I looked at them, but I didn't buy one. First, I don't like my screen to have a bunch of fingerprints on it. Second, I think that I can do things more quickly with the small movements a mouse requires than having to stick my arm out to touch the screen. I can see how a touch screen would be good for some people...just not me.

I agree with kudzu, to much trouble.

You don't need to touch the screen, you use your mouse I do know that. So does any body have one? They have some good deals on them right now.

Thanks for clearing that up. I took the touch as literally touching the screen. I usually don't buy new items if they are expensive, I wait a couple of years and see if they go over well.

I have been toying with the idea of getting one only because of the "portability" and space saver in that maybe I could set it up by my "easy chair" and use the laptop table I bought for my long dream of owning a laptop, for the wireless keyboard and mouse and still use my recliner? (smiles)

Sorry, I meant to emphasize----All-In-Ones.

well it would be a bit large to try to do that with it. they are very nice and are definite space savers on the desk but they are heavy and not something you would want to be carrying around much. I think you would be better served getting a laptop for your recliner. I had the same dream myself, so I bought one of the little netbooks, got me a great little lap table for it and it works great in my recliner. the netbook only weighs a couple of lbs so it is easy to move about. some days I do wish I had a full size laptop though with a bigger screen since my eyes are old and terrible, but in general it does the job.
I just saw a great deal on an MSI wind at buy.com for $269 or so yesterday and free shipping.
MSI Wind U100-013US 10" Netbook
that is a great deal. I know bestbuy had some regular 15" laptops for under $400 too. Here at Christmas they will be very affordable

urlee-
I have an all-in-one, and it's really nice to not have that big box sitting on the floor. They essentially don't take up any more desk space than a typical flat panel monitor (and you can mount the whole thing on a wall if you want). However, as ravencajun points out, they are heavy and not really portable. I have one with a 24" screen and the whole thing weighs about 35 pounds. I have a 10" netbook for when I want to haul something around.

What about a rollup computer?

Here is a link that might be useful: A concept for the near future

Looks good to me. They've changed a little since my Commodore 64.

Owbist,
If things don't stop falling apart around here eating up $$, that rolltop may be on the market when I'm ready.
Seriously, I am counting on this year.

Yes, I have my eyes on a laptop incase I want to take it with me some place etc. I prefer a laptop with the numeric keys.

A laptop with the numeric keyboard is not going to be "lightweight" to be carried around everywhere like a netbook, but to use on a table with your recliner, should work very nicely. Just realize it is not going to weigh in at 3lbs or less.

A laptop with the numeric keyboard is not going to be "lightweight" to be carried around everywhere like a netbook

If I ever take it with me, it would be from the house to car and lucky if once or twice a year.

A 15" with full keyboard with numeric will weigh around 6lbs.
I am looking at an Acer laptop right now for my husband and he also wants the numeric keyboard and that is the spec on it. Bestbuy has one for under $350, it was on sale for $329 and will likely go down again before Christmas.

If you don't have a wireless router set up in the house you will need a long cable to connect it from your current router to your recliner.

ravencajun,
Gosh, I didn't know there was a full keyboard with a 15".
I thought only the 17"er's had it.
Someone suggested me getting the USB separate key pad but I do not cater to "pieces" (smiles)
The Laptop I am interested in weighs 9 Lbs.
I do not have a router.
I am on dialup and have a phone outlet installed on the wall right by my recliner. (put in for my laptop dream)
I do NOT like the widescreens that are out now but guess I have to go with the flow.
What's taking me so long is I want one that almost takes the place of my desktop in that I want to work with making movies/slides.
It has to be "The One".

That's really neat concept. I hope it goes over well.

Posted by maime: "Thanks for clearing that up. I took the touch as literally touching the screen."

It DOES mean literally touching the screen.

I bought a Dell touch screen all-in-one and found that there is no instruction manual for using it. NONE. None came in the box. There is not one at their website online either. And I Googled for one, only to find a discussion board somewhere where they were all complaining about how there is no instruction manual in existence to teach the use of touch screen.

