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96 Comments
- Gizza, on 10/12/2007, -12/+114I honestly think the ribbon UI is just about the best thing Microsoft have every done. Office 2007 is a charm to use compared to previous versions. Not only was the things i normally do easier, but i found features i didnt even know existed.
As for the size of it - get a decent bloody monitor. At 1280x1024 on a 17" lcd (which isnt even considered large these days) the ribbon doesnt take up to much room at all. In fact its only a couple of toolbars larger than the old menu anyways. - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -24/+88"and....people would buy a hundred dollar office system...why?"
... Because they want to get some work done! Don't give me that OpenOffice crap. I use Office every day, and I'm sure as hell not going to lose functionality for a couple hundred measly dollars. - kevincannon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+65The article title is completely inaccurate. The author is wearing their bias without shame.
The proper title of this should be "Office UI Designers do their job by offering various UI modes based on beta testing"
Changing a UIs behaviour during beta stage is perfectly normal, and acceptable. They did not 'back down' their just offering more options for users. The Office 2007 UI is a huge improvement over previous versions of Office and this title is just misleading. It's not even news.
If you want actual facts go here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/04/17/577485.aspx - deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -6/+54It's too bad Microsoft has to half ass everything. I didn't like the ribbon UI at first but after trying it out I was impressed. It annoys me that every MS product design ends up getting watered down because of all the office worker drones who can't be bothered to spend 5 minutes learning a more productive UI. In my experience, auto-hide features are confusing and difficult to support over the phone.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+46Notice how manmy numbskulls here cant read?
THE RIBBON IS NOT GOING - FEEDBACK IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE ABOUT THE RIBBON. THEY ARE SIMPLY ADDING AN OPTION TO MINIMIZE IT WHEN NOT IN USE!!!
So many ***** eager to jump on an anti MS rant (like the author with the 'backing down' crap) - dirka, on 10/12/2007, -1/+30Takes up too much room? Are people getting nuttier or am i taking to many crazy pills? everything is now within the ribbon, so you don't have to have toolbars on the bottom, left, right, and top of all your documents and go searching everytime you want to find something.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+26I love it. I don't think it's getting watered down though.. they are just going to allow the user to set it to auto-hide when not in use. Sounds fine to me.
- MikeSD34, on 10/12/2007, -3/+28Yea I have to say, after trying it out I thought it was absolutely wonderful compared to the old system. My aunt was over and had to use the computer, and she used it. She's pretty computer illiterate but picked it all up right away.
It's simple to use, innovative, and it gets the job done without confusing the hell out of the user. Where is the problem? - Cerebral, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26I'll tell you what... after booting up the Beta I noticed 2 things immediately:
1. Microsoft may finally break the 80/20 stigmata that has plagued office forever. BTW 80/20 simply means that 80% of the time you only use 20% of the software's features. I actually thing that it should be more like 90/5. This rule will finally be broken simply because the ribbon makes it so you no longer have to search through menus to do what you want to do. e.g. Conditional Formatting, formulas broken down by category visually, Styles, Mail Merge, merge and center [excel], freezing panes, grouping... and more are just one click away.
2. People will actually want to experiment with their documents. Right now because of the fact that everything is buried within menus and sub menus people do not want to try new things because they will not remember how they did that or how to change it now. All of the options are there in front of you.
I will also say there are a couple of things I do not like about the ribbon. It is not customizable. I want there to be another heading that is la bled "custom" where I can place things I like all under one heading. Also I want to place things that are not on the ribbon under that as well. Also there is no PRINT PREVIEW BUTTON! WTF where did it go? I don't want to have to click on the circle, print, print preview. They have made leaps and bounds for other things however this they kill? There is a page layout view but that is not the same.
I am very excited about the 07 product. I believe that everyone now will be able to finally create those Power Point presentations where every slide and every text that comes onto the slide will have a different transition.... Thank you Microsoft. - mike_p, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Here's a video that shows you how the ribbon UI is used... great examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ObjBkwApQ - mike_p, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19You're right... but ultimately the everyday users lack the drive to learn a new interface.
From the videos I've seen, i think the ribbon UI is fantastic. - sfox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18I think the ribbon is great addition to office. Especially with a program like excel, where most users previously had no idea of the extra capabilities.
- Jugalator, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16"It's too bad Microsoft has to half ass everything."
