HP TouchSmart tx2z Touch Screen Laptop - Performance
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One of the tx2z’s outstanding points is its ease of use. The capacitive screen is quite sensitive and responds to finger tapping well. Unlike other tablets that require a firmer press, HP’s tx2z allows users to zap through Vista and Windows with simple, soft taps.
Users will find the multi-touch gestures easy and simple to use. Other touch laptops, such as Dell’s, require practice in order to rotate images with ease. That’s not the case with the tx2z; users will easily be able to “pinch” their photos smoothly with a single finger. It’s as simple as planting one finger on the screen and tapping or moving images to their heart’s content.
Surfing the web will also be a breeze on HP’s new device. Users will find zooming in on websites to be quick and precise. Flicking the web pages up and down is the new way to scroll. Aside from giving users total control of their pages, it’s also more convenient than using a mouse.
All in all, HP’s TouchSmart performs quite well, though its MediaSmart software may not have all of its kinks worked out quite yet. The software sometimes responds slowly, with some users complaining of program launches, such as the photo application, taking over twelve seconds to load. Twelve seconds may not seem very long, but consumers have grown accustomed to super-fast, super-quick everything, from Internet speeds to software downloads. To a person in a rush or an impatient student, twelve seconds can feel quite long and prove to be very problematic.
Another downfall, though minor, of HP’s new TouchSmart tx2z is the toggling between applications. Some have complained of not easily being able to toggle between photos, music and video within the MediaSmart suite, all of which are separate applications that must be brought up by pressing the MediaSmart icon in the upper left corner once the user is in the MediaSmart program. Yes, this may be a minor setback, but it’s one worth mentioning.
The tx2z’s pen provides an entirely different, yet equally as convenient experience. The “stylus,” as they’re usually called, pops out of the right edge of the system, and as soon as it hits the screen, it immediately turns off the finger input and enables palm rejection. If that’s not convenient or easy enough, the stylus works beautifully in Microsoft Word. Writing on the TouchSmart tx2z’s screen will seem fluid and natural, even for those with the messiest writing. The Tablet PC Input panel has been known to recognize the worst possible handwriting and convert it into digital text with no problem at all.
Conclusion
It is becoming harder and harder to please consumers as cutting edge technology becomes more commonplace. It is not uncommon for people from all walks of life, from high school students to grandparents, to be up-to-date on the most current technology trends. Consumers have come to expect more and demand technology worth every penny of its price tag. Since the debut of the Apple iPhone, people have wanted control displays that are easy to use; so easy, in fact that all it takes is a tap of their finger to control their technology.
Touch phones and touch cameras are all the rage, but is it possible or even necessary to completely navigate your laptop in the same way? Unlike the iPhone, there is a learning curve when using the HP TouchSmart tx2z; until additional applications are written for the platform, the functionality is limited. Nevertheless, consumers who are looking for advanced tablet functionality that enables them to sit back and use their fingertips to navigate the web and a few other aspects of their laptop will be more than satisfied with the HP TouchSmart tx2z.
Photos courtesy of LaptopMag.com
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