L702x - combining 3D with multitouch?

OK, so I want it all...

The XPS 17 can be had with a 1920*1080p full HD screen with or without 3D. It can furthermore be had with a 1600*900 screen with multi-touch.

Now, I am thinking that the multi-touch bits are set on top of the actual LCD in the panel assembly. I wonder if it feasible to get a 1600*900 touch screen, cannibalize the multi-touch layer, and the Frankenstein-graft it onto a 1080p 3D screen? I understand that buying another panel just to cannibalize it may be costly, but I wonder if it is at all possible? Are the connectors and hardware for multi-touch even on the motherboard for a 1080p 3D machine?

If anyone has a touch screen and would be willing to share some take-apart photos I would be interested! Also if anyone has parts number for the touch panel, or an ebay link. I have no idea what the price is for such a beast.

Edit - You can disregard all comments saying it is not possible. I found someone who has done this mod, see here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ps-17-l701x-screen-thread-47.html#post7143720
Pictures:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ps-17-l701x-screen-thread-48.html#post7153983

 

That's not how touch screens work.

 

How specifically is it that they "do not work"? If you have a valid argument for why it is not possible to stick a touch screen on top of a 120 Hz FHD display, feel free to share? If you are merely saying that it is probably difficult, and if you have some further insight as to why this would be hard, then feel free to share this as well.

I have disassembled and reassembled LCD panels before, so unless they etched the touch grid directly onto the layer that holds the actual liquid crystals then I feel it should be doable. Tricky, but doable. It all depends on the actual construction of the respective panels.

I have not seen any real data on the touch screen for the L702x, so I don't even know if it is resistive or capacitive. I believe most modern multi-touch screens are capacitive, so I am guessing this is the case here as well.

 

The capacitive layers aren't just sitting on top of the screen as you assume. Unless you have some sort of clean room, you aren't going to be able to service the panel in such a way to add them in nor will you have connectors available that the capacitive layers use to communicate.

tl;dr Unless you have a way to manufacture such a panel you are out of luck until Dell provides such panel.

 

All I am saying is this - wouldn't it be awesome? 3D, *and* 1080p, *and* multi-touch? Heck, I am tempted to order a 1600*900 multi-touch spare panel just to check out the construction )

A quick ebay search for "Ipad touch screen" turns up lots of auctions for a transparent digitizer screen only. So, since it is possible to replace *just* the touch screen on ipads, maybe there is a chance of cannibalizing one from a Dell multi-touch panel and fit it onto a Dell FHD 3D panel. One would likely need to modify the cover for the added thickness, and I imagine there could be issues with connectors, but I do not see what the insurmountable obstacles are. I am OK with killing the 1600*900 LCD in the process, if this is necessary.

Edit: some further Ebay searches turn up this multitude of add-on touch screens:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=17"+touch+kit

Sure, they may be crap, they are perhaps just resistive, not multi-touch, but it shows that there are possibilities!

I also found a company based in the US that has an add-on for 17" laptops. Resistive only, but even so:
http://www.magictouch.com/KTMT-1700W.html

 

I think the 3D effect would be ruined by touching a 2D screen.


You'd need some sort of infra-red or optical solution to create a depth in touch, sort of like the wii or kinect.

 

Oh, absolutely. I am not after 3D-touch, I 'just' want a screen that I can multi-touch when e.g. surfing or doing whatever, and where I can turn on 3D for watching a movie or playing a game. Basically I am a little miffed that I had to make a choice between 1080p or multi-touch!

Is this a useful thing that is easily justified? Nah, probably not, but it would be a cool thing to have! I could never have justified the extra money I spent on the 3D option for my XPS 17, but luckily I was forced to get 3D and the 3GB video card to get 4 DIMM slots, and I really needed the full 16 GB of RAM. Nice, business justification for getting 3D toys
(I have my own company so I am still paying for it all.)

 

On the subject of the l702x 1600x900 multi-touch screen:

Does anyone know where you can buy one as a spare? I have a massive crack in mine (only the digitizer layer though, screen is still working fine!)