The ribbon would be far easier to get used to if they added a "quick search" feature like they have in the Start menu on Win Vista and Win 7. Imagine if you couldn't remember where the "show header and footer" command was, but you could just start typing "header..." and get quickly taken to the command.
The ribbon pissed off a lot of seasoned users of Word. What they should have done, like other software companies, is offered the old interface for experienced people who did not want nor need to change to an interface for children. But nooooo...... Twats.
@floman: Well, although I agree the ribbon interface was a pain at first, I like it now, and can't stand 2003 anymore (which is on my Citrix server, so I do run into it daily). And I'm pretty sure everyone in my office would agree these days (not to say there wasn't some issues on roll out). It took some time to get used to, for sure. The ribbon is more efficient, and hot keys still work the same. If you don't like it, stay with 03 I say.
My 2 cents
Once I got used to the ribbons in Word, I was able to put through some slick marketing presentations at work that eventually got noticed by a couple district managers. I found I was using more design options than before, to produce something that looked professional. The ribbon made learning how to use Word far more organic than in my previous ten years of the software, and that's saying something.
My only problem with Office 2007 is (aside from ridonkulous pricing) that in Word text boxes are the glitchiest fucking mess ever. I can't remember the last time I had to "fight" a piece of consumer software to move a box around.
@Noobs-R-Us: I think the ribbon is the most productive thing Microsoft has ever done (thats original, atleast). For me it made word as, if not more, powerful than Publisher in design and the formatting options (so easy to use) make everything stunning.
@FezDaStanza: Holy crap! You're the first person I have ever heard say that they actually like ribbon. R u sure you're not a MSFT employee?I can't find seem to find the functions that I want with it buried in different boxes.
@Noobs-R-Us: I guess I'll be the second person then, because it's difficult for me to imagine a scenario in which I'd willingly return to using the old (IMO clunky and non-intuitive) menu system. I've been using the 2010 technical preview for a few months now, and despite the glitches that remain in Outlook, the same is true for the ribbon implementation in that part of the suite. And in Excel and PowerPoint for that matter.
I use this software a lot (every day, except for PowerPoint, which is more like once every couple of weeks), and the ribbon has not only made my usual tasks easier to perform, it's also allowed me to make regular use of features that I'd either forgotten about, didn't know how to use, or didn't even realize were there. With the ribbon I find it easier to apply conditional formatting to cells in Excel, for example, or to create a table of contents in Word, or even to access EndNote commands when I'm compiling research citations. The addition of Quick Steps to the Outlook 2010 ribbon is also extremely handy--I can apply a complex set of rules and actions to a message that I'm reading by clicking a button I've created on the ribbon. I have one button and a keyboard shortcut to email all of my students (I'm a college instructor), others to email all students in an individual course or section, and another that opens up a reply to the current message, then categorizes and sorts the original.
And no--I have no stake whatsoever in Microsoft's success (or failure), except as an end user of their products. I just really like the ribbon interface.
@SnusBeorn: I guess I'm the only one here it seems. Weird.
I guess am I the only one who hates the new Fred Flintstone start menu when it transitioned in XP? I've been running every OS after that with the classic start menu so it looks more like the 2000.
Am I wrong to assume that if you like the ribbon that you also like the new Flintstone menus?
@Noobs-R-Us: I'm not sure what you mean by "Flintstone" but you could probably call me indifferent about the Start menu. In general, I prefer clean and shiny to cluttered and grey, but I don't experience a significant difference in usability with the Start menu set either way. And while the new menu may be "shiny" it doesn't really meet my definition of "clean" looking.
FWIW, you are far from the only person who likes the old menus better. The #1 thread on the 2010 technical preview discussion board has been made up largely of posts asking for a way to revert to the old system--and it's been that way for months. So far, MS has categorically refused to provide such an option, pointing out that the endeavor would make Office much larger than it already is, would likely require reworking parts of the ribbon interface, and would duplicate functionality already available from third-party software companies.
@SnusBeorn: Flintstones, as in big, chunky, kindergarten looking icons. Makes me feel like someone who rides the small bus to school and not a wall street exec.
