Capacitive or resistive: what's the best type of touchscreen?

[Simon]

Paul Ockenden explains smartphone touchscreen technologies:

I'm going to deal with a topic that's sparked more than a dozen emails recently. A typical one is Steven Barrett, who asks:

"I keep reading about capacitive and resistive touchscreens, but I'm not sure what the real-world differences are. Capacitive screens generally receive more favourable reviews than resistive, but I've seen some strong views in the other direction on various blogs and online forums, with people saying that resistive screens are more accurate. I'd appreciate your views on which screen technology to choose."

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/realworld/357325/capacitive-or-resistive-whats-the-best-type-of-touchscreen

[Simon]

Personally, I like the 'clicky' screen on the BlackBerry Storm, in preference to a capacitive touchscreen, but I've never tried a resistive one.

[Steve]

I use an iPhone I think that's a capacitance screen, I think the resistive ones are old technology. Accuracy is not always a good thing especially if you have to be spot on to get a response.

[Simon]

Don't talk to me about accuracy! 

[Steve]

Dont what you mea`nb 

[Simon]

Shupput! 

[Gary]

Capacitive are more responsive, less delicate and feel fine to use. I don't miss buttons, and I sure don't miss the delicate easy scratch face of a resistive screen, let alone the lack of response from some.

[Rik]

Good read, Simon.

[Simon]

Interesting, wasn't it? 

[Rik]

Yup. About the only touchscreens I have are on my PDA, which must be resistive, and my SatNav, which is probably capacitive, though it feels resistive.

[Simon]

Intresting what you say about satnavs.  I guess mine is resistive too.  Never thought of that. 

[Rik]

Although mine is finger operated, all the targets are large, and the screen flexes.

[Glenn]

You're meant to touch the screen, not the casing at the back of it.

[Rik]

 

They didn't say with what, though. 

[Niall]

The one on the iphone is okay, but I often see times where you can prod and prod and it won't work. Not sure if that's related to a page not fully loading (which would make sense) or it's a problem with the software behind it.

Oh and on the subject, I've recently noticed with the iphone is that it 'lags' now I've stuck about 3gb of music on it.

[Rik]

It's probably appalled at your taste in music, Niall.

[Glenn]

You could always run Android on it 

[Rik]

[Niall]

I've only put blues and metal on it

[Rik]

'Nuf said. (Though, if you have any Joe Bonamassa on it, I'll blame the phone )

[Niall]

I probably have, I just selected the "blues" and "metal" tabs, and let itunes do the rest.

[Lance]

The one on the iphone is okay, but I often see times where you can prod and prod and it won't work. Not sure if that's related to a page not fully loading (which would make sense) or it's a problem with the software behind it.

Oh and on the subject, I've recently noticed with the iphone is that it 'lags' now I've stuck about 3gb of music on it.

I've never had any problems with lag, and I've got about 12gb of music on mine now. No problems with the screen either.

[Steve]

I can't see I've seen any lag either.

[Gary]

I have about 15BG of Music on mine and have no lag either, also the screen I find very accurate tbh not experienced your issues at all. Have you got a 3GS or a 3G model?

[Niall]

It's the 3GS. It's probably me being impatient, but I don't see it in apps, or using the phones functions. It's on websites, so I'm thinking it's reloading the page but as you don't see the whole page it's hard to see if it's totally loaded again or not.

I've seen it on various pages. I'll try to remember making a record of when/how it's occurring next time!