Annoying Windows Touch Features

AMD A10-9600P · October 30, 2020

My usual AMD A10 laptop has decided it doesn't want me to use it, so I've dug out an older 2014 HP TouchSmart that used to be my number one system, reset it and ordered a second battery to help me get double the battery life for when I use it on the go (it's surprisingly slick to use, even for some light SolidWorks, given that it's got a 2012 i3-3217U, 4GB RAM and an HDD). Using the touchscreen can obviously be pretty convenient, but I find it slightly annoying when Windows enlarges everything a little bit, especially when I'm working in Word or PowerPoint. For example, if I hold my finger on the taskbar to right click, the buttons in the menu are much more filled out than they would be if I just used the mouse. In Office, if I insert a shape and then go to change the thickness of a line, the dropdown menus are larger too. I know this is probably a great feature for most people, but I'd just like to know if it's possible to turn off. Thank you!

GoodBytes · October 30, 2020

No to my knowledge. And you would prefer it the current way (which is still way too small).

A huge problem is that, when you interact with your system, unless you take your time, you miss target your destination by a bit, a lot of times. Now, normally, something like the iPad (and your phone), has fancy algorithm mixed with its touch focused interface to round your touches to the nearest button/link/etc. Modern Windows has this too, however, this only works properly with a touch focused interface. Android and iOS do have that. Notice large padding and margins between items. Notice how a dropdown menu is extra-large. Some items like date selector have things you can scroll on iOS. These things weren't designed just for being nice or different, they serve a purpose. Lots of R&D was put into this.

While, Microsoft has implemented near object detection touch system, but it doesn't work particularly well due to the interface being inadequate where items are too close to each other without actual spacing. So, it works fairly well with UWP native applications and the touch screen keyboard... (especially more so with the coming up release of Windows 10 in 2021) but on desktop applications it really falls flat on its face, like as if it doesn't exist, this includes right-click menus and such of the OS that needs to be reworked. And this is where Windows 10X comes in, but doesn't target Windows 10. It isn't a replacement. Microsoft made it clear that this OS, focus is on low-cost devices (think as an answer to Chromebook), and unique new device form factor, like dual screen foldable PCs. The reason for this, is that as Microsoft mentioned, it has 0 legacy components. So, most or all of your programs won't work. The focus is on using PWA applications (so web based one) or native UWP applications. Microsoft is working on having this module that loads legacy stuff to run legacy desktop applications, but it faces any problems today, and most likely not be ready on day 1, next year. So, I guess you can see it as Windows 10X = Windows RT but this done right, and not half-ass, and has UWP framework, which is a lot more... say... competent.. if you will.... then the old Metro one of Win8 days that was extremely limited and buggy.

Anyway, for Windows 10, today, to make things better, the OS attempts to make things larger to make things easier to use with touch. Still crap, Microsoft knows it, they are not blind, but better. Sadly, it only affects the OS and some programs, not everything due to fact that Windows is too powerful, allowing developers to use their own GUI frameworks instead of Microsoft one, and that leads to Microsoft unable to do anything about it, let alone ensure it won't break stuff.

Now, Office in particular has Touch Mode which can be disabled. If you look at the quick access bat (on teh title bar) you have a button to switch between Mouse and Touch mode.