Surface Capacitive Seems to be a better option. Here's why.
Credit goes out to tru-vumonitors.com
Wire Resistive
Touch is the most widely used touch technology today. A resistive touch screen monitor is composed of a glass panel and a film screen, each covered with a thin metallic layer, separated by a narrow gap. When a user touches the screen, the two metallic layers make contact, resulting in electrical flow. The point of contact is detected by this change in voltage.
Advantages:
Can be activated with virtually any object (finger, stylus, gloved hand, pen, etc.)
Has tactile feel
Lowest cost touch technology
Low power consumption
Resistant to surface contaminants and liquids (dust, oil, grease, moisture)
Disadvantages:
Lower image clarity compared to other touch technologies
Outer polyester film is vulnerable to damage from scratching, poking and sharp objects
Surface Capacitive
are the second most popular type of touch screens on the market. In a surface
capacitive touch screen monitor, a transparent electrode layer is placed on top of a glass panel, and covered by a protective cover. When an exposed finger touches the monitor screen, it reacts to the static electrical capacity of the human body; some of the electrical charge transfers from the screen to the user.
This decrease in capacitance is detected by sensors located at the four corners of the screen, allowing the controller to determine the touch point. Capacitive touch screens can only be activated by the touch of human skin or a stylus holding an electrical charge.
Advantages:
Better image clarity than Resistive Touch
Durable screen
Excellent resistance to surface contaminants and liquids (dust, oil, grease, water droplets)
High scratch resistance
Disadvantages:
Requires bare finger or capacitive stylus for activation
Sensitivity to EMI/RFI
