Comments on: OpenOffice with a Ribbon? http://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/ Technology News Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:03:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mikehttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149343 Mike Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:28:52 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149343 I personally cannot stand the Ribbon. If OpenOffice is going that way, and don't provide the option to use the classic menu/toolbar interface, I will be very disappointed.At work, I have been trying to get used to the Ribbon for two years now and am still far less productive with it than with the previous interface. Things keep moving around and hiding so I never know where to find something. It's completely counter to the way I work and think.Some people have said that I'm just resistant to change. Far from it. I love change when the change improves things. But the Ribbon makes it a lot worse for me.In fact, I opted for OpenOffice.org on my home machine because I cannot work effectively with the Ribbon. If OpenOffice.org goes Ribbonlike, with no ability to opt out, then I am afraid I will not be getting any new versions. I personally cannot stand the Ribbon. If OpenOffice is going that way, and don’t provide the option to use the classic menu/toolbar interface, I will be very disappointed.

At work, I have been trying to get used to the Ribbon for two years now and am still far less productive with it than with the previous interface. Things keep moving around and hiding so I never know where to find something. It’s completely counter to the way I work and think.

Some people have said that I’m just resistant to change. Far from it. I love change when the change improves things. But the Ribbon makes it a lot worse for me.

In fact, I opted for OpenOffice.org on my home machine because I cannot work effectively with the Ribbon. If OpenOffice.org goes Ribbonlike, with no ability to opt out, then I am afraid I will not be getting any new versions.

]]> By: Ryanhttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149090 Ryan Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:36:14 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149090 That is very true... the customizability is very minimal but something I'm sure they'll improve on. It does, however, ensure that you can sit down at anyone's computer and find your way around the Office suite since the interface will be the same on all machines. That is very true… the customizability is very minimal but something I’m sure they’ll improve on. It does, however, ensure that you can sit down at anyone’s computer and find your way around the Office suite since the interface will be the same on all machines.

]]> By: Ryanhttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149089 Ryan Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:34:15 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149089 That is definitely one route OpenOffice can go, but having multiple interfaces could become quite a chore to maintain. That is definitely one route OpenOffice can go, but having multiple interfaces could become quite a chore to maintain.

]]> By: Ryanhttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149088 Ryan Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:33:40 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149088 It's interesting that you saw it that way. I do know plenty of people who feel the same way you do, but when I introduced it to my dad he loved how easy it was to find all sorts of options he never even knew were available. It’s interesting that you saw it that way. I do know plenty of people who feel the same way you do, but when I introduced it to my dad he loved how easy it was to find all sorts of options he never even knew were available.

]]> By: Maybe Crazyhttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149070 Maybe Crazy Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:21:31 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149070 A lot of people who like the ribbon (and yes, there are a lot of them) deal with the criticism of the ribbon by saying "Well, I like the ribbon - get used to it" or "It's something new, just spend time learning it".My beef with the ribbon is that it's an entirely inflexible UI - you can't modify it in any way. With the old interface you could add and remove buttons any way you liked. In the new design, if I want the "Find" menu on the left side of my ribbon, all I can do is... nothing. In Office 2003 you had a thousand ways you could modify the UI, but with the ribbon... nothing to do with "old vs. new", it's flexible and adjustable vs. utterly static. A lot of people who like the ribbon (and yes, there are a lot of them) deal with the criticism of the ribbon by saying “Well, I like the ribbon – get used to it” or “It’s something new, just spend time learning it”.

My beef with the ribbon is that it’s an entirely inflexible UI – you can’t modify it in any way. With the old interface you could add and remove buttons any way you liked. In the new design, if I want the “Find” menu on the left side of my ribbon, all I can do is… nothing. In Office 2003 you had a thousand ways you could modify the UI, but with the ribbon… nothing to do with “old vs. new”, it’s flexible and adjustable vs. utterly static.

]]> By: Word Dudehttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149069 Word Dude Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:11:20 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149069 2007 is actually much better. Have you tried one of the menu add-ons? Just like 2003 2007 is actually much better. Have you tried one of the menu add-ons? Just like 2003

]]> By: Word Dudehttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149068 Word Dude Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:08:28 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149068 IBM is trying the sidebar thing with Symphony. Not very effective. IMHO, if the traditional menu ain't broke (and it isn't) then don't fix it. IBM is trying the sidebar thing with Symphony. Not very effective. IMHO, if the traditional menu ain’t broke (and it isn’t) then don’t fix it.

]]> By: Olahttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149065 Ola Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:30:44 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149065 I think people could like the Tabbed menu of icons if they had greater flexibility. The two main critics are Space, LogicThe old menu system had already solved that and people use it. It was practical but it was not shiny. Now with ribbons it was all Shiny but not Practical.In the beginning, Sales and Marketing liked Ribbons. Now they want something that is both Shiny and Practical/Efficient. Save space: Variable icon size, Variable Fish eye, Autohide etc Personal Structure: Tabbed icon bars, Box Icons, Flexible/Movable blocks top/bottom/sidehttp://word.mvps.org/FAQS/Customization/CustomizeRibbon.htm http://www.mrexcel.com/classicexcelmenu.htmlIt will be interesting to see if OpenOffice can catch the lead here. I think people could like the Tabbed menu of icons if they had greater flexibility. The two main critics are Space, Logic

The old menu system had already solved that and people use it. It was practical but it was not shiny. Now with ribbons it was all Shiny but not Practical.

In the beginning, Sales and Marketing liked Ribbons. Now they want something that is both Shiny and Practical/Efficient.
Save space: Variable icon size, Variable Fish eye, Autohide etc
Personal Structure: Tabbed icon bars, Box Icons, Flexible/Movable blocks top/bottom/side

[word.mvps.org]
[mrexcel.com]

It will be interesting to see if OpenOffice can catch the lead here.

]]> By: Nichttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149046 Nic Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:59:46 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149046 Why not let the user choose between two or even three UIs.Sidebar Ribbonbar Menus Why not let the user choose between two or even three UIs.

Sidebar
Ribbonbar
Menus

]]> By: dtandersonhttp://cybernetnews.com/openoffice-with-a-ribbon/#comment-149043 dtanderson Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:31:06 +0000 http://cybernetnews.com/?p=17236#comment-149043 If they are going to make a copy of the ribbon interface, they should do it on the side instead of the top. It would make more sense to put it on the side because you have more viewing area on the sides with the wide screen monitors and it would not make any sense to take away from the top with all the extra space that you have on the sides. If they are going to make a copy of the ribbon interface, they should do it on the side instead of the top. It would make more sense to put it on the side because you have more viewing area on the sides with the wide screen monitors and it would not make any sense to take away from the top with all the extra space that you have on the sides.

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