The debate over resistive vs. capacitive technology in touchscreens is getting old, but still has relevance today. Initially, it was as easy as asking yourself whether you wanted to use a stylus or your finger for interacting with a device. However, refinements in sensitivity of resistive touchscreens in combination with interfaces that are optimized for finger interaction have proved that capacitive touchscreens won't take over the mobile world anytime soon.
Microsoft recently made it clear that they'll offer Windows Mobile 6.5 for non-touchscreen phones and resistive touchscreen phones, while Windows Mobile 7 will be geared towards capacitive touchscreen phones. We think that's a great move by the Redmond camp, as it eradicates most issues on the table. Of course, there's the chance that buyers will be confused if both WinMo 6.5 and WinMo 7 phones will be marketed as "Windows Phones", but we assume there'll be a new brand for WinMo 7 phones to avoid that (hopefully not Pink, though, it needs to be something futuristic yet obvious to the consumer's eye).
In the debate over resistive vs. capacitive technology, we simply then choose to agree with Microsoft: It's the overall solution you're buying that should decide whether or not you go for a resistive or capacitive touchscreen phone. On a technological level, the debate is no longer valid.
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