Touch Screen Monitors Research - Acer T232HL 23" and Acer T272HL 27" Versus Dell S2340T 23" Versus Philips 273P3LPHEB 27"

Since the Leap Motion Launch has been pushed back to 22 July 2013, I've been on the lookout for a Touch Screen Monitor.

Reason being, I would like to utilize the Windows 8 software that I've bought, as well as to get a semi-entertainment/TV kinda kick-ass monitor in my room.




I wanna play games like "Cut The Rope",




zoom in on Photos and Maps with my fingers and

surf the web with my hands and watch HD Videos.




Even play a digital piano on screen. 

I guess it's really just for fun and to learn new technology that involves swiping and other defined hand gestures on screen. 



A recent trip to Funan Shopping Center in Singapore led to the discovery of these new shortlisted Touch Screen Monitor Products. If you would like to test try the actual product displays, it's located at the top level, Challenger store.

Shortlisted Product Listing
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1. S$599 - Acer T232HL 23" (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)

2. S$799 - Acer T272HL 27" (27 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)

3. S$769 - Dell S2340T 23" (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor) , Previously USD899

Another Monitor That Caught My Eye, though not Touch Screen:
4. S$499 - Philips 273P3LPHEB (27 Inch Monitor , Non Touch Screen)

Shortlisted Product Images 
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1. S$599 - Acer T232HL bmidz 23-Inch Touch Screen LCD Display (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)

2. S$799 - Acer T272HL bmidz 27-Inch Touch Screen LCD Display (27 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)



3. S$769 - Dell S2340T 23" Multi-Touch Monitor (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor) , Previously USD899

Another Monitor That Caught My Eye:
4. S$499 - P-line 273P3LPHEB - LCD-Display - TFT (27 Inch Monitor , Non Touch Screen)

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Shortlisted Product Videos-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. S$599 - Acer T232HL 23" (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)

2. S$799 - Acer T272HL 27" (27 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)



3. S$769 - Dell S2340T 23" (23 Inch Touch Screen Monitor) , Previously USD899







Another Monitor That Caught My Eye, though not Touch Screen:
4. S$499 - Philips 273P3LPHEB (27 Inch Monitor , Non Touch Screen)

Can't find any video on this model on Youtube.



Conclusion:
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Out of all the models that I've listed above, I'm going for the:
S$799 - Acer T272HL (27 Inch Touch Screen Monitor)

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I think the price is cheaper than Dell's 23" model and the design of the display was better than Dell's as well. It has a floating design and looks slim. It's also easy to maneuver the tilt of the display.

Acer Flyer at PC Show, Singapore, 6 - 9 June 2013 with Price List:

The Price, Design and Function won me over.


However, it is currently out of stock. Will have to wait about 2 - 3 weeks before I can get my hands on the monitor. It's been a long wait since Feb 2013. Been researching and looking for monitors and monitor sensors for about 5 months.

Brand and Product Comparison, What I've Learnt...
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I was kinda surprised that the Acer Monitor was cheaper than the Dell Monitor, coz my perception was that Dell was the brand that offered the lowest entry level pricing for computer peripherals.

The initial Dell 23" Touch Screen monitor that I found on the web around Feb to Apr 2013, cost around USD 899, so the price seems to have dropped to S$769, which was an improvement.

However, it's still kinda pricey when you compare it to the Acer displays. The design of the Dell monitor is also more bulky looking.

Dell also offered only the 23" model. (S$769)
Acer had more options for the consumer: 27" (S$799) model and 23" (S$599) model.

1. I can save about S$170 (769 - 599 = 170) if i buy the Acer 23" (S$599) instead of Dell 23" (S$769) model.
2. This means for S$30 more, I could have upgraded the from 23"(DELL)  to 27" (ACER).
Which is really a good deal.


The S$499 - Philips 273P3LPHEB (27 Inch Monitor , Non Touch Screen) was also kinda cool, as it had an ergonomic design that allowed you to adjust the height and it also swiveled easily to suit your eye level and angle that you're sitting at.






