Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Exactly. First time users of the ribbon who are accustomed to older versions of Office don't like it (usually), but after time most find it easier to use (if they try and stop complaining). Those that use Office 2007 having not used a previous version prefer the ribbon over the standard toolbar (in my experience).

I have to admit that I haven't used anything with the ribbon UI yet, but I probably would hate it at first glance too. I certainly don't like what I've seen in the screenshots.

That said, you're absolutely right. When people complain, it does make them sound old. I'm definitely not old, but I'm sure I would sound like it if I started complaining about innovation. That's why I try to keep my mouth shut until I've given something a fair shot.

People spend time getting used to something, so they aren't happy when it changes drastically. It's the same reason so many people won't move to Vista (and probably won't move to Windows 7 either). Most people become really familiar with computers while using XP.

What?

There are some serious interface problems with the ribbon, that ye olde drop-down menus/toolbar don't have. Here's just a short list:

Ribbons are not customizable.
Features are available depending on what ribbon tab you are on.
Size of ribbon options is not dependent on what YOU need, but what someone decided you need.
Ribbons do not scale nicely to a narrow screen.

Ribbons are not the evil being I once thought they were, but for every bit of usability that they provide, they seem to take away two.

Excuse me, what?

Yes the ribbon is not "customizable", but at the same time, neither is your drop-down menu. The tool tips are, but that's not what we're comparing.

Your second point? Yes. Different features are on different tabs. This is no different than the drop-down. This is as ridiculous as me complaining that I can't use "cut" from my File Menu. This is not an issue. It's a basic design principle.

The size of the drop down bar wasn't decided by you either. At this rate, neither was the size of your desktop icons. This is just nitpicking to try and find a fault.

Define "Narrow screen" for me, please. I use Office 2007 at work, on a 15 inch 4:3 monitor. It has zero issues "scaling". Hell, for that argument, I've used Office 2007 on my netbook with the screen rotated 90 degrees. Still, zero issues.

Given your weak argument, the ribbon interface does not take away any functionality, and your complaint about the tabbing is absolutely asinine.

Agreed. The ribbon is *far* more intuitive than the old toolbars from 2003.
If former "power users" don't like it, fair enough, but for most everyone post-2007 the ribbon is definitely the way to go.

It makes more sense to complain about bloggers who still gripe about the ribbon, frankly.

"Yes the ribbon is not "customizable", but at the same time, neither is your drop-down menu. The tool tips are, but that's not what we're comparing."

No, but you can customize the toolbar. And as the ribbon takes place of the pull-down menu and the toolbar, yes, it's what we are comparing.

"2) Features only available on a particular ribbon. That is also a unfounded argument against the ribbon because you have the QAT or Quick Access Toolbar which gives you access to any feature while you are on any tab."

Placing application buttons on the titlebar of a window is unintuitive at best.

"3) The size of the objects are decided by someone else. Yes that is the same way on any tool bar or UI (for the most part)"

Not when you can make customized buttons, which again, you cannot do anymore.

"4) Doesn't scale well? i have used it on large screens and small screens all with no problem!"

It's a PTIA on my page-height monitor. Because it, you know, does not scale well. Things get randomly collapsed or hidden under a menu.

Oh, and you sound like a total pompous ass. Someday you will realize that everyone in the world is not you. Life will be easier to deal with when you do.

Exactly...it's so much easier to grasp and use...
Ppl used to complain the old one was hard to use with toolbars, now it's all visually illustrated to the user, and they still complain it's hard to find stuff! Only thing I see ppl complaining is some buttons don't have text under them....well, this is because everyone should know what they mean...Bold..Italic these are kind of btns that don't need text and should never have text under them...

Ever since I started using the Ribbon, I've discovered every feature of Office, and had time to use it...rather than wasting time finding it in the never ending toolbars of Office 2003 and older...