Very happy with the SP3, but one annoyance with new keyboard

[ytrewq]

When you have the keyboard propped up with the new magnetic strip, you can't swipe up from the bottom. So, when I'm in the metro IE browser, I would normally swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get to my favorites or switch tabs. With the keyboard in propped up mode (or whatever you call it), I have to un-prop the keyboard to swipe up.

That seems like a quirk someone at MS should have noticed and resolved during testing.

 

[Techno-guy]

Agreed. Love the stability in that up position but did the Microsoft engineers actually try to use the touch screen features of the Surface with the keyboard propped up? Also, the newly placed home button on right side was a terrible design flaw. Major issue when using the pen or even swiping from the right side to get to settings, check the time, etc. I've already hit it numerous times sending me back to home when trying to do something else.

 

[TheJoester09]

When you have the keyboard propped up with the new magnetic strip, you can't swipe up from the bottom. So, when I'm in the metro IE browser, I would normally swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get to my favorites or switch tabs. With the keyboard in propped up mode (or whatever you call it), I have to un-prop the keyboard to swipe up.

That seems like a quirk someone at MS should have noticed and resolved during testing.

Yeah, it doesn't seem like they thought that through very well, but here's a tip: tap on the trackpad with two fingers at once, and that emulates a right-click/swipe from the bottom.

 

[Coreldan]

Swipe down from the top, it does the same thing. I got so used to swiping from up that i still use it, even if the animation is silly then (as it appears from bottom now). I dont remember when they changed it, but I had had my first gen RT for long enough to never learn out of it, since it still worked anyways.

 

[manicottiK]

Yes, swiping up from the bottom and down from the top have always done the same thing. (Left and right are different. Go figure.)

 

[acsn]

Swipe from top as others have mentioned works too in when in the Metro UI.

 

[ytrewq]

Well, that solves that issue! Now I just have to remember -- I've gotten pretty used to swiping from the bottom.

 

[kristalsoldier]

Of course, if you are in the desktop space, then there is a bit of a problem trying to open up apps/ programs that are pinned to the taskbar!

 

[jedge]

Of course, if you are in the desktop space, then there is a bit of a problem trying to open up apps/ programs that are pinned to the taskbar!

Unlock the taskbar and double it's height. With such a high resolution you won't be bothered with the extra space it takes up, and it'll be easier to tap the icons... at least the ones on the top row. Or just move the whole thing to the side.
Also while you are in the Taskbar settings, tell it to only combine when the taskbar is full. I like a clean ui as much as anyone, but this one change makes it a lot easier to see and switch between your open apps.

 

[kristalsoldier]

Unlock the taskbar and double it's height. With such a high resolution you won't be bothered with the extra space it takes up, and it'll be easier to tap the icons... at least the ones on the top row. Or just move the whole thing to the side.
Also while you are in the Taskbar settings, tell it to only combine when the taskbar is full. I like a clean ui as much as anyone, but this one change makes it a lot easier to see and switch between your open apps.

Thanks. Will give it a shot. I am also finding that the high resolution is making everything on the desktop really small and sometimes difficult to read - though I do have weak eyes. Any way to increase the size of things like text on menus etc.?

 

[karinto]

If you're using the keyboard, you can also use the Win+Z shortcut.