I was tempted to buy the Philips Model at first, coz its $499 for 27" but non touch screen. But I realised, if I just topped up about S$100 more, I could have a 23" Touch Screen Monitor from Acer at S$599.
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Update 9 Nov 2013:
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It's been about 3 months since
I bought the Acer T232HL bmidz 23-Inch Touch Screen LCD Display
 (27 Inch Touch Screen Monitor).
Wanna do a post review on my purchase.

Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase. Wish I bought it earlier. :)
Love the big screen and I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on it.
It's sort of like a TV to me now.

I think I was using the Touch screen function for the 1st two weeks only.
Playing games and experimenting.
But once things returned to normal, or my novelty wore off.
I used it mainly as a monitor.
I occasionally zoom things with my fingers on screen for fun.

Additional thing I found out about the Monitor is that it was 3 usb ports at the side,
which was great as I could just attach my usb drive easily.

I think the main gripe I have is:
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1. The tilted stand at the back of the monitor.
It's kinda difficult to move into the slot that was intended.
I had to use a lot of strength and I was afraid of "hurting" it.

2. Swiping is difficult across a big screen. Not as easy as a phone or tablet.

3.  I can't find a 27" screen protector easily or cheaply.

4. There are fingerprints left on the screen if I use it frequently. 

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Overall, I love the monitor. It has changed the way I use my computer and my lifestyle as well.
I'm now officially a YouTube junkie.
Loving all the HD videos!



 In addition, my SO sometimes uses his MBP with the monitor.
It works perfectly and resembles an iMac.
So the monitor alternates between a Mac and Windows platform depending on our needs effortlessly.

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But for touchscreen functions for Mac, you will need to install/purchase a driver at
http://www.touch-base.com 

Won't recommend it.
We tried it, but the Mac software
is not really configured for touch screen functionality.
So when you touch the screen, you can't drag, slide, pinch or zoom.
The touch function acts like the mouse cursor.
Can't scroll with 2 fingers.
You have to touch the scrollbar on the right and move your finger down on it.
So there's no point.

Touch function is better for Windows 8.

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End. 

10 Tips to Avoid Being Hit By Lightning

Lightning occurs occasionally throughout the year in Singapore.

While it is unlikely that you might be the chosen one to be struck directly by lightning, it is good to be cautious and pass these tips to your friends and loved ones. Lower the risk! You might just save their lives by reducing their risk and exposure to Mother Nature's Bolts.

Seems like the Singapore average number of deaths by lightning is between 1 to 3 a year. With all these extreme weather changes going on in our little island, it is good to take note.

Notable News on victims and lightning occurrences:

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News 1:

Lightning kills man, severely injures another off Punggol|

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/lightning-kills-man--severely-injures-another-off-punggol.html   

News 2:

Singapore has one of the highest rate of lightning activity in the world. 

http://www.weather.gov.sg/wip/web/home/lightning

"Lying near the Equator, the weather is hot and humid almost all year round. Conditions are favourable for the development of lightning producing thunderstorm clouds. An average of 171 thunderstorm days (days when thunder is heard) are recorded annually in Singapore."

http://app2.nea.gov.sg/tsl.aspx

"More thunderstorm days are observed during the Inter-Monsoon months of April and May and October and November. The months of January and February in the later phase of the Northeast monsoon experience the least number of thunderstorm days.

Thunderstorms tend to occur between 2 pm and 6 pm in the afternoon as diurnal heating and convection play an important role in thunderstorm development."

News 3:

Lightning kills Chinese soccer player in Singapore

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200403/11/eng20040311_137162.shtml

News 4:

Canoeist killed by lightning

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110310-267363.html

News 5:

Here's why S'pore's one of the lightning capitals of the world

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1203280/heres_why_spores_one_of_the_lightning_capitals.html

"Singapore experiences 0.35 lightning deaths per million people each year on average. Britain experiences 0.2 lightning deaths per million, while the United States has 0.6 lightning deaths per million."

News 6. 

