Yesterday, we’ve seen Asus starting pre-order of its PQ321 31.5-inch 4K monitor at $3,500. Following the footsteps of Asus, Sharp has also introduced its ultra-HD monitor. And guess what? It’s a touchscreen 4K monitor.

The whole screen of Sharp PN-K322B is just 36mm thick and the panel itself uses edge-mounted LED backlighting. The monitor uses IGZO technology, which Sharp co-developed. It uses a different active layer, Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide, for smaller pixels, among other things. This touchscreen display supports up to 10 fingers simultaneously, while the screen pushes out 300 cd/m2 brightness.

Connectivity includes two HDMI and one DisplayPort (supports up to 3,840 x 2,160 @ 60p resolution, and HDMI gets the same resolution, but only at 30p). There’s also twin 2W speakers for audio, and USB for hooking up the touchscreen.

Sharp is yet to confirm pricing for the new PN-K322B. But it is expected to carry a decent premium over the Asus display. Sharp’s production plans for this monitor is only 250 units in a month. Check the press release below for more.

Press Release

Sharp to Introduce PN-K322B Touchscreen LCD Monitor

Accurate Onscreen Handwritten Text Input and Multi-Touch Operation on an Ultra-High-Resolution 4K Display

Sharp PN-K322B Touchscreen LCD Monitor

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market a new 32-inch-class LCD monitor, the PN-K322B. This professional-use monitor features an originally developed high-sensitivity, high-precision touchscreen and delivers 4K resolution (3,840 × 2,160 pixels)-a level of resolution four times that of full HD.

The PN-K322B is Sharp’s latest ultra-high-definition display. Its high-precision touchscreen allows accurate onscreen handwriting of fine text and lines, with writing performed via a dedicated touch pen with a pen-tip width of just 2 mm. The display also supports multi-touch operation.

Thanks to IGZO technology and an edge-lit LED backlight, the PN-K322B boasts a slender profile with a thickness of just 36 mm*2-the thinnest in its class. An included stand allows the monitor to slide easily between two angles depending on the application: vertical for viewing the monitor or low-angle for onscreen writing and touchscreen operation.

The PN-K322B features a palm cancellation function that prioritizes pen input even when the user’s hand is resting on the touchscreen. Input connectors on the PN-K322B are compatible with the latest DisplayPort™ and HDMI™ interface specifications, enabling the monitor to display*3 4K ultra-HD content delivered from a PC via a single-cable connection.

Demand for ultra-high-definition 4K displays is growing for numerous business and professional applications such as graphic and video content creation and editing. To further grow demand for 4K displays, Sharp will propose usage applications in other fields too, such as in customer service applications at retailers and showrooms or in exhibition displays at museums and art galleries.

Product name Touchscreen LCD monitor
Model name PN-K322B
Suggested retail price Open
Date of introduction in Japan July 30, 2013
Monthly production 250 units
Major Features

1. 4K high-definition display equipped with an originally developed high-sensitivity, high-precision touchscreen.
2. The industry’s thinnest-profile design and a dedicated “sliding” stand optimized for viewing or onscreen pen/multi-touch operation.
3. Connectivity with PCs via a single cable for displaying 4K data.
*1 IGZO monitors were developed jointly for mass production by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. IGZO and the IGZO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation.
*2 As of July 2, 2013; for 30-inch or larger 4K (3,840 × 2,160 pixels) touchscreen monitors (based on Sharp research).
*3 DisplayPort (Multi-Stream Transport) supports up to 3,840 × 2,160 resolution at a 60p frame rate; HDMI port can support up to 3,840 × 2,160 resolution at a 30p frame rate.
Specifications

Model name PN-K322B
Installation Landscape / Portrait*4
LCD panel Screen size 32-inch-class widescreen (80.1 cm diagonal) IGZO LCD
Backlight LED (edge lit)
Max. resolution
(Max. display colors) 3,840 x 2,160 pixels
(Approx. 1.07 billion colors)
Brightness 300 cd/m2
Active screen area
(W x H) 698 x 393 mm
Touchscreen Touch technology Capacitive touch
Communication USB serial
Multi touch 10 points
Supported OS Windows® 8*5, Windows® 7, Windows Vista®*6, Windows® XP*6
Input terminals DisplayPort DisplayPort x 1
HDMI HDMI x 2
Audio 3.5 mm-diameter mini stereo jack x 1
RS-232C 3.5 mm-diameter mini jack x 1 (conversion cable included)
Output terminal Audio 3.5 mm-diameter mini stereo jack x 1
Speaker output 2W + 2W
Power supply 100V AC, 50/60 Hz (when using the supplied AC adaptor)
Power consumption 97W*7 / 91 W*8
Operating temperature / humidity 5°C to 35°C / 20% to 80% RH (no condensation)
Dimensions (approx.) 750 W x 36 D x 441 H mm (without stand)
750 W x 390–575 D x 207–493 H mm (with stand)
Weight (approx.) 9.0 kg (without stand) / 16.0 kg (with stand)
*4 Portrait installation not supported when used with the stand.
*5 Supports Finger-only mode.
*6 Mouse operation only.
*7 When using the supplied AC adaptor.
*8 When using the monitor in DC 19.5V.
• Windows and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
• DisplayPort is a registered trademark of the Video Electronics Standards Association.
• HDMI is a trademark or registered trademark of HDMI Licensing, LLC.

Source: Engadget

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