The introduction of Windows 8 and its touch screen-friendly features has raised a question for many customers who are considering purchasing a new custom laptop: Is a touch screen monitor on a notebook necessary?

Almost anyone who has used or purchased an iPad or another tablet will tell you that one of the great features of these devices is the intuitive controls of the touch screen, but with a laptop it's not so clear that this feature adds to the experience.

The main issue for notebook owners is that there are already two input devices: A keyboard and mouse. Using these devices provides a lot of control over your computer, such that a touch display would need to add a new dimension that other inputs can't duplicate.

A recent article in CNET discusses a productivity divide between using a mouse and keyboard and interacting with the touch screen on a Windows 8 laptop. The writer found that although a few sites and apps worked well with touch gestures, he found himself reverting to conventional input devices when he actually had intensive tasks to perform.

"Indeed, although I spent plenty of time poking (and tapping) around the Metro UI, I inevitably returned to the Desktop so I could get some actual work done," says CNET writer Rick Boida.

The answer to the question posed above depends largely on how you use your customized laptop. If you use it for media consumption, playing touch-enabled games and taking advantage of the convertible tablet feature (assuming it has one), then touch interaction makes sense. But if you're largely performing work tasks, or using processor-intensive programs like games, it may make more sense to upgrade to a MacBook Pro 13" Retina Laptop instead and take advantage of its cutting edge Apple technology. For more information, check out the PortableOne online store.