What happens when lightning strikes an airplane?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-happens-when-lightni


"Although passengers and crew may see a flash and hear a loud noise if lightning strikes their plane, nothing serious should happen because of the careful lightning protection engineered into the aircraft and its sensitive components. Initially, the lightning will attach to an extremity such as the nose or wing tip. The airplane then flies through the lightning flash, which reattaches itself to the fuselage at other locations while the airplane is in the electric "circuit" between the cloud regions of opposite polarity. The current will travel through the conductive exterior skin and structures of the aircraft and exit off some other extremity, such as the tail. Pilots occasionally report temporary flickering of lights or short-lived interference with instruments."

News 7.

Merlion Struck by Lightning in Singapore

http://www.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20090228-125271.html

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As skies start to darken and you hear the roars of thunder, take note of these tips to avoid being hit by Lightning. 

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Tip 1.Stay away from Objects made of Metal.

Such as UMBRELLAS, GOLF CLUBS or BICYCLES, FENCES, PIPES & RAILS.

Lightning is electricity and metal is a conductor of electricity.

If you'r human, and most of the human body is made of water, 

And water is a conductor of electricity, which makes you a good conductor of electricity.

Tip 2.Avoid being the tallest object in open areas.

Such as car parks, soccer fields, parks and large open spaces.

Do not attempt to scale rooftops, Mount Faber and be swimming at the top of Marina Bay Sands.

 Tip 3. Stay Away From Water. 

Be it the pool, sea or a flooded area.

Water is also an excellent conductor of electricity.

Tip 4. Avoid standing under tall objects like trees or towers.

The tall objects are easy targets to be hit by lightning and if you're standing near or under them, you're likely to be struck too by pure proximity. 

Tip 5. Avoid Flying Kites. 

The kite in the sky will be the most likely target in the eye of a storm.

Tip 6. If you're indoors, avoid taking a shower or bath.

Water is also an excellent conductor of electricity. 

Tip 7. Wearing rubber shoes does not prevent you from being a target. 

Despite the insulating properties of rubber that  protects you from lightning, air is also an insulator.

In comparison to a couple of inches of rubber, insulating air wins hands down.

Tip 8. Seek shelter in a building or a vehicle. 

Tip 9. If you have no choice and you're stuck in the open,  squat down and place your head between your knees. Avoid lying flat.  Making yourself as tiny as possible. 

Tip 10. If you have no choice and have to hide in a forest, do it under a group of small trees. 

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Some basic facts about Lightning:

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Source: http://www.kbtx.com/news/blogs/weather/Severe_Weather_Awareness_Week__196070941.html#.UZJX77VkO84

1. Lightning is kinda like Electricity in the air that travels.  

2. It is formed when there is a charge imbalance between the cloud and the ground.

3.     It travels between earth and the clouds.

4. Lightning chooses to move down the easiest path.
        Which is why lightning commonly strikes the tallest object.

More On Lightning in Singapore at:

http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2008/08/lightning-scariest-thing-on-shores.html#.UZJc-LVkO84

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Effects of being struck by Lightning:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/?n=lightning_awareness_medical

"Lightning fatalities are probably under reported by 30 percent. About 10 percent of the people struck by lightning are killed, leaving the other 90 percent with various degrees of disability. The primary cause of death from lightning is cardiac arrest.

Unlike high voltage electrical injuries with which massive internal tissue damage may occur, lightning seldom causes substantial burns. In fact, most lightning burns are caused by objects such as rainwater, sweat, metal coins and necklaces being heated up and causing the burn.

Lightning tends to cause nervous system injury and may affect any or all parts of the nervous system. If the brain is affected, the result is often difficulty with short term memory. Coding new information, accessing old information, slower reaction time, intense headaches, ringing in the ears, depression, seizures and personality changes can occur among many other immediate symptoms and long term symptoms to those who have been struck by lightning. An organization which has been of tremendous help to survivors, their families, their physicians and other professionals is lightning strike and Electric Shock Survivors International."

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/02/lightning-hits-cow-cow-lives-t.php

End.