Dell P2714T 27-Inch Touchscreen Monitor, Reviewed

Touch Or Not, Dell's P2714T Is A Solid Performer

From a purely video performance standpoint, Dell's P2714T is an average to above-average FHD monitor. Its contrast runs mid-pack, but its color, gamma, and grayscale accuracy are among the best. It’s not exceptionally bright, however, we consider it bright enough for almost any application we can come up with. And even though it probably won’t be on your favorite gamer's short-list, our benchmarks show the panel to be responsive in both screen draw and input lag. The decision to buy comes down to whether or not you need that touchscreen functionality and are willing to pay a premium for it.

If you’re interested in using Windows 8 the way Microsoft intended, a touchscreen is mandatory. We won’t go as far as to say that it’s better or worse than using a mouse; it’s just different. A power user probably won't get a lot from this interface on the desktop. Someone well-versed in keyboard shortcuts, and who is quick with their pointing device, will move through traditional applications much faster. Having to lift your hand from the keyboard to reach out and touch your monitor definitely takes more time. Of course, the cool factor is still quite high. We enjoyed using the touch functions in Windows even when it slowed us down. Having fun can certainly have a positive impact on productivity!

It remains to be seen if mainstream software will be redesigned to take advantage of touch. The operating system is an obvious first step, and Microsoft answered that call (whether it was asked to or not). Now it's up to application designers to create the desktop experience we’ve grown accustomed to from our tablets and smartphones. And that brings up the biggest question of all: do we want our desktop computers to emulate our portable devices?

One of the main purposes of the touchscreen in a portable device is eliminating the need for a keyboard or mouse. It’s not clear if that same touchscreen is useful when the keyboard and mouse are present. So far, we’ve had the choice of one or the other. Now we can have all three if we really want. In my opinion, gaming is the genre to watch. The possibilities of simulation and first-person games are greatly expanded when touch interaction is available. We’ve already seen some truly cool titles on tablets. Perhaps the future will bring us games not even imagined today.

At present, we see the P2714T used more in public spaces or shared environments where many people interact with a computer or point-of-sale system. There is plenty of screen real estate for things like restaurant menus, mall directories, or in-store ordering systems, for example. And there are many educational applications that would be at home here. Imagine a classroom with one of these at every desk.

Dell has always been a leader in monitor technology and features. It’s no surprise that it's among the first to market a display like this. The company now has hardware to complement Microsoft's vision on the operating system side. We’re excited to see where the evolution of the human/computer interface leads.

Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

  • killerclick
    Lol touchscreens on the desktop, it was a crappy idea 2 years ago and it's a crappy idea now.
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    @killerclick: That, of course, is YOUR opinion. I'd rather have the option than not have the option. Maybe we should just stop providing options... ."Having to lift your hand from the keyboard to reach out and touch your monitor definitely takes more time."So does moving your hand from the mouse back to the keyboard. As it stands I do actually prefer having touch.
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    @killerclick: That, of course, is YOUR opinion. I'd rather have the option than not have the option. Maybe we should just stop providing options... ."Having to lift your hand from the keyboard to reach out and touch your monitor definitely takes more time."So does moving your hand from the mouse back to the keyboard. As it stands I do actually prefer having touch.
    Reply
  • vaughn2k
    good to have this on kiosk, than have it used by designers like me.. ;)
    Reply
  • therogerwilco
    Don't talk to me about desktop monitors unless they have better resolutions than 1600p.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    @damian: having options may be nice but touch-screen on the desktop for everyday computing and productivity with touch as the primary input sounds like a horrible ergonomic disaster: to use a large touch screen, you need to bring it close to your waist to avoid excessive strain on your arms but putting the display there means having to hold your head at ridiculous angles to look at the screen which is going to strain your neck.So, touch on a large screen only makes sense for occasional/intermittent use.
    Reply
  • killerclick
    12389025 said:
    @killerclick: That, of course, is YOUR opinion. I'd rather have the option than not have the option. Maybe we should just stop providing options...

    I said it's a crappy idea that's not going to catch on, and I'd prefer not to have to pay extra for it or sacrifice other aspects of the display, like resolution in this case. That said, the companies can put their R&D and marketing $ wherever they want, not my money, but it's still dumb.
    Reply
  • Patrick Tobin
    After having used touch extensively on desktop, laptop and tablet form factors I have to say it works really well for a desktop system for quick hits and the such and getting in and out of stuff quickly in Windows 8, on a laptop it makes very little sense though. I would rather have it than not, but not at 1920x1080.
    Reply
  • hannibal
    The childrens that are now using iDevices and similar can not live with traditional display if there are these in the market. In the long run non touchable monitors are gonna die out. Sooner or later there are more of those touch orientated customer than we old fossilised normal screen users... Eventually we die out and so will normal monitors. For me touch based pad with screen would be ideal for controlling win8 in my desktop. It would be on the table just like my mouse, so I don't have ro rise my hand to do something...In few years there will be a lot of 4K monitors with touch interface, because big audience have to have them...
    Reply
  • Patrick Tobin
    After having used touch extensively on desktop, laptop and tablet form factors I have to say it works really well for a desktop system for quick hits and the such and getting in and out of stuff quickly in Windows 8, on a laptop it makes very little sense though. I would rather have it than not, but not at 1920x1080.
    Reply