MIX08 Microsoft Office 2007: The Story of the Ribbon (2 of 10)

[TheLazdude]

@packoftwenty There's no need to be offensive. At least, if you had any real arguments, there wouldn't be. Because you have no point, no arguments, and are too lazy to learn a better UI, you just loudmouth everyone who likes it. It's the same everywhere. If you hate it, just say you hate it. Don't make up reasons that don't exist.

[packoftwenty]

Let me spell it out for dumbass EpsilonVector:

If you have a hundred squares, ten by ten, on a screen, with a command on each of them, and you use this as your interface for your software, you will rapidly remember APPROXIMATELY where each command that you REGULARLY use, is. You will learn that 'Open' is in the top left, you will learn that 'Print' is in the lower left, etc.

The Ribbon stops you from doing all that.

Can you tell us all why, Epsilon? Do you even understand what a computer is?

[EpsilonVector]

@packoftwenty If having hundreds of icons on the screen is your idea of a good UI then you're at the minority; most people would consider that messy and bloated. Further, exhibiting such a hysterical emotional response to this is hardly going to convince me or anyone else that you're at the top of the game when it comes to understanding computers. It's actually an indicator that you do not feel in your comfort zone around computers, if this change can cause you so much distress.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector Did I mention icons at all? You douchebag.

You don't understand what 'spatial memory' is, how embarrassing. "spatial memory is obtainable" - who talks like that? Oh, of course - DOUCHEBAGS like you!

Most competent computer users (not newbies like you) HATE 'the ribbon'...

[packoftwenty]

God help me. LOL at the part at 6:15...

"Now the entire UI has turned into this one little strip at the top"...

Now where have I seen THAT before! Oh yeah... just every other program ever made BEFORE this douchebag came up with 'the Ribbon'.

What a bunch of idiots, this is pure Microsoft...

[packoftwenty]

"reawaken the soul of the software"- BWAHAHAHAHA...

The people who invented 'the ribbon' are all pricks. Idiots. Morons. Assholes. Douchebags.

They live in their own, pathetic little latte-filled world, where only THEIR insane ideas exist.

Live preview is nothing to do with 'the ribbon'. It can be implemented in any normal toolbar.

The galleries are nothing to do with 'the ribbon' either. They could easily have been implemented with normal pull down menus.

[EpsilonVector]

The reason people badmouthed Office 2007 is because most people have a pathological dislike to any sort of change in software. They will cling with their last breath to the most shitty user experience possible only because it is familiar to them. Office 2003 was terrible UI wise- everything was buried under too many menus and took way too many clicks to access. In Office 2007 everything is in front of you, everything is easily accessible, and everything is tidier.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector You are a moron. 'The Ribbon' is bad design, pure and simple...

Nothing to do with "dislking ANY sort of change".

[EpsilonVector]

@packoftwenty Oh well, if you say it's "pure and simple" then I'm totally convinced, oh master of rhetoric.

Out of curiosity, can you give a convincing argument about what is it that makes it functionally bad and what makes the previous design so superior?

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector Of course I can, moron...

The 'ribbon' destroys the ability of the user to rely on SPATIAL memory, to find commands...

The good old fashioned drop down menu allowed users to SPATIALLY remember where every command was. Open, Save, Close, Print, are in the left hand menu. Help is in the right hand menu. etc.etc.

The 'ribbon' destroys this form of memory, which is how people remember MOST things.

The fact that you didn't even think of that, is the reason you are a moron...

[EpsilonVector]

@packoftwenty Your argument has nothing to do with design. There is nothing about the Ribbon that prevents people from using spatial memory. Just as you memorized where things are in the old system you can memorize where they are on the Ribbon, and that is true for any new software, regardless of GUI. Your argument is basically: "they moved everything, and I don't like the fact that I need to relearn where stuff is", which reaffirms my point about people disliking change.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector

Are you serious? "There is nothing about the Ribbon that prevents people from using spatial memory."

Really. Sure.

"Just as you memorized where things are in the old system you can memorize where they are on the Ribbon."

Are you that stupid? Dickhead.

