I'm getting very annoyed at the way Windows behaves differently depending on whether or not it thinks you have a touch screen.
Using the mouse is very clunky and I would like to get the mouse to imitate touch but I cannot find a setting or options to get Windows to behave the way I want it to. what I mean by this is that when you hold down the left mouse button (in a default setup) and move the mouse it should act as if you were touching the screen with a single fingertip.
Example 1: On a touch screen I can swipe from right to left to get the charms to appear, with a mouse I have to bash it down to the bottom corner and wait for the charms to appear. The actions should be the same but they are not.
Example 2: On a touch screen I can swipe the All Apps screen to move left/right. with a mouse I have to click in the scrollbar on the bottom of the screen.
Counter Example 3: Perversely the lock screen works exactly how I'd expect it to. I can swipe with a touch screen and swipe with a mouse.
It's especially annoying on the multi monitor and multi-PC systems I have been using for the last five years.
So is there a way to force Windows 8 to accept mouse input as if it were touch input?
Edit: In case it's a specific mouse/laptop issue I'm using an HP Probook 4540s with a budget Microsoft wired mouse
Update: Please do not suggest keyboard alternatives. I already know what they are. I'm trying to find a way to do things without using the keyboard.
Best Answer
I quite sure that it isn't possible to have a mouse function in the way you wanted it to, unless you could somehow find a pen tablet driver that is compatible with mice as well as tablets while having the same functionality between the two (which I'm quite sure doesn't exist). The closest I'd say you are to getting touchscreen functionality is actually getting a touch screen- or the next best thing, a tablet, like this one here: http://www.wacom.com/products/pen-tablets/bamboo/bamboo-capture. They come in varying sizes and prices, and provide touchscreen-like capabilities. The tablet that I linked to (above) is compatible with Windows Touch input and therefor can be programed to function exactly like a touch display.