Related: has anyone found how you can view "tracked changes" on a word doc while using an iphone? Whenever people attach such docs in emails to me, I have to wait until I'm back on my laptop or desktop to even see the changes - let alone make edits.
@blakecr: Wait. What was so stupid about what he said? He makes a valid point. I hope that Dataviz DROPS their version of copy and paste when they update this app for OS 3.0. It's better to have consistency and, now with 3.0, use Apple's native cut-copy-paste feature. Regardless, I'm picking up this app right now. For 5$, it's a steal.
@TheSonOfKrypton: Don't worry about that... any text that can be selected/edited on the 3.0 can be copied/pasted. There's no need to optimize apps for it as far as i have been able to tell.
@Lukasz Fabis: My bad, then, but i've seen that basicly any app that has some sort of text entry (at least the ones i have) let you copy/paste from any source, that includes from tap tap revenge, to documents, to bejeweld. It doesn't work with the text of the books in stanza, but it works perfectly well with the book info that you can edit.
Of course the clipboard on DTG will only work within the app, but does it ONLY have that kind of copy/paste?
I'm sure that's something they're gonna remedy if that's the case but for now it would suck.
WOW $20 for microsoft office?! i paid $150+ for it and it was the student edition or something! this is why i wish i had the googlephone, wow this is seriously crazy
@ryanbrenner: I can't tell if this is a serious post or not, but did you miss the word Edit in the title? You can;t create documents, you can only edit and save them. So for example you are on a business trip and you need to edit a file that you need you can, but not start off and make a new one.
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My 2 cents
11/18/09
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Here are 3 options for doing so:
[www.megaleecher.net]
Hope that helps.
11/18/09
My only problem with Office 2007 is (aside from ridonkulous pricing) that in Word text boxes are the glitchiest fucking mess ever. I can't remember the last time I had to "fight" a piece of consumer software to move a box around.
11/18/09
11/18/09
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11/18/09
I use this software a lot (every day, except for PowerPoint, which is more like once every couple of weeks), and the ribbon has not only made my usual tasks easier to perform, it's also allowed me to make regular use of features that I'd either forgotten about, didn't know how to use, or didn't even realize were there. With the ribbon I find it easier to apply conditional formatting to cells in Excel, for example, or to create a table of contents in Word, or even to access EndNote commands when I'm compiling research citations. The addition of Quick Steps to the Outlook 2010 ribbon is also extremely handy--I can apply a complex set of rules and actions to a message that I'm reading by clicking a button I've created on the ribbon. I have one button and a keyboard shortcut to email all of my students (I'm a college instructor), others to email all students in an individual course or section, and another that opens up a reply to the current message, then categorizes and sorts the original.
And no--I have no stake whatsoever in Microsoft's success (or failure), except as an end user of their products. I just really like the ribbon interface.
11/18/09
I guess am I the only one who hates the new Fred Flintstone start menu when it transitioned in XP? I've been running every OS after that with the classic start menu so it looks more like the 2000.
Am I wrong to assume that if you like the ribbon that you also like the new Flintstone menus?
11/18/09
FWIW, you are far from the only person who likes the old menus better. The #1 thread on the 2010 technical preview discussion board has been made up largely of posts asking for a way to revert to the old system--and it's been that way for months. So far, MS has categorically refused to provide such an option, pointing out that the endeavor would make Office much larger than it already is, would likely require reworking parts of the ribbon interface, and would duplicate functionality already available from third-party software companies.
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It works retroactively and between apps.
06/15/09
That's not actually true.
It's not a matter of optimizing, but implementing. Every app has to support it. Apple is just providing the libraries.
As it stands, the clipboard on Documents To Go will only work in that app.
06/15/09
Of course the clipboard on DTG will only work within the app, but does it ONLY have that kind of copy/paste?
I'm sure that's something they're gonna remedy if that's the case but for now it would suck.
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you make it sound like Lucifer himself works the floor at Apple Stores.
"God's busy,how may i help you?"
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