How does *adding* an option to optionally have ribbons be hidden when not in use (yes, omg, they're still there to 100%) half-ass anything at all? They're improving them to help users that *want* to, to conserve space. This is similar to auto-hiding the task bar if you wish.
"I, for one, am glad to see it go,"
RTFA. - Phoenixxx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14I Don't understand why the title says "Microsoft Backs Down" - I'm no MS lover but surely listening to some of there users is building from criticism and NOT backing down?
More to the point from the sounds of things in the next release BOTH options will be available.
I dont understand digg user sometimes.
If any other app vendor changed their layout after listening to users comments I'm sure the title of this post would be very different. - nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14THEY'RE NOT TAKING THE RIBBONS OUT.
All they're doing is giving users the OPTION to have the Ribbon hide itself when not in use. I assume by default this option will not be selected. - Monkeyget, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Ribbon does NOT take more space than previous versions:
"Excel 97 document area: 1004 x 581 pixels
Excel 2007 document area: 1008 x 534 pixels"
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/04/17/577485.aspx - canadiense, on 10/12/2007, -7/+18I spend 45 minutes a day in traffic (to and from work). I spent around $40K on my car that gets me back and forth. Thousands of people have worked to engineer my car to what it is today. I could have bought a Lada for under $10K, but I didn't.
I sit in front of my computer 8-12 hours per day. Thousands of people worked to engineer the Office system I see today on my computer. I may have done a few things a little differently with the new office, but after beta testing for the past 3 or 4 months, I like it. I could use OpenOffice for free, but I don't. - dangermouse75, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Here's a screenshot: http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/office/images/preview/ui/UI_2_800x114.jpg
- omatsei, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Once you use the ribbon on a few documents, you'll never want the traditional system again.
- omatsei, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9No, they gave them the OPTION of having the ribbon auto-hide... not selecting UI's. I'm glad they're taking a stance against the traditional UI, as it was adequate and serviceable back in 1995, but now, it's just slow and unappealing.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Yeah, it seems like they are moving forward, not backing down.
- kevincannon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8mike_p - the whole reason for the Ribbon is precisely that. The Ribbon means people don't have to learn a new interface or wade through tons of sub menus to find an action.
I guess it comes down to whether you believe in taking on step back for 3 steps forwrad. Personally I think that you'll never innovate without pissing a few people off. But on the whole this is better. Office couldn't continue to grow without this redesign. It might be a little bumpy, but if you look at it beyond the short term, it's obvious it's a good choice. - s73ve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8i find office 2007 much better than any previous edition.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Maybe you need some eye drops.. and get rid of your CRT monitor.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8..They aren't 'watering it down'. Did you read the article?
"Despite the change, Microsoft remains committed to using the ribbon interface" - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I don't even like Microsoft and think that ribbon is pretty neat.
- folletto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9The Ribbon UI is a great effort and has been build with attention in every detail, by competent people. And this is a huge plus for the next Office, at this time, versus any other software. Microsoft followed the right direction and made it in the right way.
The article is completely biased, as already stated and the title is the worse part of it.
That was a *feature*, that has been just redesigned in the last beta iteration and that was already present before. Also, "hiding" something doesn't mean it's too big or it's wrong, since the Ribbon doesn't waste more space than the previous chaotic toolbar setup.
Check the official Office blog for this (as someone already linked):
http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archive/2006/07/20/672345.aspx
Where the author (Jensen Harris) says:
"Anyway, we got a lot of feedback in Beta 2 that the collapsed Ribbon was a great idea in principle, but that it didn't work very well in the real world. So, we dug in and did a number of features designed to make working with the Ribbon collapsed a better experience."
And that's all. - wastern, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9it said NOTHING about removing it. marked as inaccurate
- theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Just double click the active tab to hide it.. I believe there's also a shortcut key.
- Grimdotdotdot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Which you (currently) can't, neither would you want to.
I was skeptical of the ribbon when I started using 2007 about a month ago (anyone can sign up for a beta trial), but it's so good that you'll never want to go back. - woodwater, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I'm really sick of people halting the progress of UI design in the name of stupidity.
Microsoft should copy something else from APPLE. The "Yes we just completely changed the way this or that works and you'll just have to get used to it and trust us on this." side.
The ribbon is amazing. - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Anyway, you can change the color theme to any color of the rainbow if you don't like the default blue.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8No, they listened to the complaints of the beta testers. This is a good thing, as there must have been problems.
