I don't buy it. It was a very nice video, but I think it's all
rationalization.

I think they did it because we've become a society that caters to the idiot.
The only possible purpose for a ribbon bar is to substitue a picture icon
for a word. And, the only reason to do that is that Microsoft is assuming
that more and more of their customers are unable to read, or at least read
English.

Even Microsoft knows this - or they would have removed the text from the
icons.

Look at it - 75% of the space used for it is graphics. Even those that
"like" this bar; honestly - do you look for the picture, or the text below it?

Common icon bars are great because they take less space, and since they're
common and never move (unless customized), you can easily learn those. But
the entire functionality of applications as complex and versatile as Excel,
Word, or other Office apps? I don't think so.


"Gordon" wrote:

> "Someone" <some - one@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:gkqfh6$6rv$1@news.motzarella.org...
> >
> > The ribbon speed of use is questionable.. some like it and some absolutely
> > hate it.
>
>
> But the reason it was introduced is pretty logical.....
> http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/archiv...he-ribbon.aspx
>
> --
> Asking a question?
> Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
> your OS, Service Pack level
> and the FULL contents of any error message(s)
>
>

Be very wary of going the OpenOffice route. At least, not for Excel if you
have any complex macro's or fomulas. I didn't try any other app except Word
(which was adequate, I guess)

I tried that when MS wouldn't let me use my Office XP anymore. It took
OpenOffice 15 minutes to open my, admittedly large and complex, spreadsheet.
In the process, it stripped off some of the formatting, and totally screwed
up about 1/3 of the formulas.

It also refused to use any of the macro's I had defined for it.

Open Office is fine for simple uses, and may work fine if you design your
spreadsheets from scratch in it, but not if you're trying to use old MS
Office files.

"Gemini" wrote:

> "The ribbon speed of use is questionable.. some like it and some absolutely
> hate it. "
>
> Correct! It certainly appears as though novice users like it and
> power/longtime users don't, by and large. The latter group is very used to
> accessing the menu options via keystrokes, rather than a mouse, which is
> always a slower alternative. I truly feel sorry for the captive users, who
> are forced to use it because their employer "upgraded" to Office 2007.
>
> Bill Gates made it quite clear some time ago that future versions of
> Windows would be using the Ribbon extensively. However, I must say the Vista
> team was smart enough to provide the classic option for the Start menu. The
> above comment about the access speed applies to the Start menu as well.
>
> "The big no no was that microsoft forced the ribbon on the 2007 UI without
> having a backwards option to have the classic toobars.."
> Correct once again! That was an arrogant and ill-advised move. That, and the
> fact that now Office doesn't come bundled with new computers, has prompted
> long time users to look into other alternatives, such as OpenOffice. MS
> couldn't have done a better job of promoting alternative office suites.
> However, had MS provided a classic menu alternative, they would not be able
> to claim widespread adoption of the Ribbon interface, never mind the captive
> users.
>
> -- Gemini
>
>
> "Someone" wrote:
>
> > well that’s the only one that is free...
> >
> > its better than nothing.
> >
> > The big no no was that microsoft forced the ribbon on the 2007 UI without
> > having a backwards option to have the classic toobars..
> >
> > And in the new Windows7 they plan on having more and more of this (its
> > already on paint and wordpad).. in fact they want EVERYONE (even third party
> > software) to use the ribbon!
> >
> > The ribbon speed of use is questionable.. some like it and some absolutely
> > hate it.
> >
> > "Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:48D575C0-338C-4AFE-9D91-AAE69242C0B3@microsoft.com...
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > I downloaded the mentioned menu add-on, but it's worse than the ribbon
> > > bar.
> > > You have to manually click on the "Add-on" tab to reveal the 2003 Menu.
> > > Then, you have to click on the menu option since all shortcuts are
> > > evidently
> > > disabled.
> > >
> > > I absolutely hate when devepers completely change how user's interact with
> > > their application. It totally screws up their regular, long time,
> > > customers.
> > > I was in application development for 20 years, and that was an absolute
> > > No-No.
> > >
> > > Thanks for the suggestion.
> > >
> > > "Someone" wrote:
> > >
> > >> see this page
> > >>
> > >> http://computerboom.blogspot.com/200...olbars-or.html
> > >>
> > >> scroll down to where there is EDIT in red color text to get a free
> > >> toolbar
> > >> thing for word etc
> > >>
> > >> there are also other options that are not free (see post)
> > >>
> > >> "Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >> news:1AF458DC-8ED0-4437-BA1A-7CBF238E85EC@microsoft.com...
> > >> > Is there anyway to get rid of the annoying (and huge) icon bar in
> > >> > Office
> > >> > 2007, and have it show the standard windows menu bar "File", "Edit",
> > >> > "View",
> > >> > etc, that can be triggered using "ALT" codes? Hooefully using the
> > >> > Office
> > >> > XP
> > >> > shortcuts.
> > >> >
> > >> > I'm a touch typist, and I find this trend of forcing users to use a
> > >> > mouse
> > >> > to
> > >> > perform tasks extremely annoying. Mouse clicks require 5 or 10 times
> > >> > more
> > >> > effort and time to accomplish what a 1 second >Alt<-Key can do
> > >> > instantly.
> > >> >
> > >> > Arg!
> > >> >
> > >> > Thanks in advance
> > >>
> > >>
> >

"Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F9ECE5F3-DDDD-434C-8FB4-74D313D6EE79@microsoft.com...
> Thanks, I'll check 'em out.
>
> I doubt I'll get any of them, though. Besides the belief that the
> original
> should work without add-on's (basic functions), every time I add new
> "enhancement" packages to office, or the Microsoft OS for that matter, I
> end
> up with a mess of conflicting drivers, missing files, etc.
>
> Besides; I'm beyond broke. It took 6 months to scrape the $ for Office
> 2007! I had to do upgrade because they would no longer honor the
> installation key for Office XP (I had been moving it from PC to PC -
> uninstalling between each one), since my laptops usually only last about
> 6-9
> months, and they said no more.


To whom are you talking and about what? Please quote the post you are
replying to and do NOT change the subject.
I notice you are using the horrible web interface to access these news
groups.
Do yourself a BIG favour and ditch it. Use a news reader instead.

Setting up Outlook Express/Windows Mail to access Microsoft newsgroups
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm

Accessing the MS newsgroups in Outlook Express/Windows Mail Newsreader
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...roupsetup.mspx



--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

"Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D5CE55B1-1F17-4200-A9BE-DA0BD705DF45@microsoft.com...
> Be very wary of going the OpenOffice route. At least, not for Excel if
> you
> have any complex macro's or fomulas.

Interestingly, as a recently-retired Systems and Management Accountant,
having worked in several major PLCs in the UK at group finance level and an
Advanced Excel user, I have never found it necessary to use macros, or very
complex formulae. Makes it particularly difficult for those who come after
you...

--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

I hear you. This is a personally used sheet, so I got carried away ;) I'm
(or, was) obsessive about that when developing professional applications.

I was experimenting with various Excel functions and features.

"Gordon" wrote:

> "Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:D5CE55B1-1F17-4200-A9BE-DA0BD705DF45@microsoft.com...
> > Be very wary of going the OpenOffice route. At least, not for Excel if
> > you
> > have any complex macro's or fomulas.
>
> Interestingly, as a recently-retired Systems and Management Accountant,
> having worked in several major PLCs in the UK at group finance level and an
> Advanced Excel user, I have never found it necessary to use macros, or very
> complex formulae. Makes it particularly difficult for those who come after
> you...
>
> --
> Asking a question?
> Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
> your OS, Service Pack level
> and the FULL contents of any error message(s)
>
>

Well, Gordon, excuse me for breathing.

I was replying to the post linking options. So, I was NOT changing the
subject; I replied to her suggestion.

As for the web interface, I would suggest you call Microsoft. It's a shame
that you find Microsofts Office Discussion group website so abismall. Since
my using the interface is the one you find a BIG mistake, and obviously I am
the ONLY one using it, maybe you should call Bill and discuss it with him?

Have a nice day. Don't bother replying. Vitriol doesn't really contribute
to anything.

"Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CF08AF82-628E-4AC3-9816-E2E7C7FFF0AD@microsoft.com...
> Well, Gordon, excuse me for breathing.
>
> I was replying to the post linking options. So, I was NOT changing the
> subject; I replied to her suggestion.

Umm how IS changing the subject line NOT changing the subject line?
Idiot.
Plonk.


--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

You did it again. Stop changing the subject lines.

"Harry" <Harry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CF08AF82-628E-4AC3-9816-E2E7C7FFF0AD@microsoft.com...
: Well, Gordon, excuse me for breathing.
:
: I was replying to the post linking options. So, I was NOT changing the
: subject; I replied to her suggestion.
:
: As for the web interface, I would suggest you call Microsoft. It's a
shame
: that you find Microsofts Office Discussion group website so abismall.
Since
: my using the interface is the one you find a BIG mistake, and obviously I
am
: the ONLY one using it, maybe you should call Bill and discuss it with him?
:
: Have a nice day. Don't bother replying. Vitriol doesn't really
contribute
: to anything.
:
:
:
: