Windows 7 RC Touch + N-Trig First Impressions: Touch is Good, Ink Needs Work

Posted by | 05/07/2009 | 22 Comments

ntrigN-Trig released their Windows 7 RC 2.59 multi-touch drivers for the Dell XT,Dell  XT2, andHP  TX2 yesterday and I just finished going through the install. Before installing this new version, make sure you 1) download the correct version for your particular computer, 2) uninstall the previous version through the Control Panel / Uninstall Program feature and then reboot before installing this new version.

Here are my impressions on the new ink support, as well as the multi-touch gestures.

The good thing about  2.59 version is that the pen is now supported, which is a huge improvement over previous beta versions. One of the first things I did was open up Journal and begin inking.  I experienced some strange behaviors with touch still being recognized even with the pen touching the screen. What is strange about this behavior is that I wasn’t allowed to ink at all using the pen because touch was still still turned on and the pen wasn’t being activated automatically. When lifting the pen ever so slightly, touch would turn on and then the side of my hand would begin to make ink strokes, but the pen wouldn’t generate any ink even when writing on the screen. Some obvious bugs still need to get worked out with pen / touch integration. I’ll still use it,  but I definitely look forward to the next version from N-Trig. Good start on the pen, N-Trig, but there is still some work to be done.

Like the previous beta version, multi-touch gestures are now recognized at the operating system level which means a more natural and fluid response using your finger to navigate around Windows 7. Panning, zooming, and multi-finger input work really well. Panning in a web page is very iPhone-like, while zooming and rotating a picture is quite smooth. Zooming in a webpage utilizes the browsers zoom functionality so it isn’t as smooth as picture zooming. Pan scrolling in both IE and Chrome work equally as smooth. Media Center functionality is also quite natural.

Navigating around Windows 7 using touch has been quite accurate, with very few false hits.

multitouchwin7rc

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Category: Hardware, Software

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As the Founding Editor for GottaBeMobile.com, Rob oversaw the growth and overall direction for content, advertising, and management of the site. Keep up with Rob at RobBushway.com Send email to Rob
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  • Ron F

    I am running the 2.59 drivers on Win7 RC7100 64bit on an XT2 and while I am very pleased with both the Pen and Touch I am experiencing the issue above where while using the Pen sometimes my palm catches the touch input and makes marks. If I change the N-Trig input mode in control panel to auto from dual it has no effect. Still some bugs but moving in the right direction. I wonder if these issue are also happening in the 32bit build?

  • Rob

    I am running the 32 bit build

  • Estrelo

    “Pan scrolling in both IE and Chrome work equally as smooth”
    Does this mean it is possible to scroll and pan around an webpage in Chrome with touch/pen? I’m happy with Firefox+Grab and Drag but I like to have a choice.
    Running Win 7 RC on a M750 here.

  • XT_Guy

    New “Known Issue” for Win 7 RC Drivers has popped up on N-trig’s customer support/FAQ page:

    http://www.n-trig.com/Content.aspx?Page=Bulletin_Board

    Looks like the same issue Rob mentioned in his evaluation:

    In Windows 7 RC, in Dual mode, sometimes the pen functionality does not respond properly.

    This happens in ink-enabled applications, when touch and pen functionality are executed simultaneously.

    Pen and touch functionality are still both enabled, and function correctly.

    This is a known issue, and we are working to correct this for future releases.

  • Charles Jannace

    One more thing: Win7 found and I downloaded a driver for the fingerprint scanner that unlike the XP, works very well. After I installed it Firefox called for a plug in for the scanner to use for passwords on webpages. Very cool.

    Now all I need is Mi-Fi.

  • Ryan

    hi everyone! i need some help…im planning to buy this day an hptx2 but i really want to run it with win7 and i don’t know whats the procedures are. its my first time to have a tablet and i really don’t know how to do those things you’ve done to your tablet. I’m reading all your msgs in this site but i need more details about it…i love to have those what you have experience ryt now…hope you can share all the things what you’ve learned…tnx alot i love to hear from you all guys…

  • Rob

    Head over to our win 7 and HP forums for some help getting going

    Gottabemobile.com/forum

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