Working With Office 2007 - Ugh...

by Codewiz51 June 17, 2009 13:19

We've been using Office 2007 for something like 6 months at work.  I kept an open mind and worked on learning the nuances of the new interface.

However, I've decided that the new interface is not for me.  I don't like ribbons.  I like menus.  I don't like pop-up semi-transparent toolbar/ribbon/whatchamacallits everytime I highlight text.  I don't like spending significant portions of my day reading the documentation for a word processor.  I don't do anything fancy.  Just lots of numbered lists, outlines and embedded images.

I hope some of you will comment on your experiences with 2007.  I'd like to hear from you.  For those that like the new interface, what is compelling?  How did you set about learning the new interface?

What say ye?

Update: I found a couple of Add-Ins that can help the ribbon impaired users:

UBitMenu: Classic Menu for Office 2007 (Free Version)

Show Classic Menus and Toolbars on Ribbon of Microsoft® Office 2007 (Commerical 29.95 US)

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6/17/2009 2:11:39 PM #

Microsoft's motivation for the ribbon interface was to make it easier for new users to discover features. The large majority of the feature requests they received before 2007 were for features that were already there that people couldn't find.  It's hard for me to evaluate how effective the ribbon was at solving this problem since I'd used Office for years before the new UI came out.  

It does seem more things are out in the open, at the expense of taking up a lot of screen real estate.  I wince when I see someone using a laptop with a little monitor and a big chunk of their vertical space taken up by ribbons.

I do like the "pop-up semi-transparent toolbar/ribbon/whatchamacallits."  They make it possible to do more with text with small mouse movements rather than having to go up to a menu and come back down.

John United States

6/17/2009 3:46:36 PM #

Thanks John, I appreciate the comment.  Like all things software, it works for some better'n others.

Or as I like to say, Your Mileage May Vary.

gharris United States

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