Laptop computers have been getting thinner and more powerful recently, but the basic features haven't changed for a long time. Then came tablets, which brought a pen-based navigation interface to laptops, allowing you to use the screen much like a piece of paper.
The problem is that typical touchscreens lack the sensitivity and precision of pen and paper.
Dell's new Latitude XT, due out by the end of the year, features a new technology, called capacitive touch that promises to offer pen-like precision, even when you use your finger instead of a pen.
The technology creates a continuous electrical field across the screen which pinpoints the location of any interruption, such as when a finger enters the field.
The advantage is that you no longer have to press down, resulting in zero-pressure sensitivity and more precise inputs.
Dell says that the screen will also support multi-touch, a la the iPhone, although the software and applications that take advantage of that capability are not expected to be available until next year.