Sometimes technology moves slowly - however that is rare in this day and age, with the demands from consumers for the 'very latest' it seems almost daily something new and 'exciting' launches somewhere around the world.

For instance, today I read with interest about large screen curved display which would change the way Gamers and others would see their computers.  Looks amazing, will it catch on - I doubt it.

The great part about talking and writing about technology (unashamedly) is the gadgets that come across my desk.  Some days I think WOW this looks amazing, others it's a bit more like 'ok, sure... I get it'.

Two weeks ago, I was sent a Fujitsu Lifebook to play with for a fortnight.  Not just any laptop though, this was a Tablet PC.

Tablet PC you say? - They've been about for a while, with the screens that flip around and lay flat on the keyboard - you then take out the 'PEN' and tap away.

So at first, this was a bit like 'ok, sure... I get it' - then I took some time with it, and realised that combined with the power of the Windows 7 touch software, this was quite compelling.  Multi touch meant that zooming and panning was easy, some of the software included helped demonstrate the potential - Like the virtual Globe which allowed me to spin the Globe with one finger then stop it and zoom in with a multi-touch pinch or expand.

Pretty Impressive.

I tried then to take out the pen and write something.  Worked well, and amazingly it recognised my handwriting - handwriting which was described by my year three teacher as 'like a spider with ink on each leg crawling across the page' and has not improved since.

Next thing I know, without any attempt to accumulate Touch devices, I had two more interesting items to add to my arsenal.

An Asus EeePC (T91MT) which is - as Asus claim the first Netbook (tiny laptop) to go Multi-Touch.  And this was just as good as the Fujitsu, just smaller!

Finally, and on a different slant, I am trialling a Wacom Bamboo - which is basically an electronic mouse pad, without the mouse.  This device sits where your mouse used to be, and you touch it like a touch pad on a laptop to move the mouse, click and so on.

So what's this all about then?  Has the world gone touch crazy?

Yes - and for good reason - It works.  To a point.

The feature of the tablet PC's I found most useful was the simplistic touch screen.  That is, to be able to touch an icon with my finger to launch, accept, cancel or whatever it might be seemed like it was the way it 'should' be.  The tablet itself I think has some way to go.  Handwriting on the screen is done in a pop up window where the character recognition is shown, you then 'insert' into your document.  In reality I'd prefer to just write on the screen and have it do all the work (Lazy huh!).

This same simplistic press me not click me concept was useful on websites and in most programs, and it was something I found myself missing when I returned to the old clunker PC keyboard and monitor:)

It was at that very PC though that I made the attempt at evolution.  I pushed aside my mouse and connected the Wacom Bamboo.  As I said, it's the side of a mouse pad, so doesn't look out of place until people start questioning why you're running your finger across your mouse pad.

I tried the Bamboo on the right side exactly where the mouse went, and found myself making a few mistakes here and there.

Then I moved it to the centre of the desk, right in front of my keyboard - precisely where you'd find it on your Laptop.  This allowed for two hand operation - easier drag and drop was the key advantage to that.

After a few weeks, I'm now very well used to the multi-touch zoom, right click (tap two fingers) and even single finger drag and drop (double tap and hold on the second tap).

The Bamboo, like the Fujitsu Lifebook and Asus EeePC comes with a pen too, which was useful, but I think more for design work and such, I don't think we'll all be moving away from our mouse and toward a touch pen any time soon.

So, what have these two weeks taught me?

Touch is the future - have no doubt.

How will it work? That will be an evolution of its own. I can't see the majority picking up a Wacom Bamboo to replace their mouse.  However, if you are looking for an alternative - perhaps you get wrist injuries from constant mouse use, or you prefer the way you navigate on a laptop - if that's the case, the Bamboo will impress.  In some areas, the Bamboo can cut the drag/click time dramatically.  However in others, I 'feel' (without a stopwatch study it's just a gut feel) like it's taking me longer - mainly in the more precise drag and drop motions.

For your computer hardware or notebook, the touch screen itself WILL become standard - That I can be sure of.  Your desktop screen will sit within reach and you will simply reach out and touch the application you want, the photo you want, zoom where you want.

How you interface with it outside of that (typing, clicking, tapping) is another whole area!

Would love to know what you think, what your experiences with alternative or new technologies like this have been and where you think we're going when it comes to interfacing with your PC's?

Comment below, and you cal follow me on Twitter @trevorlong