14 DAY TRIAL // We've seen our share of consumer monitors with high-quality displays and touch input, but Sharp is releasing something aimed more at professionals and business users than regular people.
The product in question is called Professional Touch Display LL-S201A and it is a 20-inch (really 19.5-inch diagonal) LCD monitor with support for multi-touch input.
The LCD panel boasts a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, suggesting the 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio.
As always, the Full HD and 16:9 ratio are used, despite the fact that, once upon a time, the 4:3 AR was used more, especially by office PCs.
Then again, a wider screen means more workspace. Users can, say, open Microsoft Office and write a document on one half of the screen, and keep a browser, or whatever else, open on the other half.
Such scenarios would definitely put the 10-point multi-touch to the test, including the Palm Cancellation Function that prioritizes the touch of the pen over the touch of your hand.
That's right, Sharp has included a stylus in the package, a pen that, thanks to the Sharp Pen Software utility, lets users use natural handwriting functionality, just like the AQUOS BOARD Interactive Display.
A final asset is the ability of the 20-inch LCD to switch from upright to a flat, horizontal position. That way, it can behave like a monitor and work tablet, alternatively.
Several people can view and use it at once easily while it's in tablet/ paper sheet position.
Needless to say, when linked to a PC running Windows 8, the touch input is intuitive, capable of interpreting gestures and multiple touch points, just as Microsoft intended.
As for keeping it in standard position, the 75 degree angle should make everything easy to view.
The Sharp LL-S201A is 1-inch thick and weighs 5.1 lbs / 2.3 kilograms. It should already be shipping, but its price hasn't been mentioned.