You can't memorise where things are on the Ribbon, because it is a multi-state system. It is like playing 'find the lady' every time you want to find a command.

Idiots like you must love the Ribbon.

[EpsilonVector]

@packoftwenty The only thing you need to develop spatial memory is for things to stay in their place. Since the buttons on the ribbon don't rearrange themselves at random but remain constant in category and location within the category spatial memory is obtainable. The fact that the contents of the ribbon change based on category is irrelevant because seeing everything at once is not required. For example: you navigate your hometown based on spatial memory, even if you don't see it all at once.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector "There is nothing about the Ribbon that prevents people from using spatial memory. " Are you seriously that stupid?

With drop down menus, you can SPATIALLY remember that 'Open' is in the left most drop down menu, and READ the menu options as soon as you drop it down.

Do you even understand what the word 'spatially' means? You are an epic douchebag...

It's idiots like you who actually LIKE 'The Ribbon'. Moron.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector Pray tell us - how do you remember where all the commands are, in Office 2007? How do you remember that it was under this tab, and not that tab? How do you remember 'the fourth tab along, then the third section from the left, the fourth icon down'? You are so stupid it's beyond words. And hence - you just love 'The Ribbon' and actually DEFEND this bullshit! Try doing some Google searches on 'Why I hate The Ribbon', you absolute idiot... MOST people agree with ME.

[packoftwenty]

@EpsilonVector "In Office 2007 everything is in front of you, everything is easily accessible, and everything is tidier."

Yes, of course it is. If you say so. Idiot.

[500Omega]

Office 2007 is the absolute worst program I have ever used. It's like it was designed for use by a 5-year old. I feel like I need a box of crayons and a coloring book every time I open it.

At a recent survey in our company, Office 2007 was unanimously denounced by everyone surveyed (over 1000). It is almost impossible to find anything in the new ribbon system. There is no logic to it. Power users are totally screwed. Don't they beta test these products any more?

[mulvidon]

Good point about power users -they would have the most difficulty switching to a new paradigm. Basically, the problem is not the new interface. Rather it is change itself that people dislike, are made uncomfortable by, and, unless compelled by some other force, will denounce at all turns.

[olfrygt2007]

@500Omega of course they test it. Look the whole presentation and listen to what he says. He not only talks about the testing but also about the logic and order of the categories of the commands. I guess because nobody likes Office 2007 it's a software bestseller :D

[500Omega]

I attend corporate trainings all the time and have yet to find anyone who has used Office2003 that has anything nice to say about 2007. Office 2003 was a far superior product in terms of intuitive menus and ease of use. Yes 2007 has some new features that I like but after using it for several months now I still find it illogical and hard to use compared to 2003.

[olfrygt2007]

@500Omega Sales figures are telling another story. Sure. people who have been using Office 2003 or below extensively and for a long time, have accustomed themselfes to the menu maze, which is described in this video. For people like me who only now are beginning to use more complex features, the categroies are chosen very thoughtfully. Don't forget: it's the second biggest plattform in Microsofts revenue. As you can see in this video series, they have put extensive testing + research in this UI.

[packoftwenty]

@olfrygt2007 "As you can see in this video series, they have put extensive testing + research in this UI."

BWAHAHAHAHA! Then it MUST be good! Because the douchebag in the video wouldn't be BIASED in any way, would he? I mean, it's not as if the idiots involved in producing this pile of shite called 'The Ribbon' had to come up with something NEW to justify their positions, is it? Qui bono?

[olfrygt2007]

@packoftwenty If "coming up with something new" is the ultimate requirement to keep your job at MS, they would change at least ... let's say 80%... of their staff every year.

[packoftwenty]

@olfrygt2007 Duh - obviously I'm talking about their 'user interface designers' (or assholes, as I prefer to call them...) who DO have to come up with something new, otherwise what function do they perform?

[olfrygt2007]

@packoftwenty: I was too talking about the UX staff

[youwatts]

in my opinion MS Office 2007 was the best damn thing that happened to Ms Office. I got use to the ribbon its awesome.