APC_Australia_Issue_442_June_2017

superguide » 2-in-1 tips & tricks
Most 2-in-1s simply fold
the screen back through
360°, which gives a range
of different ways to
position the device.
While most 2-in-1s use
Windows 10, there are
some Chrome OS-based
devices available.
For 2-in-1 with a
detachable screen,
you can actually use
them gate to gate on
domestic flights,
unlike laptops which
need to be stowed.
2-in-1 tips & tricks: how to
use your hybrid effectively
Lindsay Handmer rolls up his sleeves and shows how these once clunky
convertibles are now brimming with tricks.
Once unrefined and hard to use,
2-in-1 laptops are now four or
five generations along and
offer some pretty compelling
advantages. The most common designs
either detach the screen or fold it back
through 360°. Hybrids offer the best of
both worlds — a physical keyboard and
trackpad for getting complex work
done, and a tablet-like experience for
working with the touchscreen, use in
limited space or just for relaxing.
Upgrade your
touchscreen
experience with a
stylus for writing,
drawing or just
accurate navigation.
50 www.apcmag.com
We’ve focused on Windows 10 devices,
but there are a few Chrome OS-based
2-in-1s available, too. It’s not always an
easy transition, so we’ve put together
our top tips for getting the most from
your 2-in-1 device.
EMBRACE TOUCH
After years of using laptops without
touch capabilities, adjusting can be
slow. Many users who dislike touch
have simply never tried it long enough
When in tablet mode, the search function
is often the quickest way to find settings,
especially if using voice commands.
to get past the ‘it feels weird’ part. So
use touch as much as possible, and stick
with it until you figure out what’s truly
easier, and what isn’t.
KNOW THE CLASSIC 2-IN-1 POSES
Intel did a study and found 2-in-1 users
spend around 70% of their time in
normal laptop mode. Approximately
20% of the time, 2-in-1s were used
(detached or folded up) as a tablet.
The final 10% varies depending on
model, split between reversing the
screen, and folding the device into a
‘tent’ shape and using the touchscreen.
TOUCH CAN BE FASTER
EVEN IN LAPTOP MODE
It will seem weird at first, but when
typing, it can actually be faster to reach
for the touchscreen rather than the
trackpad. We use touch for hitting ‘OK’
after entering a password, selecting the
search box, swiping through images,
scrolling, closing a popup or opening an
app from the taskbar.
HOW TO MANUALLY SWITCH
TO TABLET MODE
Tablet mode should turn on by default
when your 2-in-1 is folded or detached.
You can manually enable it, and change
the default actions under ‘Settings >
System > Tablet mode’. You can also turn
it on or off in the Windows Action
Centre (bottom right or ‘Windows-A’).
ORIENTATE YOUR SCREEN
FOR BEST EFFECT
Like a tablet or phone, Windows 10 will
automatically rotate the orientation