Touchscreen Computers.

[KennyT772]

I need to build 2 small touchscreen computers for my stepdads automotive shop. He is going to install an automated parts ordering/pricing system and needs these two terminals for his (older and non technical) staff. For specs I only really need skt 478/939, 512mb ram, integrated video, 40gb hard drive. I just do not have much experience working in the small form factor, low power area of computers.

If you guys could help me look up some parts that would be great. I'm looking for $400-$600 per computer, plus monitors. I already have winxp for them. Keep in mind these will be installed in a dusty dirty auto shop, so dust filters will be a necessity. For the touchscreens, I do not know a single thing about how they interface etc, but im guessing usb. Help here would be great too.

 

[GJSNeptune]

I'd say get as much passive cooling as possible to minimize dust. Your best bet is probably a barebones SFF system. Shuttle's good but a bit more expensive than others.

Or a very slim desktop-style box from Dell or IBM. Not the tower, but the horizontal desktop form.

 

[Ehstii]

call up ibm?lol

 

[Darknova]

Where I work they use REALLY crappy (spec wise) PCs. They are P2 233s with a 4Gb HDD and 128Mb of RAM lol. They are all touchscreen and use a piece of software called COALITION which I believe can be customised to each companies needs. Even though the specs of the PCs are crap they run quite quickly because the software is made for the PCs specifically.

 

[Mediocre]

ELO makes a decent touchscreen. Chances are the touchscreen will be as expensive (if not more) than the actual PC. 17" touchscreens go for ~$600. Most interface via USB and/or serial (most units have both interfaces).
They come with software for proper recognition within XP.

Sounds like a halfway decent project, have fun with it.

 

[KennyT772]

So far I've basically spec'ed out the computers.
1.6ghz amd, 512mb ram, gigabyte 6100igp mobo, FSP 400w psu, 40gb HDD, WinXP pro.

Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811145077
cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819104305
ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820146521
mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128045
hard drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822140118
psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104953

I've been thinking about maybe upping the cpu to a 2ghz model just to increase the performance, but I don't really think it iwll be needed. All I am going to be running is the touchscreen (yet to decide on) windows xp pro, and the catalog software. I still need to look at the software to make sure its touchscreen compatable, (visual keyboard etc) to see if i can go with touchscreens or if i am going to have to figure something else out.

 

[sheps999]

You can buy touchscreen kits that use a touch-sensitive membrane over an existing screen. A quick Google pulled up this: http://www.magictouch.com/addon.html