Users of touch-enabled computers running Windows 7 are bound to notice that one element of the operating system’s functionality is missing from their machines.
Microsoft
confirmed that computers for which touch screens are used as the main interaction model, such as Tablet PCs or slates, do not feature support for auto-hiding the Windows 7 Taskbar.
However, this detail is not really a bug, and instead it’s more of a feature. The Redmond company’s explanation is that whereas it’s simple to un-hide the taskbar using a keyboard or a mouse, it’s less simple and even impossible to do the same with a finger or a pen.
“Windows 7 PCs with touch screen support, such as Tablet PCs, can run into scenarios where the effective border area is reduced to a point to prevent restoration of the taskbar when auto-hide has been enabled,” the software giant stated.
In this case, Microsoft has taken the decision to disable the functionality altogether, instead of risking having customers unable to bring the Taskbar back on the surface.
“Auto-hiding of the taskbar is not supported on Tablet PCs where only touch or pen screen input is being utilized with no keyboard or mouse,” the company explained.
“Enabling auto-hide can result in the taskbar being minimized beyond the boundary of the touch screen area. This may be more apparent after configuring the Calibration option that can be found under Control Panel->Tablet PC Settings.
“Calibration can further reduce the touch screen surface area around the border of the display to exclude the range needed to activate and restore the hidden taskbar.”
This to me however, is another example of why Windows 7 is not really right for Tablet PCs, UI-wise, a concern that I have expressed to Microsoft employees on various occasions.
If the company is to indeed
tailor Windows 8 to slates, it needs to offer customers a new approach in terms of the graphical user interface.
What kind of approach? Well, one in which they won’t feel like they’re using the finger as a replacement for the mouse.
“To deactivate the auto-hiding of the taskbar, open Control Panel and select Taskbar and Start Menu. Under the Taskbar tab, deselect the Auto-Hide the taskbar option. Note: The default setting for this option in Windows 7 is disabled,” the software giant added.
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