Continuum at this point

[Michael Goff]

The Continuum functionality of Windows 10 may be the thing that convinces me to get a Surface Pro. But first I'll need to wait to see:

• Hands-on reviews of Continuum in Win 10 after it has been released
• Surface Pro still being produced
• Apple doesn't offer something comparable

I decided to quote this person to get them here easier, and I also decided to finally get around to giving my hands on review for him that I told him I would. It’s not going to be that long or in-depth. I’m going to focus on what it does right, what it does wrong, and what I’d like it to do. First, though, cones the most basic question.

What does it do?

Not much right now. It gives you tablet mode if you remove the keyboard from a Surface Pro 3. Tablet mode is, right now, of questionable value. Apps are maximized, the top bar is hid, and you can’t click on anything on the desktop. The search area is made smaller and the start menu is full screen. Also, he on screen keyboard comes up for desktop apps.

What does it do right?

It works rather well at the few things it does. The system has a high rate of detection. There isn’t a lot else that it’s supposed to do. Plug in the keyboard and it asks you if you want to exit tablet mode. Plug it back in and it asks if you want to enter it.

What does it do wrong?

It doesn’t auto-detect. It sometimes starts up in desktop mode and sometimes not. Also, if you manually change it, then the system just seems to stop working altogether.

Bonus: Tablet mode issues

It is useless right now. It doesn’t really offer much aside from automatically making apps maximized and the keyboard. It doesn’t even make them full screen by default. I would say that it should make touch targets on the desktop better, but that’d imply you can use them. I guess the issues is really just a single issue. Why should I care about tablet mode?

 

[spinedoc77]

I decided to quote this person to get them here easier, and I also decided to finally get around to giving my hands on review for him that I told him I would. It’s not going to be that long or in-depth. I’m going to focus on what it does right, what it does wrong, and what I’d like it to do. First, though, cones the most basic question.

What does it do?

Not much right now. It gives you tablet mode if you remove the keyboard from a Surface Pro 3. Tablet mode is, right now, of questionable value. Apps are maximized, the top bar is hid, and you can’t click on anything on the desktop. The search area is made smaller and the start menu is full screen. Also, he on screen keyboard comes up for desktop apps.

What does it do right?

It works rather well at the few things it does. The system has a high rate of detection. There isn’t a lot else that it’s supposed to do. Plug in the keyboard and it asks you if you want to exit tablet mode. Plug it back in and it asks if you want to enter it.

What does it do wrong?

It doesn’t auto-detect. It sometimes starts up in desktop mode and sometimes not. Also, if you manually change it, then the system just seems to stop working altogether.

Bonus: Tablet mode issues

It is useless right now. It doesn’t really offer much aside from automatically making apps maximized and the keyboard. It doesn’t even make them full screen by default. I would say that it should make touch targets on the desktop better, but that’d imply you can use them. I guess the issues is really just a single issue. Why should I care about tablet mode?

I don't know if I really like the continuum thing, but I'll reserve judgment until I have used it for some time. I use my "tablet mode" all the time with the keyboard attached, and don't want to be forced into desktop/laptop mode when the keyboard is on, or have to toggle it off every time I remove the keyboard.

 

[maflynn]

I'm a little hesitant to use Windows 10 on my SP3 because its my main machine and I depend on it. I'm not all that sure about Continuum, I personally want to see more on it and see more written about it.

 

[apolloa]

I'm a little hesitant to use Windows 10 on my SP3 because its my main machine and I depend on it. I'm not all that sure about Continuum, I personally want to see more on it and see more written about it.

Well it is still in beta right? So I wouldn't if it was my main computer. Sound like a pretty cool feature though, will be interesting to see how Microsoft develop the idea.

 

[maflynn]

Well it is still in beta right? So I wouldn't if it was my main computer. Sound like a pretty cool feature though, will be interesting to see how Microsoft develop the idea.

Its not even in the beta stage, its been in the technical preview stage. I think the temptation will increase when (if?) they do a consumer preview.

