A lot of times, touch events are treated as mouse events, but it varies. A true touch API is obviously preferable if you want to take advantage of features unique to touch interfaces.
Check the
Java JSR list. There may be a JSR for touchscreen input. In that case, you can shop for a device that implements it.
The secret of how to be miserable is to constantly expect things are going to happen the way that they are "supposed" to happen.
You can have faith, which carries the understanding that you may be disappointed. Then there's being a willfully-blind idiot, which virtually guarantees it.