video options for a local system

[Corsair8X]

I'm exploring the options available for my computer and TD which I would like very much to keep as a local setup. My video card has a pair of DVI ports. I would imagine that I will be using both of these for a TH2G setup - or maybe only one of them. Looking to take some of the strain from my video card I was wondering if I would be able to use a USB 2.0 to VGA adapter such as this one made by Tritton. It does not play video very well due to bandwidth limitations of USB, but I imagine that this would not be much of a problem with it servicing just a touch screen. I was even thinking that a person wishing to emulate Rugg's setup could have two of these and have 2 sessions of TB running.

I may be completely wrong about this as I'm still new, but I was wondering if anyone had any opinions of this.

[ruggbutt]

We're kind of pioneers around here. If it's a new idea then we really don't know if it will work or not. Usually you have to try it to see if it will work. For instance, on the 8" touchscreens we've found that an old beta driver is the only driver that works worth a damn. All the new ones suck.

[Corsair8X]

Is that the case for all 8" touchscreens and is that in a local environment? My question may be pretty dumb as I'm not exactly sure right now regarding anything hardware-related. I know that you are using 17" lcd's. Did you have the same type of driver issue or have you avoided the issue because you are running networked?

[Wild.Bill.Kelso]

Welcome Cosair,

I run in local mode with no problems really.

No the drivers Rugg mentioned seem to be the best ones for all touchscreens AFAIK. It appears that most or all touchscreens seem to use the same drivers, and the old beta ones seem to work best.

A user named Avenger454 posted this thread about a pc tablet a few months ago. It sure looks like a good cheap solution for a client-network setup without a big extra pc. I did a quick search on eBay and saw one for $118 + $24 shipping. I'm not sure if this is the exact one he used. And I have not used this setup, but the price looks awesome. You could post or PM Avenger to see how it's working for him...

WBK

[ruggbutt]

To add to WBK's post: Since I'm running two touchscreens I'm using MagicTouch's dual drivers. They're a ***** to setup on in that you cannot use a USB hub (powered or not) to get the drivers to recognize the touchscreens. You have to plug them directly into the USB ports. Once they're recognized you can swap in a USB hub if you like.

[Corsair8X]

That clears up my confusion regarding the driver issue. Somebody was mentioning about a Lilliput 10.4" touch screen and I think that may the direction I will go for now. I just hope that it will work in Vista. I hope that Vista doesn't add any complexity to all of this. I saw that a few people are running Vista though and it seems that generally it is going okay.

I've got an old monitor I can hook up and use the mouse for too, just to try it all out and see what I think before I start investing

[SytRep]

At the moment I'm running a Dell 2407wfp and 3x Lilliput 10.4" touch screens, they work well with 2x 7900gto and both vista and xp. I used to have 1x 8" touch screen but the 10.4" Lilliputs have a better stand which doesn't move when you touch them, they also look better and give a bigger area to podge your finger on. I highly recommend them. As for drivers I'm running the latest vista/xp ones from ergalax and they work great, the only difficult thing was calibrating the multiple screens.
I would recommend using the network option though, it gives you more options, and it negates the mouse focus problems. Plus any key presses on the remote machines keyboard (or programmable gamepad) will register on the main machine. You don't need a powerful second machine and if you're good with mods you could place both motherboards in one (large)case.
Also to reduce problems configuring machines I use Thinkdesk Multiplicity so both computers act as one large desktop. It saves having to source 2keyboards and mice, I also recommend a simple KVM such as the Belkin Switch2 in case the network fails.
Hope this helps
'Rep

[Corsair8X]

Thank you for the quick review on the Lilliput 10.4. Another nice thing is I can get it from Amazon so it will be easy to get.

Maybe if I get really into this option I'll start thinking of network (I'm cautious by nature ), but your description of your system does make it sound like a great option. Thinkdesk Multiplicity sounds like a great, non confusing option. I also already have a wireless network already where I live for the g/f's computer.

3 touchscreens eh? Do you have any photos of your setup? That may be some powerful inspiration for me

[ruggbutt]

Originally Posted by Corsair8X

3 touchscreens eh? Do you have any photos of your setup?

I only have two. I don't have room for another.

[Corsair8X]

This talk about touchscreen-envy brings up another question in my mind. Obviously you are using a network setup because of the workload. First, someone with 3 touchscreens, how does that work out. Are they all on the other computer? If you were to add another Rugg, could it too go on the touchbuddy computer as well?

My next question is, how many could I in theory have? If I was using two computers and adopted the network setup (or I guess client/server setup as it's called), would there be any limitations. Let's say that I totally obsess over this and I don't mind spending a huge wad of cash, could I have for example seven touchscreens? Is that possible?