Using a Touchscreen LCD monitor as standalone display?

[Xtrykr]

Hi, I came across a feature in Windows Vista called Sideshow that allows you to display alternative or separate information from what is displayed on the primary display.

I am thinking about getting a 7" touch screen LCD to be used for this Sideshow feature, but was wondering how the touch screen panel works when I already have a mouse and keyboard plugged in for my primary desktop (essentially I will have 2 seperate desktops, my main one which I will do stuff on and gaming, and a smaller desktop that will display the sideshow components). Can someone walk me through this? Thanks!

[Luke122]

The touchscreen will function as a mouse, but will should cause no problems if you already have a mouse attached.

If you move the mouse, you'll see the cursor move (obviously), but if you use the touchscreen, the cursor will move also. You can actually fight for control of the cursor this way.. it's the same as adding two mice to the same computer.

Most touchscreens have a seperate USB connection for the touch interface, so you can just leave it unplugged, and use it strictly as a display. :)

[Redundant]

Actually, Luke, the Sideshow feature of Vista doesn't use a mouse.

Try reading Microsoft's documentation on it (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/sideshow.mspx). It's quite good.

[Xtrykr]

Yeah, thats sorta a new feature with sideshow is that it operates independant of your primary desktop, that being said, I wanted to know if anyone had any experience using it and if so, whether or not the touchscreen will only affect the "sideshow" desktop and not the primary desktop and vice-versa for my regular mouse, etc. My ultimate goal is to have the LCD touchscreen to be my MP3 player (or control WMP or Winamp), meanwhile being able to play games in full screen without having to alt-tab back and forth etc. Of curse, I would be using much more than just the Winamp, but thats just an example of the potential uses.