Windows 7 could be a touch too much

There is a reason the first thing Microsoft chose to show publicly of Windows 7 was its support for touch input.

The built-in ability to use two fingers to rotate, scroll and zoom offers tangible proof that the operating system is different from its predecessor, not to mention being something not found on a Mac.

However, according to many analysts, comparatively few Windows 7 owners will be reaching out to touch their screens, because to use one's fingers in such a manner requires a screen to support the technology — adding more cost to a PC.

As a result, many expect touch-capable PCs to become just a tiny fraction of the market for desktop and notebook computers after Windows 7 arrives in store on 22 October.

"We're thinking like five percent to 10 percent of shipments for 2010," said IDC analyst Richard Shim. He added that unless circumstances change, that rate is not likely to climb significantly in the coming years.

Killer app cool
Part of the problem is that there is not yet a killer touch application on the PC, despite the fact that putting one's fingers onscreen has become the de facto measure of cool in the mobile phone market.

Of course, there is interest in selling touchscreen devices. HP introduced its TouchSmart all-in-one in 2008 . The company now has several models, including both desktop and notebook versions. Dell has launched a Latitude notebook aimed at businesses and has also added an all-in-one with a touchscreen option.

Once Windows 7 hits the market, others will no doubt follow suit, particularly since Microsoft has done a lot of the work. Shim said he expects nearly all the main PC manufacturers to have at least one touchscreen model when Windows 7 launches. Monitor manufacturers are also expected to offer touchscreen displays that can plug into standard PCs.

"Touch will roll out," said Microsoft senior vice-president Bill Veghte in an interview last week. "We'll see it in all-in-ones and we'll see it in some laptops, and you will see it across the different PC markets."

How many touch-enabled models will actually sell is another matter. Some reports suggest that the low-cost netbook market could pick up fastest, given their smaller (and cheaper to make) screens and the fact that people often use them on the go, without a mouse.

Although Microsoft will offer a standard interface for gestures in Windows 7, there are several technologies PC manufacturers can use to build touch-capable computers.

New Zealand-based NextWindow uses an optical technology in which tiny sensors are mounted on the top corners of the display…