Does Touchscreen Always Imply Glass (Therefore Glossy) Screens?

Hello All,

I have a quick question about touchscreen laptops and matte screens. Is it possible to have both? Or does being a touchscreen laptop imply a glass (glossy) screen?

It seems like the way of the future is touchscreen. Personally I hate it because I have always preferred matte screens but now with touch manufactures are being forced to go with glass.

Do you think display manufacturers are aware of the fact that many consumers don't like glossy screens and are trying to create less glossy glass? Or is this just something that we will all have to live with because in order to have touch you must have glass?

Jan

P.S. I was also wondering if there is some kind of standardized rating for screen glossiness and/or reflectivity? This would serve as a very useful bit of information when shopping for laptops/displays.

 

Pretty sure the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is (or was) a matte touchscreen. However, the graininess and screen-door effect of the one I tried at the Microsoft Store about a year ago was almost unbearable.

 

The old ThinkPad X41/X61 laptops were matte. They were primarily designed for styluses, though - the X61 could respond to fingers, but it wasn't optimized for it. So, depending on your definition of "touchscreen", they may or may not count.

I agree, though, I have no desire for a glossy display, and it's a turn-off for touch displays for me. I'd rather go non-touch and matte than touch and glossy.

I haven't heard of any rating of glossiness. Could be useful if it were possible to standardize on one. There are a rare few "glossy" laptops that are actually sufficiently non-glossy that I'd be okay with them. The VAIO Z series is perhaps the best example, although at close to $2000 before being discontinued, it was pretty upmarket.

 

Yes as noted the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has an anti-glare touch-enabled display; our review here: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2014) Review
Great screen but not a great laptop, unfortunately.

Most notebooks with touch sport a glossy surface coating because they're designed for the consumer market. Some business notebooks like the Dell Latitude 14 7000 series are offered with touch but I haven't checked whether it's glossy or anti-glare. Personally I find anti-glare easier to use with touch because my fingers glide across the screen more predictably.