Building new Digital Jukebox (HTPC) need advice.Touch Screen

[surferjoe]

Hello all. I just arrived here and already love the XLobby interface and controls.

I want to build a fairly simple setup. A small HTPC type of PC that I would hide under the desk somewhere and just have an external touch screen lcd on the desk to control the menus.

I am building this just for music navigation and playback through the touch screen. If possible, I dont even want another monitor, just the touch screen alone. My questions is can I set this thing up to boot into windows and jump right into the XLobby program and stay there? Again this PC is just for music playback so I dont need anything else, just the frontend menus.

I have seen the Xenarc and Dell 15" Touch screen lcd's on eBay. Who makes the best quality and most compatible with this software? Is 1024x768 the average resolution to run the skins at? Should I go widescreen or 4:3?

Thanks guys! This looks very cool and I cant wait to get it started.

[rembetis]

My questions is can I set this thing up to boot into windows and jump right into the XLobby program and stay there?

Absolutely. Just add Xlobby to your startup menu. This is how my HTPC runs, and I almost never leave Xlobby.

I have seen the Xenarc and Dell 15" Touch screen lcd's on eBay. Who makes the best quality and most compatible with this software? Is 1024x768 the average resolution to run the skins at? Should I go widescreen or 4:3?

Any touchscreen will be compatible, provided you use a touchscreen-intended skin (or adapt one). I think many people do 800 x 600, even if their screens can go higher, because that keeps buttons large enough to be hit with a fingertip (tiny icons are pretty tough to zero in on). Personally, I use the Magic Touch add on screens and a standard LCD. Cheaper that way, and cheaper to replace if one or the other goes bad.

FWIW...

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

Because ur goal is just music, u will do fine with just one monitor (touch screen in this case) for skin (controls).

Simply put shortcut to xlobby to windows startip folder, its not most beautiful way launch xlobby right after boot... but probably the way with considerably less headaches than other options.

EDIT: sorry about double post... seems that rembetis beat old bear this time...

[surferjoe]

My questions is can I set this thing up to boot into windows and jump right into the XLobby program and stay there?

Absolutely. Just add Xlobby to your startup menu. This is how my HTPC runs, and I almost never leave Xlobby.

I have seen the Xenarc and Dell 15" Touch screen lcd's on eBay. Who makes the best quality and most compatible with this software? Is 1024x768 the average resolution to run the skins at? Should I go widescreen or 4:3?

Any touchscreen will be compatible, provided you use a touchscreen-intended skin (or adapt one). I think many people do 800 x 600, even if their screens can go higher, because that keeps buttons large enough to be hit with a fingertip (tiny icons are pretty tough to zero in on). Personally, I use the Magic Touch add on screens and a standard LCD. Cheaper that way, and cheaper to replace if one or the other goes bad.

FWIW...

Excellent. Checking it out now. Thanks!

[sharp_1]

This is what I use for my Touchscreen . You should be able to get one of these for about $150+shipping.

Check out Heiko's awesome JASSP skin Here

Good luck and welcome to XL!!!

[sdumas]

I use a couple of touchscreens (mainly regular monitors with an add-on kit) and it works great. I use the "MagicTouch" touchscreen kits. ( http://www.magictouch.com ).

They work just like a mouse, so nothing really to them.

I do have a question though. What does the "touchscreen" check does in Xlobby. I can't figure it out. I tried with it checked and unchecked and I can't really see a difference. What does it do?