Windows 8 says hello to Ribbons

Multiple sites are reporting today that Microsoft will be implementing a new user interface for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system, including replacing toolbars with "Ribbons," as seen in Microsoft Office.

The reports come via leaked alpha builds of the operating system.

Windows 8 login screen will look somewhat similar to Windows Phone 7/Zune and include the time, day and date (pic below).

Ribbons will be included (meaning toolbars within different tabs), and most of Window's programs will use the new interface including Windows Explorer.

As most would contest, ribbons organize different functions better than a standard toolbar.

Additionally, wwwery says "the "View" button (toggles viewing styles) in Windows Explorer toolbar goes into the Details Pane (bottom), and now there�s a consolidated file menu (top-left) just like in Office 2010."

Although unconfirmed, Windows 8 is expected to add tablet support and the ability to control music while the computer is locked.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 Apr 2011 23:34

X (unverified)

Main issue with ribbons: They are NOT keyboard user friendly at all. At all. It's like a giant middle finger to technical users who don't use the mouse more than they have to.

4.4.2011 00:11 #1

21Q

I personally find ribbons confusing and too cluttered ... I likely won't be a fan of 8

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4.4.2011 00:30 #2

jeremywsmith1977 (unverified)

Maybe instead of trying to continuously give windows a pretty facelift, MS should work on function ability and work towards getting they're systems back to when they weren't total resource hogs. If someone wants pretty toys they can spend a thousand dollars and by a Mac. I myself will continue my migration to linux were if you want it pretty you can make it pretty, customization is a plus. But now to learn how to write code. Stop trying to out resource your customer base and return to simplicity. Bring back XP. Wasn't perfect but much better than 7 and f**k Vista. Maybe opensource is the way to go.

4.4.2011 01:40 #3

SomeBozo

I can't agree more, the older UI in windows were much better! I personally liked Windows 2000 the best, there were many little features in the UI if you knew it made windows very stream line, quick and very easy to use, as compared to doing the same thing on a crapintosh. I thought Micro$oft won over the PC market mainly from it's look and feel, integration of applications, and it's backward compatibility.

As for the user UI interfaces, i think we can all agree that we hear about how it is suppose to be easier and faster for users. As for Micro$oft for meeting that goal, umm.... ohh..... I guess if you're an idiot that only uses a mouse that might be true, but as others mentioned, no keyboard shortcuts accelerators.... As all my friends that now use Office, they and myself simply find the UI awkward, annoying, ineffective, and most confusing to find stuff... I have yet to hear anyone that like the new changes in office.... Why do I bring up this point? Ribbons come right out of office.

Sorry Micro$oft ribbons in Office are crap and a pain in the a$$ to use! Could say more, but why? Customers need to be clear and simple and state it clearly.... Yes ribbons suck.

4.4.2011 03:47 #4

MonteCrypto

As long as they make ribbons customizable I do not see a problem; if MS chooses to force their thinking then Andoridous-like OSes will get another boost.Type your comments here

4.4.2011 04:06 #5

DXR88

Looks like you got to threw a bunch of shit just to get to your stuff. Dame matryoshka dolls invading my UI

4.4.2011 04:17 #6

molsen

I do not like this at all. While I am not high on the ladder of programming or administrating of computers like some, I feel this ribbon design to be quite flawed. I miss the days of dos, simplicity of getting the job done quickly. I remember Windows 3.XX to be a pain in the a$$. It would appear to me history repeated itself, albeit almost a 30 year cycle.

I want to use the mouse less, not more.

4.4.2011 07:42 #7

dirtyash

If you guys would just get over the fact that things change and you must adapt, then you would be happier. There is no way the GUI will sit stagnant. Imagine us using the same GUI as Office 95 for Office 2025, that's just ridiculous. It actually isn't that bad once you get used to it.

Also, don't forget to look under the "file-options" menu. There is the ability to customize the "Quick Access Toolbar" and place it below the ribbon and then you can hide or shrink the ribbon. You can place all your most used features on the "Quick Access Toolbar" and it makes for more vertical space and allows for easy use. Great feature that is not available in the older GUI's. Anyway, to each his own.

And the majority of the keyboard shortcuts still work from older versions of office.

4.4.2011 11:11 #8

DXR88

Originally posted by dirtyash: If you guys would just get over the fact that things change and you must adapt, then you would be happier. There is no way the GUI will sit stagnant. Imagine us using the same GUI as Office 95 for Office 2025, that's just ridiculous. It actually isn't that bad once you get used to it.

Also, don't forget to look under the "file-options" menu. There is the ability to customize the "Quick Access Toolbar" and place it below the ribbon and then you can hide or shrink the ribbon. You can place all your most used features on the "Quick Access Toolbar" and it makes for more vertical space and allows for easy use. Great feature that is not available in the older GUI's. Anyway, to each his own.

And the majority of the keyboard shortcuts still work from older versions of office. and at core of ribbons is the same tech we used in win9x. we call it the registry. its old, its outdated,its inefficient,and its severely virus prone. but if we tie it to a ribbon maybe they wont notice it still does the same crap it has since 9x.

a pig with lipstick and ribbons, is still a pig.

4.4.2011 11:52 #9

dirtyash

Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by dirtyash: If you guys would just get over the fact that things change and you must adapt, then you would be happier. There is no way the GUI will sit stagnant. Imagine us using the same GUI as Office 95 for Office 2025, that's just ridiculous. It actually isn't that bad once you get used to it.

