Download a document that highlights the touch capabilities of Windows 7

Oct 5, 2011 11:07 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8 tablets have yet to reach the market, and it will still take a while before they do, however, Windows 7 slates are already here. And Microsoft is ready to lend a helping hand to those users that want some extra guidance to make the best out of their devices.

For them, “Windows 7 on a Slate Device” guidance is available as a free download from the software giant. The document is designed to highlight the touch capabilities of Windows 7 as well as Internet Explorer 9.

“Windows Touch is a feature of Windows 7 that when installed on a slate PC, changes the user interface from pointing and clicking to touch and tap. To launch programs and open documents, you tap; to scroll through web pages and lists, you pan the screen by touching and dragging the page with either one or two fingers,” Microsoft explains.

As far as I’m concerned, and I said this on a number of occasions, Windows 7’s user interface is not tailored to touch input.

Users will be left struggling to replicate mouse clicks using their fingers, and are bound to get frustrated by the NUI shortcomings of Windows 7 extremely fast.

Microsoft claims otherwise, but this is just one of those situations where the Redmond company is wrong.

“Using Windows 7 Professional on a slate PC keeps you productive, entertained, and connected, no matter where you are. Whether you are working on a Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentation, communicating on Microsoft Lync, or browsing the web, the control is at your fingertips with a single device,” the software giant said.

Now, Windows 8’s NUI + GUI is another thing altogether. The interface of Windows 8 is indeed tailored to touch by default, and it’s simply a pleasure to use it with your fingers.