How touch screen friendly is Sage 7?

[carlgar]

I just got a Dell Inspirion Duo Tablet running Windows 7. The primary purpose it to run Sage server software to view local files. I was planning to use the license I have for version 6, I did not plan to upgrade to version 7. After using the tablet which is really both a laptop or tablet. What I would like to do is start watching a show using the laptop mode and then swith to tablet mode with only the touch screen input available. It looks like the 6 controls that I want may be available but appear to be much too close together to be usable on a touch sceen (10.1 inch). Has anyone run Sage on a touchscreen or have any thoughts about how this could be done? I would like to have the screen divided into 6 touch areas which I could map to the 6 keys on my choice. Is Sage 7 anywhere close to this point?

[Fuzzy]

For starters, anything is customizable in studio. That said, everyones experience is going to be different. I've not had any real problems doing simple tasks on the 7" touchscreen in my truck.

The licensing, on the other hand, is your problem. You cannot use the same v6 license on your tablet if you are still using it on your server at home. It is only a license for a single server. If all you want to do is watch local content on the tablet, there are other players that might be better suited to it (Boxee might be a good - and free - choice).

[carlgar]

Can you give me an idea of what a simple task is? I suspect the main menu was designed with touch screen in mind. However, my goal is just to watch a show using touch screen with the skip, pause, and play options. Anything else, I will use the normal laptop mode using the keyboard.

I do already own 2 licenses, one of which has been upgraded to Sage 7 for my server. I did puchase the second one for the purpose of viewing files on my laptop. IIRC, I could use the client to do this, but I had to jump thru loops getting the client started without the sever available, I was very unhappy when I saw the upgrade fee for version 7. I can justify it for my primary server, but not for a program I use maybe once a year.

[Fuzzy]

A simple task being browsing for a video, and watching it.

You can certainly continue to use your v6 to watch your videos, but like I said previously, it's not really the best choice for something like this. There are far better free players that will work just fine for you.

[carlgar]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

A simple task being browsing for a video, and watching it.

You can certainly continue to use your v6 to watch your videos, but like I said previously, it's not really the best choice for something like this. There are far better free players that will work just fine for you.

If I wanted a free player I would use WMP. I like the Sage skip keys and that is the interface I am use too. Anyway, it sounds like I will be using the trial period to check it out when the next release comes out. The keys just looked very close to me compared to the old layout. I also was thinking that was on a 22" monitor, but Sage is only using about a 12" window. Thanks for the input.

[carlgar]

I went ahead and installed the Sage 7 client beta software on my table and am watching a show now. While the buttons do work I do not believe they were intended for human hands. They work great with a mouse type pointer. I may get used to it after a while but since I have to touch the screen to bring up the buttons I should be able to make them much bigger. Since I am running under windows 7 The pause button is between the skip button and the system clock. My first attempts to pause brought up the clock. My touch screen does not seem like anything but a finger so I think these controls have to be much larger to be used as intended.

[wayner]

What would be good for this kind of application is multi touch or swipe gestures since Win7 supports these as do other OSes like iOS. For example while a video is playing if you swipe right with 1 finger it is FFx1, if you swipe right with 2 fingers it is FFx2, swiping left with one or two fingers gives REWx1 and REWx2. Tapping the screen stops or starts, etc.

[carlgar]

Originally Posted by wayner

What would be good for this kind of application is multi touch or swipe gestures since Win7 supports these as do other OSes like iOS. For example while a video is playing if you swipe right with 1 finger it is FFx1, if you swipe right with 2 fingers it is FFx2, swiping left with one or two fingers gives REWx1 and REWx2. Tapping the screen stops or starts, etc.

I would agree with the above.
I also went back to v6 media center and its buttons work much better. They are spaced apart but they could be a little larger. V6 would be a decent model for a plug-in to make allow multi-touch screen watching usable. I have done reseach yet but I suspect the multi-touch is what prevents me from using something like a stylus.
See http://backroom.bostonproductions.com/?p=227 for an overview of types of touch screen type. My sceen appears to Capacitive. A Resistive type allows use of the stylus.

BTW: the tablet worked fine with V7 when using a mouse with it. My goal is to not require use of the mouse. It is too much hardware to carry with me. I intend to use the tablet when I expect long waits such as doctor appointments.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by carlgar

I would agree with the above.
I also went back to v6 media center and its buttons work much better. They are spaced apart but they could be a little larger. V6 would be a decent model for a plug-in to make allow multi-touch screen watching usable. I have done reseach yet but I suspect the multi-touch is what prevents me from using something like a stylus.
See http://backroom.bostonproductions.com/?p=227 for an overview of types of touch screen type. My sceen appears to Capacitive. A Resistive type allows use of the stylus.

BTW: the tablet worked fine with V7 when using a mouse with it. My goal is to not require use of the mouse. It is too much hardware to carry with me. I intend to use the tablet when I expect long waits such as doctor appointments.

Actually, there are special stili (stiluses?) that work with capacitive touch screens, but you are right that an ordinary chunk of plastic or something similar will not work. In general, capacitive touch screens are more accurate and responsive than resistive touch screens, which is why most smart phones are using capacitive touch screens these days (e.g. iPhone).

[mbahr]

I've been using Sage on a ELO touchscreen for more than five years. Works fine with standard drivers, etc. The ELO *is* a professional touchscreen though, and may have better sensing resolution than the Dell.

Anyway, for readers out there, it's doable.

[carlgar]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Actually, there are special stili (stiluses?) that work with capacitive touch screens, but you are right that an ordinary chunk of plastic or something similar will not work. In general, capacitive touch screens are more accurate and responsive than resistive touch screens, which is why most smart phones are using capacitive touch screens these days (e.g. iPhone).

Thanks for the tip. After seeing your post, I went back to the Dell web site and I see that a stylus is available when you order the system. Even if I had noticed that at order time, I would not have thought I needed one. I did not even order the bluetooth mouse until after I had the system. I currently have a stylus on order which I expect will work just fine. I also discovered that a on screen keyboard is also available so I can also use keystrokes in tablet mode.