 

[sracer]

I decided to quote this person to get them here easier, and I also decided to finally get around to giving my hands on review for him that I told him I would. It’s not going to be that long or in-depth. I’m going to focus on what it does right, what it does wrong, and what I’d like it to do. First, though, cones the most basic question.

What does it do?

Not much right now. It gives you tablet mode if you remove the keyboard from a Surface Pro 3. Tablet mode is, right now, of questionable value. Apps are maximized, the top bar is hid, and you can’t click on anything on the desktop. The search area is made smaller and the start menu is full screen. Also, he on screen keyboard comes up for desktop apps.

What does it do right?

It works rather well at the few things it does. The system has a high rate of detection. There isn’t a lot else that it’s supposed to do. Plug in the keyboard and it asks you if you want to exit tablet mode. Plug it back in and it asks if you want to enter it.

What does it do wrong?

It doesn’t auto-detect. It sometimes starts up in desktop mode and sometimes not. Also, if you manually change it, then the system just seems to stop working altogether.

Bonus: Tablet mode issues

It is useless right now. It doesn’t really offer much aside from automatically making apps maximized and the keyboard. It doesn’t even make them full screen by default. I would say that it should make touch targets on the desktop better, but that’d imply you can use them. I guess the issues is really just a single issue. Why should I care about tablet mode?

Thank you for that review!

Yeah, I was hoping that going into tablet mode would scale things up to be touch-friendly... and eventually to have apps developed specifically for Windows 10 that would switch dynamically between traditional desktop UI components and Modern UI depending upon if it is attached to a keyboard or not.

So it sounds like there's some potential but needs more time to be "fully cooked".

Thanks again.

 

[MRU]

I've been playing with windows 10 and not sure about continuum. It's good in theory, in practice not so much at present. Likewise it doesn't solve biggest issues with windows and tablets which is third party application support. Those that are broken with anything in the GUI set to 150% are terminally broken with continuum at present. I've been waiting ages for many third party apps to support H-DPI scaling on windows and I think we will be waiting even longer for them to ever support continuum.

It's all good theory - in practice - not so hopeful.

 

[apolloa]

Its not even in the beta stage, its been in the technical preview stage. I think the temptation will increase when (if?) they do a consumer preview.

haha yeah, that temptation for trying something new. I'm stoked Apple making OSX update free means I get Windows 10 free cause I have Windows 7.

 

[Michael Goff]

I don't know if I really like the continuum thing, but I'll reserve judgment until I have used it for some time. I use my "tablet mode" all the time with the keyboard attached, and don't want to be forced into desktop/laptop mode when the keyboard is on, or have to toggle it off every time I remove the keyboard.

All you have to do is toggle it yourself once right now and continuum stops doing anything.

Thank you for that review!

Yeah, I was hoping that going into tablet mode would scale things up to be touch-friendly... and eventually to have apps developed specifically for Windows 10 that would switch dynamically between traditional desktop UI components and Modern UI depending upon if it is attached to a keyboard or not.

So it sounds like there's some potential but needs more time to be "fully cooked".

Thanks again.

No problem.

I'm a little hesitant to use Windows 10 on my SP3 because its my main machine and I depend on it. I'm not all that sure about Continuum, I personally want to see more on it and see more written about it.

This is my only computer. Well, only x86 one. I like to live dangerously....

 

[maflynn]

This is my only computer. Well, only x86 one. I like to live dangerously....

I have other computers, including a MBP, so I could do it, but I'm a little unsure. I may hold off.

 

[spinedoc77]

All you have to do is toggle it yourself once right now and continuum stops doing anything.



No problem.



This is my only computer. Well, only x86 one. I like to live dangerously....

Oh good, it can be turned off. I applaud MS for trying, but there are just too many situations where I use it in tablet mode with the keyboard attached. They need to keep working on truly merging desktop and tablet, which is exactly what they are doing but it's not an easy job.

 

[Michael Goff]

Oh good, it can be turned off. I applaud MS for trying, but there are just too many situations where I use it in tablet mode with the keyboard attached. They need to keep working on truly merging desktop and tablet, which is exactly what they are doing but it's not an easy job.

Even if it I working, it just comes up with something that asks you. It isn't an automated thing.