- MattM462, on 10/12/2007, -13/+19Amen to that Gizza
- peteremcc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7um... did anybody actually bother reading the article?
"However, in the next technical refresh of the Office 2007 beta, users can set the ribbon to automatically minimise whenever it is not being used, effectively making the ribbon headings look like traditional menus. (Windows has long offered a similar auto-hide option for the taskbar.)" - Acrion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I've started using Office 95 about 11 years ago. This is a drastic change. I have difficulty finding old options, often cursing and wishing I had my old toolbars back. I'd prefer an option to bring back old toolbars, they have them in Outlook and InfoPath Beta 2. I'm more for the toolbars that appear when you've highlighted text (or a cell) in Word and Excel.
Five people that I've helped install the beta find Ribbons to be the best thing since leaving screen mode zero. - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Tried actually using it? Biggest boon to productivity since Office 95.
- Jugalator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Ribbons are still there as usual. This is actually about them *adding* a new feature to auto-hide them if you wish to conserve screen space even further. It's not about Microsoft cancelling the ribbon concept and turning them into menus or something crazy like that. Heck, you can most likely still even choose to *not* auto-hide this if you don't like it, and then there won't be any difference from before.
- Jugalator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"as long as i can choose to have either the ribbon or the traditional layout."
You won't be able to. It's ribbons only in Office 2007, and in this case optionally auto-hiding ribbons, but it's still ribbons. - Airspeeder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4What's wrong with the blue? Looks good and is easy on the eyes.
Or would you prefer a gray? - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Alt f+x still works. (just tested it)
If you like to use alt, you'll love the ribbon. You can use alt to access any function on the ribbon, and when you press alt, a tiny tooltip comes up over each item to show you what a key press will do.
You may also want to look at winkey+ shortcuts. I.E. winkey+r = run, winkey+f = find, etc. winkey+r is especially great for launching your browser at a url.
The Ribbon is hard to explain, but i've never seen a person who did not fall in love with it immediately after using it. I was originally a skeptic too, but it really is a thing of beauty. I get my procrastinating done in half the time now! - omatsei, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I agree... but the difference is that in Office 97, you have the options of removing toolbars to increase the view of the document. With the Ribbon in Office 2007, it's impossible to decrease the size of the Ribbon (up until now).
- Xinex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree, the Ribbon is really good, and really made doing things easier. I wonder if they could shrink and expand it based on the resolution of the screen because on my 1280x1024 it works perfectly.
- McMultiverse, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The ribbon concept was nice, but the execution needed just a bit more work. I was pretty impressed by the Office team's willingness to change, and hope that they continue to experiment with the interface. Since I'm on a Mac, I don't know when I'll be able to play around with the next version of Office, but I can't wait to see how it translates over to the OS X side of things.
- Cerebral, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Obviously you can see who on this post has not had some time (2 min) with the ribbon. You would not knock it if you had used it.
- juiceman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2As usual Microsoft is dammed if they don't and as we can see dammed if they do... The UI is surprisingly cool. I would love to see it on the CRAPPY ITUNES interface....
- nikkesen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If anyone bitches about Office 2007 without having tried it first, it's their loss.
I love the interface. It takes a little bit of getting use to, but, once you've used it for a couple of hours, it's really nice and simple to use.
Then again, I have a 17" LCD monitor and sit comfortably at 1280x1024...
Even still, I think the ribbon system is quite nice and the menu interface simplifies the task of finding features you need in order to format your document and do your job. - Escamillo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Horribly inaccurate title, which is sadly misinforming (and even disinforming) many readers, and needlessly taking up space here with so many posts feeling the need to "correct" the title.
I'm tempted to do such, but why bother? When Office 2007 comes out, everyone will see what's what. - Joey67, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Wow... I think this thread wins the coveted Digg "Most Comments on an Article Not Read" award. I can see why so many people would think MS ditched the ribbons... with a title like "Microsoft backs down on Office 2007 interface". MS released a beta and they're getting input from users and actually implementing what their users want.
- theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Yes we just completely changed the way this or that works and you'll just have to get used to it and trust us on this."
I'll bet Microsoft wishes they could do this. The problem is that people concerned with getting major client-side IT infrastructure in place actually use Microsoft software and they need to know whether they should be preparing to upgrade. To do that, they need to look at Microsoft's marketing, which means Microsoft needs to have marketing in advance. The plus side is that they get feedback from beta testers too. -
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