Just before we finish the ribbon kicking fest:
If you think it was a bit harsh or a bit undeserved – dream on! Here is Charley Kyd’s on-line survey showing 80%, yep that’s eight zero, eighty, almost all, Excel 2007 users don’t like it or hate it because it damages productivity.
(I have linked to those surveys before but they are updated regularly so its good to see the changes, or non changes)
In my opinion/experience working in 2007 is worse than 2003, but its also more variable. If you can find the commands quickly then its not that bad. If you can’t find what you are looking for, the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work (most do – well done the Excel team for encouraging the ribboneers to respect that at least), or you work in one of the ‘here be monsters’ areas (charting, drawing etc) then something that is quick and easy in 2003 can be stunningly painful in 2007. So painful many drop into VBA and type the command into the immediate window. Or switch to 2003 and record a macro (the monsters areas don’t have proper macro recording).
Thats it for whinging about the ribbon from me for now, now I want to move on and look at some of the good stuff in 2007, suggestions for migration approaches, and recommended mitigations.
cheers
simon
Smurf on Spreadsheets 
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 12:24 pm |
I love this comment on Charley’s site
… “I think overall the Ribbon is better than menus and toolbars, particularly if you put all the commands you use more often on your quick command menu and hide the Ribbon.” …
In other words, the ribbon is so great, I hide it. LOL!
But I still don’t get it. If the ribbon is so bad, if users hate it so much, why are other products froom independent vendors adopting the ribbon?
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 2:06 pm |
Was it irony?, or accident?
as to why?
Well theres the Microsoft Effect – they can do things no one else can (Normal Rules don’t apply ™)
And then theres those pods of wales they get stranded occasionally. Even strong leaders mess up sometimes.
Those Indies are betting the ribbon will become the new UI standard, and of course software devs are notoriously crap at UI, so why not just copy MS, they can’t get it THAT wrong, can they?
(Especially with all that ‘evidence’ and all those UI astronauts)
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 3:43 pm |
Pods of whales? Or lemmings?
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 3:44 pm |
“If . . . you work in one of the ‘here be monsters’ areas . . . ”
LOL
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 5:04 pm |
You’re watching too much Torchwood Simon, they’ll take your children.
Sunday, 12th July, 2009 at 9:45 pm |
Never seen it Bob – I thought old maps used to say ‘here be monsters’ anywhere south west of Bath?
(Tee hee – living as I do in the Disputed Lands)
Jon I was thinking of you when I wrote that.