There is a set-up manual included in the box. So once it is set up to run.......then what?

But how is anyone suppose to figure out how to use the touch screen features if there is no book to read explaining things? I can't figure out how to do right click commands with the touch screen. It seems to only do left click commands. How does spell check work with the touch screen? Tapping just highlights the word and that's all.

I have tried the "intuitive leaning" concept with this and I am at as loss. One of the features shown in the store is the ability to write in your own handwriting for notes. I can't figure out how to do this along with many other features this thing has.

I can't go back to the store to learn because this was purchased at Sam's Club. There are no salespeople in the computer department to help.

Is there anyway how to learn how this touch screen computer works? I am seriously considering just boxing the thing up and marching it back to the store.

Any link would be appreciated. Recommended book too. Is there a 'Touch Screen for Dummies' book out?

**Note: If you buy a touch screen make sure you turn off the computer before cleaning the screen or you will delete all your tabs and even open windows when swishing a cloth over the screen. (Don't ask me how know this. LOL. I probably downloaded porn, renewed my AAA, subscribed to Readers Digest and asked to be sent money saving coupons to my email addy just by cleaning the screen.)

I hate this Dell touch screen.

I picked the HP touch for my mom and she and I really like it. Both the technology of the touch as well as the HP itself. It is set up as kind of a meeting center for families. You can grab a note pad and scribble a note with your finger and leave it there for the recipient. It's very cool. Do you use the touch exclusively NO. But it has come in handy. Her batteries died in the keyboard or mouse once and she was able to just use the screen to get where she needed to go. It's great when your showing someone something and they are sitting at the desk you can just touch the screen and show someone around on the PC. Want to show pictures you can just flick your way thru. You can play cards like solitaire and thats cool. It works really well and we are very happy with the purchase. We have had it 2 years now I think.

So how did you learn these things? Is there a book?

Dilly Dally, have you tried looking for the manual to your new computer at Dell? They don't include the manual in the box anymore, but you should be able to get it from the website.

I am linking you to the Dell website, just enter your Service Tag and look for the manual.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dell Product Support

Yes, as I said in my initial post I did check the Dell website. The manual they offer is for the technical aspect of the hardware like how to change the batteries on mouse/keyboard or how to hook up the peripherals.

They must assume that everyone learned to use touch screens in high school classes and are already familiar with them which leaves us middle aged people out of the loop.

There are free computer classes offered at the senior center in my area and I have taken classes there and at the library before, but when I asked if they teach how to use touch screens they had no idea what I was talking about and thought I was nuts thinking that you could just tap on the screen to get things done. The reaction I got was that I was 'way out there' trying to get my monitor to do these things by tapping on it and thinking I would actually "write" on the screen.

What I need is a 'Touch Screen for Dummies' book or something like that. Maybe a website with a discussion board where everybody helps each other. There sre some things I have figured out on my own with the touch screen and maybe someone else out there has other knowledge sbout touch screen.

I am very disappointed in this purchase. This was my first *new* computer after going through a series of other peoples outdated cast-offs that I learned on. I thought the touch screen would suit be better because I have nerve damage in my hands and a touch of arthritis which makes typing and mouse use a chore. I went into my savings to buy this touch screen and spent way more money on it than I should have for a computer.

I do have the option to return it to Sam's Club but I would rather learn to use it and enjoy the touch screen features.

I really appreciate everyone's help and advice though.

I would contact Dell directly and ask them for some type of instruction manual or a link to how to find one online. They do have Dell chat where you can set up a chat with a Dell employee that may be the best bet.

I am only familiar with the touch screen that HP has and the touch screens of the Apple Ipod touch but what is it that your trying to do? In the HP there is a keyboard that parks to the side and you can use a stylus to tap in your letter easier then the finger cause it is so small. But frankly for typing I would just take your time and use the keyboard. As for writing notes you can just access the note pad and drag your finger around on the screen. Sometimes the screen doesn't pick up the movement. It is actually the sides of the screen that is seeing your movement not the glass. At least that is the way the HP works. Your finger basically IS the mouse.