Also, don't forget to look under the "file-options" menu. There is the ability to customize the "Quick Access Toolbar" and place it below the ribbon and then you can hide or shrink the ribbon. You can place all your most used features on the "Quick Access Toolbar" and it makes for more vertical space and allows for easy use. Great feature that is not available in the older GUI's. Anyway, to each his own.

And the majority of the keyboard shortcuts still work from older versions of office. and at core of ribbons is the same tech we used in win9x. we call it the registry. its old, its outdated,its inefficient,and its severely virus prone. but if we tie it to a ribbon maybe they wont notice it still does the same crap it has since 9x.

a pig with lipstick and ribbons, is still a pig. Agreed. I thought they were going to get rid of it with Vista, then 7 and then 8. But no. How the hell are they going to make Windows 8 a "light weight" version when they are still using the same crap. I thought they were going to completely rewrite the OS. Guess not.

4.4.2011 12:18 #10

SomeBozo

Originally posted by dirtyash: Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by dirtyash: If you guys would just get over the fact that things change and you must adapt, then you would be happier. There is no way the GUI will sit stagnant. Imagine us using the same GUI as Office 95 for Office 2025, that's just ridiculous. It actually isn't that bad once you get used to it.

Also, don't forget to look under the "file-options" menu. There is the ability to customize the "Quick Access Toolbar" and place it below the ribbon and then you can hide or shrink the ribbon. You can place all your most used features on the "Quick Access Toolbar" and it makes for more vertical space and allows for easy use. Great feature that is not available in the older GUI's. Anyway, to each his own.

And the majority of the keyboard shortcuts still work from older versions of office. and at core of ribbons is the same tech we used in win9x. we call it the registry. its old, its outdated,its inefficient,and its severely virus prone. but if we tie it to a ribbon maybe they wont notice it still does the same crap it has since 9x.

a pig with lipstick and ribbons, is still a pig. Agreed. I thought they were going to get rid of it with Vista, then 7 and then 8. But no. How the hell are they going to make Windows 8 a "light weight" version when they are still using the same crap. I thought they were going to completely rewrite the OS. Guess not. First off how about removing all the crap in the OS that the user really doesn't need. Second fixing and making the stuff in the OS more solid and reliable. I'm not against change provided it doesn't get in your way, and changing existing functionality is bad unless the said functionality was poorly designed to begin with, for starters removing pressing "ESC" to close a dialog box, now one need to grab the mouse and click it. Or for ever undo was alt-backspace, i could go on about little changes that seem to be basic functionality how it use to be but no longer.

Additionally, and I think many others here work on the PC all day long, I to do the same things most days, write, compile and deploy programs, a lot of the management tools in vista and win7 seems to have removed many keyboard commands, or implemented a menu structure, or pushed the operations for menus down a couple levels. Net effect what use to take a few seconds to perform goes up to 30 seconds to a minute, not huge but not as stream line or easy to use as before. Sure i could write a script and do most of it, but the stuff changes so often it tends not to be practical to do it.

I think we would all agree the person windows is starting to be targeted to is to make it easy for people that really don't know how to use them very well. Annoying thing about this people over time finally learn how to use them but.... Well it sure seems like you put training wheels on a bike so your kid can learn how to ride, only problem, you can put them on but you can never take them off :)

Windows really is getting worse and worse.

@DXR88 -- not sure if this might be insider trading... How about we buy stock in lipstick? More lipstick microsoft uses, should help out our stock :)

4.4.2011 12:42 #11

A5J4DX

i dont like the ribbon idea

4.4.2011 13:19 #12

21Q

I dunno how crazy this sounds, but it MS is dead set on doing ribbions, at least make a Windows 8 "Programmer" edition. Which really would just be 8 with the tried and true interface we re used to.

4.4.2011 13:23 #13

toked

RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

4.4.2011 15:51 #14

DXR88

Originally posted by SomeBozo: @DXR88 -- not sure if this might be insider trading... How about we buy stock in lipstick? More lipstick microsoft uses, should help out our stock :) Naw lipsticks on the low, ribbons are where the moneys at >.>

4.4.2011 18:00 #15

ThePastor

It's about time they did a cool looking Login Screen! I mean, how hard could that be?

And yeah... No Ribbons. Hate 'em.
Ever try to do phone tech support with Ribbons?

"Select EDIT COPY" works...
"Select the copy button from the second tab of your highly configured ribbon" ... just doesn't.

Unfortunately for them, all Blu-ray protections have been broken and BD rips can be found around the Internet, usually before the retail even hits shelves.

4.4.2011 19:38 #16

xnonsuchx

Friggin' HATE the ribbons in M$'s software! It's a good thing I have free use of their software because I'd never pay for it myself.

4.4.2011 20:50 #17

ZippyDSM

Er M$... the GUI is the least of your concerns..... stop fiddling with it and make your damn image viewing stuff plug in compatible so if you don't want to buy a thing to read gifs soemone can make a free one that can even do animated..........

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
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8.4.2011 10:32 #18

DXR88

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Er M$... the GUI is the least of your concerns..... stop fiddling with it and make your damn image viewing stuff plug in compatible so if you don't want to buy a thing to read gifs soemone can make a free one that can even do animated..........

huh!? W7 can read .gif's just fine. its writing them it cant do...but i can think of about a dozen alternative programs that can and are free.

8.4.2011 13:21 #19

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