Cross platform user experience (1)

When using my tablet with a touch input (e.g., finger) it is sometimes helpful to touch a menu (e.g., forums) and have the submenu drop down and stay there (except when I just want to activate the forum list since there is no such command in the submenu). However on a computer with thouch pad or mouse, moving the cursor from one place to another (rather than pausing over or clicking on the menu item) sometimes activates the submenu and creates an obtacle that interferes with viewing the contents of the screen (E.g., activating the Alerts menu shows all the recent alerts. However this box does not disappear when using the scroll bar on the window. It seems to only disappear if there a click or text entry in that window. This makes viewing posts difficult or requires an additionl action to make the list go away.

While a common interface/interaction cross-platform helps with use on multiple devices, this seems a place where device specific differences should be introduced/maintained/accomodated.

An additional issue that seems common to multiple platforms. Say I go to the Beers of Fame list (or I'm follow a link from a beer a beer style page to get information about suggested storage or food). I start at the top of the page and must scroll down almost the full length of the page to find the desired information. E.g., when on the beers of Fame list one must scroll past well over 100 beers on the list to find the menu that provides links to other lists. (e.g., the Pennsyvalnia list.) However on at least one device my Avatar disappears when the scrolling starts and then pops back into visibility.