are similar to those on a touchscreen. It's a much nicer way of interacting with a desktop interface.

[deviant88]

And now the anti-touch screen era begins?

Should i say out loud "FINALLY"? just kidding

I miss the cellphones with buttons tought,even if smartphoneys have big-ass screen i still like my buttons.It may be fancy with touchey stuff but im not into it at all.

[LukeTim]

And now the anti-touch screen era begins?

Should i say out loud "FINALLY"? just kidding

I miss the cellphones with buttons tought,even if smartphoneys have big-ass screen i still like my buttons.It may be fancy with touchey stuff but im not into it at all.

 

Touch screens aren't going away, I'm afraid. They offer too many benefits for smartphone and tablet form factors.

[Bogica]

Touch screens aren't going away, I'm afraid. They offer too many benefits for smartphone and tablet form factors.

Agreed, unless we develop phones with the same sized displays and slider full querty keyboards that still manage to be thin (like a thin n900 with a larger display). Touchscreens are here to stay.

[Xzibit]

Not a big deal for me..

[GoodBytes]

I actually find having a touchscreen pretty great. It interesting to see how computer enthusiasts, much like with Windows 8, rejected new technology or changes without trying. Once again, highlighting the fear of change.

Touch screen allows:

- Easy scrolling on pages,

- Easy to jump on a location, say click on a link or button (faster than using mouse and MUCH better than using touchpad, even if the laptop has a really good one, as you can just immediately jump to the location, and not have to move the cursor across the screen, let alone find a spot for a mouse. I did the test, it IS faster to use touch)

- Scratch resistant screen, as Gorilla Glass is used. So, now you no longer need to worry about getting the smoothest cloth in the world to clean the screen because manufacture puts no coating on LCD screens leaving it very reflective, shows dust easily, and scratches easily. And also, Gorilla Glass is easier to clean. So even if you did had finger print on the screen, and somehow it bugs you (and inconsistently doesn't bug you on your smartphone and tablet, somehow), you can wipe it with any cloth.

- Most touchscreen displays are IPS display. So now we take a step back and return to TN panel goodness. Shame.

[razor767]

About time, never like touchscreens on laptops, I would much rather see more effort being put into touchpads like Apple does with Macbooks. I suppose it still makes sense to have touchscreens for convertibles/hybrids but I'm a bit disappointed to her that they'll still be around on Ultrabooks 

[Lynx]

I actually find having a touchscreen pretty great. It interesting to see how computer enthusiasts, much like with Windows 8, rejected new technology or changes without trying. Once again, highlighting the fear of change.

Touch screen allows:

- Easy scrolling on pages,

- Easy to jump on a location, say click on a link or button (faster than using mouse and MUCH better than using touchpad, even if the laptop has a really good one, as you can just immediately jump to the location, and not have to move the cursor across the screen, let alone find a spot for a mouse. I did the test, it IS faster to use touch)

- Scratch resistant screen, as Gorilla Glass is used. So, now you no longer need to worry about getting the smoothest cloth in the world to clean the screen because manufacture puts no coating on LCD screens leaving it very reflective, shows dust easily, and scratches easily. And also, Gorilla Glass is easier to clean. So even if you did had finger print on the screen, and somehow it bugs you (and inconsistently doesn't bug you on your smartphone and tablet, somehow), you can wipe it with any cloth.

- Most touchscreen displays are IPS display. So now we take a step back and return to TN panel goodness. Shame.

 

same here, i find it funny to see people rejecting the idea of touchscreen laptop since it's very usefull just like you said.

it's not a dekstop where your hands are in a far distance from the screen, just like its name, it's a "LAPTOP". when you put your laptop on "top" of your "lap" it's very convenient and much more efficient to navigate using the touch screen rather than the touchpad. surely you didn't a need a convertible one to make use of the advantage of a touchscreen on a laptop.

[Woodypc]

Never use the touch on any touchscree capable laptops I have used so I don't care lol.

[Pugs501]

Never use the touch on any touchscreen capable laptops I have used so I don't care lol.

Fixed it.

[Woodypc]

Fixed it.

That is how much I care, it does not even deserve the "n" lol.

[Pugs501]

That is how much I care, it does not even deserve the "n" lol.

WORDS HAVE FEELINGS!

[GoodBytes]

About time, never like touchscreens on laptops, I would much rather see more effort being put into touchpads like Apple does with Macbooks. I suppose it still makes sense to have touchscreens for convertibles/hybrids but I'm a bit disappointed to her that they'll still be around on Ultrabooks

They never did, and never will. R&D costs money. And as they said in the article, it due to cost. So consumers seeks the lowest price possible. That means that manufactures can't invest in R&D, as they don't see it as a selling point for the consumer, and the consumers doesn't care. If they are 2 identical specs laptop, but one has a far better touchpad but is 100$ more, I can assure you most will pick the 100$ less and go "Well, I'll just my mouse in any case".

[bcredeur97]

it says ultrabooks and 2 in 1's will still get touchscreens, just not normal notebooks.. so its all good the way I see it.

[The_Evenger]

meh, i might have gotten some use out of it, but i highly doubt it.