Microsoft to Roll Out Ribbon Again for Windows 8

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[citation][nom]schmich[/nom]It's probably to make things a bit more touch friendly. But yeah, I've never been a fan of the ribbon.[/citation]
Totally a good point. If they dumb it all down to icons, they can reproduce the same interface on mobile, tablets, PC, etc... Still an IT training nightmare.
 
I actually doubt that those of you who "hate" the ribbon actually took the time to learn and use it. On average the number of clicks to the same functionality is reduced by over 30% - that's a fact. They bring together similar functionality and are dynamic - they adjust to the current context. Please only criticize things you understand and have actually tried to use more than a simple look. Also, its only a frigg'n toolbar, nothing that important to negate an entire OS.
 
I know the ribbon is not popular, but if setup correctly like Autodesk did for AutoCAD it is useful. AutoCAD's ribbon changes features automatically depending on what type of object or type of drafting you are doing. Considering if you used individual icons you could fill a screen with just menus and still need more space this helps alot.
 
Ribbon takes too much space
It's alright in the office programs but most things it seems way too large. Toolbar serves same purpose with the same ease but takes up way less space.
 
Ribbons are fine after you get used to them, you just have to take time to learn where everything is - just like you did with text menus. Only thing is that was so long ago, you probably think you were born knowing how to use them. That and people hate change, what else is new.

Using the same icon for every action, however, makes no sense. Someone must have decided orange donuts are pretty, however it would be much better to have recognizable icons for familiar actions. Form over function, and the form honestly isn't that great.
 
As a lot of people have already said here, once you have actually USED the ribbon for more than just one "try" - it becomes clear that the ribbon actually helps you work faster. Sure - things are in a different place - sheeeeze, welcome to Progress!!!!

And I'm sure the orange donuts are just filler icons for now, each button will have the corresponding folder/command icon like windows has now.
 
As schmich and ubercake mentioned, this is touch friendly. It helps them have one version of menus for all of their devices. And again, like everything else we've heard about Windows 8, it doesn't appear to be geared specifically toward desktops.
 
Windows Explorer isn't a particularly good file management tool anyway. I think they need to separate the tool you use to browse and navigate around your computer and the file management tool.

It's pretty sad when you have to download a free 3rd party tool or go to the command line to work with files. And I'm not talking about copying a few files here and there but more serious work with the file system and files.
 
At this point, I do not think that the "Ribbon" interface makes improvements in the "ease of use" area. From my personal experience, all I can presently say is that it looks different, but is not easier to use - IMHO.
 
[citation][nom]of the way[/nom]As schmich and ubercake mentioned, this is touch friendly. It helps them have one version of menus for all of their devices. And again, like everything else we've heard about Windows 8, it doesn't appear to be geared specifically toward desktops.[/citation]
Mouse pointer on the desktop will always be smaller than your touch on a smartphone.
Why would they sacrifice the usability on the desktop just to make it compatible with the mobile OS?
 
oh thank god I'm out of school and no longer have to use that piece of #$*%. finding things that I needed to use, was like trying to find a needle in a haystack
 
[citation][nom]mythostd[/nom]I know the ribbon is not popular, but if setup correctly like Autodesk did for AutoCAD it is useful. AutoCAD's ribbon changes features automatically depending on what type of object or type of drafting you are doing. Considering if you used individual icons you could fill a screen with just menus and still need more space this helps alot.[/citation]
a) I immediately switched the toolbars in ACadE back to buttons and menus. b) World's dumbest idea is to change the layout based on usage. Guaranteed way to have no clue where anything ever is.

Yes I've tried the ribbon multiple times. I've *tried* to like Office 2007, I wanted to. But the ribbon is completely unintuitive unless you're a moron that has the memory of a gnat. They do everything wrong. Menus and whatnot at least are linearly laid out so you can "scan" them like a book. The ribbon scatters everything all over the place, has different sized icons, strange grouping choices, etc etc. Like playing a sick version of "Where's Waldo?" whenever you want to switch to double spacing.
 
Note that the ribbon won't actually look as shown in the pics. MS use the orange doughnut as a placeholder before the actual graphic icons are included.

I'm actually a fan of the ribbon. It's more intuitive than uniform toolbars everywhere, there are at least different shapes for you to orient yourself around and it does a decent job of scaling horizontally. When you have so much functionality to present, the ribbon is an innovative and simple way of getting to what you want. I guess there's a learning curve, but it's pretty gentle.
 
[citation][nom]billybob9000[/nom]Note that the ribbon won't actually look as shown in the pics. MS use the orange doughnut as a placeholder before the actual graphic icons are included.I'm actually a fan of the ribbon. It's more intuitive than uniform toolbars everywhere, there are at least different shapes for you to orient yourself around and it does a decent job of scaling horizontally. When you have so much functionality to present, the ribbon is an innovative and simple way of getting to what you want. I guess there's a learning curve, but it's pretty gentle.[/citation]

Why can't they just scale our well know menu bar? Why lay things out in big icons (for desktop)?
 
I don't mind were Microsoft is going with using Windows 8 alpha builds as a 'testing' ground for possible new features. However, like they did with Aero, I honestly think MS needs to take the step to guarantee two interfaces especially in the case of using a Ribbon style design. I honestly don't think it will be a positive addition to an OS of any sort, but it could have its usefulness I suppose. Hell I didn't like what they did with Explorer from just Vista to Windows 7, threw me off completely. Allow two designs (possibly three), including Aero, Aero Basic, and this one if that's the case. Took me 4 years to get used to Office 2007's ribbon interface, but now I love it, then again that's a software not an entire operating system.
 
Hate the ribbons - clunky, not organized efficiently, takes up too much space. Basically they were created for beginners. Hopefully there will be an option to remove it.
 
Microsoft's been working on a Tick-Tock model just like Intel, but theirs is a Good-Bad OS cycle instead. ME -> XP -> Vista -> 7

8 is gonna suck...
 
[citation][nom]vittau[/nom]Microsoft's been working on a Tick-Tock model just like Intel, but theirs is a Good-Bad OS cycle instead. ME -> XP -> Vista -> 78 is gonna suck...[/citation]
So in your perspective Windows 98 was good and 95 was bad.
 
If the user interface is going to undergo such a major change I hope they include the option of use an optional interface for anyone who isn't interested in relearning how to use a computer.

Such a radical change isn't going to go over well for a large part of the user population. Especially those that don't have a good working relationship with their current computer. This type of upgrade would just pile on an extra problem for many.
 
The ribbon is horrible. In fact, I hate anything that substitutes the menu bar. First thing I do with any application is turn on the menu bar if it's off.
 
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