Using stylus to write on XPS 15/17 multitouch screen

I am planning to buy the current model of XPS 17 with multi-touch display. I was waiting for the 2nd generation i7 with multi-touch display option, but now it seems like Dell is the only company with laptops that have 2nd gen i7 with the multi-touch display option.

The reason I need the multi-touch is to write in notes and draw in figures to the lecture notes on Microsoft Office 2010 Onenote.
I saw people using tablet notebooks, but the screen is too small for me.

Has anyone tried writing with either a finger or a capacitive stylus onto the multi-touch screen for XPS 15/17 or other touch screen laptops in general?

Is it a high quality touch feeling like from tablets, iPhone, or iPad?

 

Don't get the touch screen. The low resolution is a serious downside to how you can use your computer. If you get the XPS 15 or 17 (especially if you get the XPS 15) get the 1080p screen. Better image quality, and higher resolution which is good for multitasking. If you want a touchscreeen, don't consider buying the XPS 15 or the XPS 17.

Look at:
- Lenovo Thinkpad X220 Tablet - 12.5" IPS touchscreen, 1366x768 (makes sense in this screen size, not in a 15.6" screen)
- Dell Precision M6600 with the 17.3" 1920x1080 touchscreen option (NOT the precision M4600)

The X220 tablet looks like your best option. You get the same resolution as the XPS 15's touchscreen, but the screen quality doesn't suck (it's quite good) and the resolution is the same so you can fit exactly the same amount of stuff onscreen (again, 1366x768 resolution is too low for a 15.6" screen)

Your point about the screen of tablet notebooks being too small is invalid, because the resolution is the same 1366x768 you'd get in a 15.6" touchscreen laptop scaled down to a size (12.5") where it doesn't make text, icons, UI elements, and pixels look really really big.

If you said the keyboard is too small, your point is valid, but the screen size difference doesn't matter when the resolution is the same (unless you have bad eyesight and need large text).

 

Thank you for the honest reply.

Many of my colleagues actually have Thinkpad X220, and the screen itself is just too small, and I use Microsoft 2010 onenote most of the times as I study my lectures. Since I can zoom in and out of the onenote, it seems like the resolution is not an issue for me. I just need a physically big screen. Also XPS 17 offers 900p, and it is not too bad for me.

I will take a look at M6600 for sure for its multitouch option with 1080p.

But my real question is that do you have any experience with the stylus on these touch screen laptops in writing or drawing in things? And can you make a comparison to the other tablets like X220 tablet, iPhone, iPad?

 

900p on a 17" isn't awful. 720p on a 15" is a bit on the low-res side of acceptable. I had the 900p normal display on my original XPS 17, and text size, icon size, etc was not bad. My sis has an Inspiron 15" with the 768p screen, and everything just looks a tad too big and blocky to me. If you can deal with a fairly large laptop for taking to class, the XPS 17 would be a good option. Personally, I was never a fan of touchscreen laptops, even back in college. But I know some people are, and that's why the options are there.

 

I may not be the best scource here but I tried the multitouch on the Dell laptops and rather hated it. heres my personal opinions

1: touch on a non convertable laptop screen is awkward and annoying, I bumped keys and t was a very unnatural thing

2: the amount of pressure required on different parts of the screen varied drastically, its not even like a tablet or convertable unit. it seems to be implemented more as an afterthought and badly at that.

3: bumpung your touchpad or keyboard while using it is not pleasant to say the least.

IMO I have to agree with edit and if you need it integrated get a proper tablet PC if you need a larger screen think about getting an external tablet like a Bamboo or other Wacom or wacom like device. MUCH more accurate, easier to use and not gimmicky. if your a hard core modder, get a digitizer panel to put in your LCD assembly ( lose the glass face and replace with digitizer.)

as for using a stylus ... I tried and it worked, but again not so well