S
sefiroxx
Finally made the dreaded switch from 2003 to 2007. I am one of those users
who uses the keyboard commands to access the menu structure for all of the
products (finding that moving a hand to mouse and back is slow).
I have seen the arguments made by MS about why they changed to the Ribbon
look for 2007. I understand the arguments for this and how it would enable a
larger population of users to find and use the great number of tools within
the product set.
However, at what cost to the rest of us? I believe MS did a great diservice
to the rest of us that are speed users who now have to wade through the gaps
in the new interface.
Comments:
- The fast commands (i.e. ALT N SH) are not consistent with standard user
interface. Standard (in the past - going back to Apple days when they
created this stuff) has been to use the first letter of the menu to access
the contents of the menu. Ff there was conflict, as in two menu items that
started with the same letter, the greater used menu item would get assigned
the first letter and the lesser used item would get its second (or third
letter) used. In O2007 (excel in this sample), the primary menu already
fails this assumption by assigning N for Insert, A for Data, M for Formula
and W for View.
- I am guessing that MS may have decided to hold onto the fast commands from
O2003 to help users. So these commands from O2003 get the coveted first
letter? Why not just reassign everything to O2007 and provide a alternate
menu option for the rest of us that do not need the pretty pictures and
stuff. Right now, learning new letter combinations that are not inutitive is
painful (i.e. read loss of productivity).
- I see the ribbon has now more pictures. Pictures take up space. And
since a lot of screens are getting shorter due to widescreen layouts, the top
to bottom real estate is precious. Could there be ab option that puts the
menu words back on the screen without all of the pretty pictures. I agree
with the new grouping that MS as done - however, that much data and pictures
on the screen is confusing - but to have no data (when you turn off the
pictures which also hides the menus) is confusing as well.
- In continuing the above, it appears that MS tried to eliminate the deep
menu structure by putting everything up on the ribbon. So we have things
like two letter combinations for various options (i.e. ALP P VH for
pagelayout view header). I can see what someone might have comeup with VH vs
HV (View Header vs Header - View). But this two letter combination is going
to lead to more problems. It tries to meet the old design std of using first
letters of the different menu levels even though they took some artistic
(i.e. Standard would have been to use P H V to get Pagelayout, Header, View
while they use P VH ). The usage of double letter might solve a problem of
realestate but it has its own issues with the MS implemation:
a) they are not consistent. Once again using the Excel 2007 example, within
Page Layout, there are sections for theme, Page Setup,.Arrange etc.
Sometimes, MS uses these areas in the command structure, other times not.
i.e. ALT P TE gets you to Page Layout, Theme, Effect (an option in Theme).
Where as ALT P VH gets you to View HEader without having to use a S or SO
for Sheet option. In consistent - and confusing to the speed user.
b) MS objective on the above may have been to enable access to all of the
features without hiding them inside menu structures. But then, given that
the ribbons are full, they are assuming that they will not be adding anymore
features? If they plan on adding, then the ribbon is going toi get real big,
or they will have to change the grouping which entails hiding something and
changing the command sequence to access it - A big NONO.
- The ability to navigate/tab to everything is inconsistent. For example, I
unable to get to a search contact space in Outlook 2007 without using a
pointing device. (BTW, whatever happened to old ALT L command here which
would bring up a list/find box and put your pointer in the box for typing)
In summary, I understand the need to improve the ability for the users find
the tools they need. However, MS has broken a number of UI rules that will
ultimately make things confusing to the user as they improve their own skills
and productivity. I believe, MS will have lowered the bard - a greater
population may have improved their speed, but the top end users have become
slower.
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-72c3b8b702df&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc
who uses the keyboard commands to access the menu structure for all of the
products (finding that moving a hand to mouse and back is slow).
I have seen the arguments made by MS about why they changed to the Ribbon
look for 2007. I understand the arguments for this and how it would enable a
larger population of users to find and use the great number of tools within
the product set.
However, at what cost to the rest of us? I believe MS did a great diservice
to the rest of us that are speed users who now have to wade through the gaps
in the new interface.
Comments:
- The fast commands (i.e. ALT N SH) are not consistent with standard user
interface. Standard (in the past - going back to Apple days when they
created this stuff) has been to use the first letter of the menu to access
the contents of the menu. Ff there was conflict, as in two menu items that
started with the same letter, the greater used menu item would get assigned
the first letter and the lesser used item would get its second (or third
letter) used. In O2007 (excel in this sample), the primary menu already
fails this assumption by assigning N for Insert, A for Data, M for Formula
and W for View.
- I am guessing that MS may have decided to hold onto the fast commands from
O2003 to help users. So these commands from O2003 get the coveted first
letter? Why not just reassign everything to O2007 and provide a alternate
menu option for the rest of us that do not need the pretty pictures and
stuff. Right now, learning new letter combinations that are not inutitive is
painful (i.e. read loss of productivity).
- I see the ribbon has now more pictures. Pictures take up space. And
since a lot of screens are getting shorter due to widescreen layouts, the top
to bottom real estate is precious. Could there be ab option that puts the
menu words back on the screen without all of the pretty pictures. I agree
with the new grouping that MS as done - however, that much data and pictures
on the screen is confusing - but to have no data (when you turn off the
pictures which also hides the menus) is confusing as well.
- In continuing the above, it appears that MS tried to eliminate the deep
menu structure by putting everything up on the ribbon. So we have things
like two letter combinations for various options (i.e. ALP P VH for
pagelayout view header). I can see what someone might have comeup with VH vs
HV (View Header vs Header - View). But this two letter combination is going
to lead to more problems. It tries to meet the old design std of using first
letters of the different menu levels even though they took some artistic
(i.e. Standard would have been to use P H V to get Pagelayout, Header, View
while they use P VH ). The usage of double letter might solve a problem of
realestate but it has its own issues with the MS implemation:
a) they are not consistent. Once again using the Excel 2007 example, within
Page Layout, there are sections for theme, Page Setup,.Arrange etc.
Sometimes, MS uses these areas in the command structure, other times not.
i.e. ALT P TE gets you to Page Layout, Theme, Effect (an option in Theme).
Where as ALT P VH gets you to View HEader without having to use a S or SO
for Sheet option. In consistent - and confusing to the speed user.
b) MS objective on the above may have been to enable access to all of the
features without hiding them inside menu structures. But then, given that
the ribbons are full, they are assuming that they will not be adding anymore
features? If they plan on adding, then the ribbon is going toi get real big,
or they will have to change the grouping which entails hiding something and
changing the command sequence to access it - A big NONO.
- The ability to navigate/tab to everything is inconsistent. For example, I
unable to get to a search contact space in Outlook 2007 without using a
pointing device. (BTW, whatever happened to old ALT L command here which
would bring up a list/find box and put your pointer in the box for typing)
In summary, I understand the need to improve the ability for the users find
the tools they need. However, MS has broken a number of UI rules that will
ultimately make things confusing to the user as they improve their own skills
and productivity. I believe, MS will have lowered the bard - a greater
population may have improved their speed, but the top end users have become
slower.
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-72c3b8b702df&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc