Microsoft details new Windows 8 Ribbon explorer UI [video]

By Tom Warren, on 29th Aug 11 3:55 pm with 150 Comments

Microsoft unveiled on Monday its new ribbon powered Windows Explorer interface.

Details on Microsoft’s ribbon use have been well documented over the past few months thanks to a variety of leaks. Microsoft plans to use the ribbon across the Windows Explorer user interface to make it easier for end users to complete a variety of tasks. There are over 200 commands in Explorer but Microsoft has found that the top 10 commands represent 81.8% of all usage. Microsoft program manager Alex Simons revealed Microsoft’s goals of the new Windows Explorer in a blog post on Monday.

Essentially, Microsoft wants to optimise explorer for file management tasks whilst creating a streamlined command experience and keeping the user interface and heritage of previous versions of Windows. “We evaluated several different UI command affordances including expanded versions of the Vista/Windows 7 command bar,” explained Simons. “The ribbon approach offered benefits in line with our goals,” he adds. Microsoft outlines the benefits of the ribbon interface:

“These strengths fit well with our three goals – the ribbon would allow us to create an optimized file manager where commands would have reliable, logical locations in a streamlined experience,” says Simons. Microsoft’s new Windows 8 ribbon interface includes a home tab that hones in on the main file management tasks, these include Copy, Paste, Delete, Rename, Cut, and Properties. These commands make up 84% of what users in Windows Explorer do.

Windows 8 Explorer - Home tab

Next up is the share tab. This is designed to let users quickly share files and folders by making it easy to email, zip, print and fax their data. Windows 8 users will also be able to quickly share files with other home group members of their network.

Windows 8 Explorer - Share tab

The view tab provides access to a number of options to customise the view inside Windows Explorer. “We’ve enabled one-click access for turning on/off the Navigation pane, Preview pane, and Details pane, a live preview gallery for the different icon display sizes, quick access to sorting and grouping by column, the ability to quickly add columns, plus easy access to three hidden features: show file name extensions, show hidden items, and hide selected items,” explains Simons.

Windows 8 Explorer - View tab

Microsoft has also created a number of contextual tabs that activate themselves relative to the context of specific files and folders. Searching in Explorer will activate the new Search tab to provide a number of different ways to filter searches.

Windows 8 Explorer - Search tab

Microsoft also describes its work to ensure the new ribbon interface is power user friendly. “We also wanted to make sure we were giving our more sophisticated users a good experience as well,” says Simons. “One of the top requests from more advanced users is for more keyboard shortcuts,” he adds. Microsoft has made sure that all 200 commands in the ribbon now have keyboard shortcuts. Advanced users will also be able to customise the quick access toolbar to provide quick access to their favourite commands.

Windows 8 Explorer - shortcut improvements

The final improvement is the return of the “Up” button in the explorer user interface. “This is far and away the most requested improvement to Explorer, and a great opportunity to bring back some of Windows Explorer’s heritage features,” explains Simons.

Up folder returns

Microsoft also confirmed the “Windows Developer Preview” branding for its current Windows 8 builds. Simons reveals his desktop during a video (see below) and shows that the build in use is 8059.winmain.110729-1857. WinRumors previously revealed that the latest 80xx builds of Windows 8 are now named “Windows Developer Preview” in anticipation of a release at next months BUILD conference in Anaheim, California.

Windows 8 build 8059

Latest Windows 8 news:

Anonymous

Am I the only one that really dislikes the ribbon UI? It looks a mess and I find myself flicking from tab to tab trying to find what I want.
- rsgx
  
  I hated the ribbon at first, but the more I used it the more I got used to it, to the point where I find it faster to navigate through when compared with the standard menu system.
  
  I think that’s a large point of it – it’s more visual.
- rsgx
  
  I hated the ribbon at first, but the more I used it the more I got used to it, to the point where I find it faster to navigate through when compared with the standard menu system.
  
  I think that’s a large point of it – it’s more visual.
- Guest
  
  If you’re a power user then you’re more likely to hate the ribbon. But most people aren’t power users.
- Tom
  
  Power users could simply collapse the ribbon and use the keyboard shortcuts.
- http://twitter.com/furdworetzky Fur Dworetzky
  
  I’m a “power user” (taught Office and other programs for several years as a job) and I love the ribbon UI. Most people I personally know who use and teach Office for a living are the same way. The only real resistence to the ribbon UI I encountered were people who are only occasional office users who were frustrated that it didn’t function the exact same way as Office 2003.
- Aaron
  
  I think I’m a power user and I like the ribbon interface. Try it out for a while and you will probably learn to like it.
- Guest
  
  If you’re a power user then you’re more likely to hate the ribbon. But most people aren’t power users.
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  I think it clutters the UI slightly but it does bring some good benefits to the average user.
- rsgx
  
  Who knows though, with a Metro UI revamp, this could be very good.
- J A
  
  I am sure in the Start Menu properties you can select classic and other views just as you can do today. Especially because on desktop,s admins may want to use group policy to suppress the Metro UI and simply provide users with the regular Start menu and have a separate policy for Windows 8 tablest to have the Metro UI. I find it all pretty amazing anyway. You don’t have to use the ribbon if you don’t want to. In fact you can hide it with the arrow at the top right og the chrome, and simply use Windows Explorer as you’ do today by right-clicking files you need to work with. I really don’t see why anyone will complain when you have more than one way to do all these things.
- http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle
  
  I think this would scare a computer novice. Makes Windows look like a cockpit.
- http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle
  
  I think this would scare a computer novice. Makes Windows look like a cockpit.
- http://www.winrumors.com Tom W
  
  I think it clutters the UI slightly but it does bring some good benefits to the average user.
- Mohit
  
  I think we should not forget that this is a very initial state and they are probably finalising the components and functionality first before venturing into “metro”nizing the whole experience of Windows 8!
- http://twitter.com/oolong2 oolong2
  
  Theming and customization is something that has been lacking in Windows…
  
  I rememeber at one point you customize the look and feel of any folder with HTML That was cool.
  
  You would think they could bring that feature back now that HTML5 is going to be integrated into the OS. Theming would be a perfect use for HTML5 in an OS.
- Anonymous
  
  haha lacking??? righttttttttttt
  
  http://www.hyperdesk.com/windows7_details.php?p=1 (yeah i use these ones)
  
  or in deviantart where you download free nice themes ones. oh right! theming its lacking. /s
  
  and you could use something like Windows 7 Folder Background Changer if its sooo important for you to change a bakground for a folder .
- http://twitter.com/oolong2 oolong2
  
  Yes theming is lacking….
  
  I’m talking about the built in support not third party hacks.
  
  Even WITH the hacks you can’t do anything better than what you could do with KDE desktop 10 YEARS AGO….    You still cannot customize “window edges” or change the chome significantly other than the color and font (wow).
  
  And if you looked into folder “Web Views” you would realize that it’s more than just changing the folder background….   You could control the entire layour of folders, files, even add functionality using javascript and DHTML.
  
  The bottom line is we have LESS out of the box customization options than we used to in Windows instead we have to rely on a bunch of  third party hacks just to do minimal things…
- http://twitter.com/oolong2 oolong2
  
  Yes theming is lacking….
  
  I’m talking about the built in support not third party hacks.
  
  Even WITH the hacks you can’t do anything better than what you could do with KDE desktop 10 YEARS AGO….    You still cannot customize “window edges” or change the chome significantly other than the color and font (wow).
  
  And if you looked into folder “Web Views” you would realize that it’s more than just changing the folder background….   You could control the entire layour of folders, files, even add functionality using javascript and DHTML.
  
  The bottom line is we have LESS out of the box customization options than we used to in Windows instead we have to rely on a bunch of  third party hacks just to do minimal things…
- http://twitter.com/oolong2 oolong2
  
  Yes theming is lacking….
  
  I’m talking about the built in support not third party hacks.
  
  Even WITH the hacks you can’t do anything better than what you could do with KDE desktop 10 YEARS AGO….    You still cannot customize “window edges” or change the chome significantly other than the color and font (wow).
  
  And if you looked into folder “Web Views” you would realize that it’s more than just changing the folder background….   You could control the entire layour of folders, files, even add functionality using javascript and DHTML.
  
  The bottom line is we have LESS out of the box customization options than we used to in Windows instead we have to rely on a bunch of  third party hacks just to do minimal things…
- Anonymous
  
  haha lacking??? righttttttttttt
  
  http://www.hyperdesk.com/windows7_details.php?p=1 (yeah i use these ones)
  
  or in deviantart where you download free nice themes ones. oh right! theming its lacking. /s
  
  and you could use something like Windows 7 Folder Background Changer if its sooo important for you to change a bakground for a folder .
- Anonymous
  
  I know with excel, the majority of the command that I use most often are on the home screen, but I had to search for the advanced commands initially. You have to get used to something new. I sure the Lotus 123 power users hated that excel became the standard. However, in the long run excel was way easier to use.
The Green Bastard

Looks too cluttered for me.
- Anonymous
  
  Read the actual blog. This is efficiency to the max.
- Anonymous
  
  Everyone who sees the metro UI knows its simple and nice.. you dont have to read “a blog” to know its not clustered.. this looks clustered form the look.
- Anonymous
  
  Everyone who sees the metro UI knows its simple and nice.. you dont have to read “a blog” to know its not clustered.. this looks clustered form the look.
- Anonymous
  
  Read the actual blog. This is efficiency to the max.
- http://twitter.com/paint99 Larry
  
  It may LOOK cluttered but you can only tell if it is functional if you use it. Don’t be so quick to judge.
- http://twitter.com/paint99 Larry
  
  It may LOOK cluttered but you can only tell if it is functional if you use it. Don’t be so quick to judge.
Guest

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! And Microsux just single handedly killed Winblows 8. CAN’T YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR SKULLS NO ONE WANTS THE RIBBON?? LOL! What a spectacular FAIL! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! They just guaranteed no one will be upgrading from XP now! Hahahahaha!!!!! They’ll all be buying Macs! LOL!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Dxtsasuke-Uchiha/100000763596065 Dxtsasuke Uchiha
  
  I hope you get a goodnight sleep troll.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Dxtsasuke-Uchiha/100000763596065 Dxtsasuke Uchiha
  
  I hope you get a goodnight sleep troll.
- http://twitter.com/PossessedTARDIS George Sabourin
  
  Maybe you, but most people love it. You go troll elsewhere.
- http://twitter.com/PossessedTARDIS George Sabourin
  
  Maybe you, but most people love it. You go troll elsewhere.
- GP007
  
  And yet Office 2010 is the fastest selling version of office to date, and guess what, it’s got even more ribbon than 2007.
  
  But w/e, troll bost, i shouldn’t have replied anyways.
- GP007
  
  And yet Office 2010 is the fastest selling version of office to date, and guess what, it’s got even more ribbon than 2007.
  
  But w/e, troll bost, i shouldn’t have replied anyways.
- Guest
  
  Time for you medication, jackass.
- Guest
  
  Time for you medication, jackass.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque
  
  Hey, Tom, isn’t it time to disable anonymous comments? This guy is abnoxious.
- http://twitter.com/OldCongress Gamer
  
  Troll
- http://twitter.com/furdworetzky Fur Dworetzky
  
  If people don’t upgrade a 10-year-old OS because they are too afraid to change to a more efficient UI, that is their own problem and not really something that MS can do much about.
- Aaron
  
  This is why I would love to find a way to ban 13 year olds from posting their thoughts on the internet.
- Frylockns86
  
  Yet, 4 people liked his post. Who keeps liking this guys posts, and why?
- Aaron
  
  He probably hit refresh 4 times and liked his own post.
- Aaron
  
  He probably hit refresh 4 times and liked his own post.
- Anonymous
  
  I liked it
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Dxtsasuke-Uchiha/100000763596065 Dxtsasuke Uchiha
  
  and I flagged you
- Candid Calum
  
  I want the ribbon.
  
  Oh look, I just debunked the premise of your whole ignorant argument.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IXAAY6TSMG54TTRFKEZ57NLG3Q Anonymous
  
  I don’t care if the ribbon is there as long as I can disable it or use other tried and true methods. fan boiz can have it. I always liked vista cause I could set up with the way I like . . .
Guest

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! And Microsux just single handedly killed Winblows 8. CAN’T YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR SKULLS NO ONE WANTS THE RIBBON?? LOL! What a spectacular FAIL! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! They just guaranteed no one will be upgrading from XP now! Hahahahaha!!!!! They’ll all be buying Macs! LOL!
Owais_503

is that build 8059 ?
Morgan

I like the ribbons in other programs but in IE it just seems like overkill. I have the interface in IE 9 set with only the Bing toolbar and its clean and minimal. To include the ribbon on IE for Windows 8 seems like a giant step back to me and looks cluttered while taking a significant chunk of the browser window away. I hope this can be toggled off or when you are not using the ribbon selections that the ribbon ”hides”.
- Morgan
  
  Ah I jumped the gun. Has nothing to do with IE…. just WE. Thank God!
- Anonymous
  
  yeah and you can minimize the ribbon like in office 2010. not like wordpad or mspaint where you have to right click and tell it to minimize. so having the arrow to just minimize is fast and amazing. and you can put stuff in quick access toolbar. go to office 2010 and take a look, it will be like that. hopefully you can change color of ribbon. but if not, someoneo will find a way xD. but go test office 2010 and see it will not be that bad, i use keyboard but i forget shortcut for create a new folder so i would probably add that to quick access toolbar. even office webapps have the arrow to minimize the ribbon (if you didn’t have office 2010).
- Morgan
  
  Ah I jumped the gun. Has nothing to do with IE…. just WE. Thank God!
- markusdevine
  
  It is for Explorer, not for Internet Explorer. Besides, you will be able to minimize it anyway.
- Anonymous
  
  That is Windows Explorer, not Internet Explorer.
- Guest
  
  “I hope this can be toggled off or when you are not using the ribbon selections that the ribbon”
  hides”.
  
  WE not IE. But +1 on this part of your comment.
- Guest
  
  “I hope this can be toggled off or when you are not using the ribbon selections that the ribbon”
  hides”.
  
  WE not IE. But +1 on this part of your comment.
- Guest
  
  “I hope this can be toggled off or when you are not using the ribbon selections that the ribbon”
  hides”.
  
  WE not IE. But +1 on this part of your comment.
- OMG55
  
  I guess at first, I would think cluttered. But on second thought, if everyone is using it with Office 2007 – 2010, wouldn’t the KISS rule apply here??? If you’re already familiar with it; it would just allow you to complete tasks much faster. Upon first glance, it a big change, but my organization that I run, everyone thought office 2007 -2010 was a shocker. But once they began using it, they all started commenting on how easy and useful it is. If your ever been an IT Tech/ Systems Analyst/ Manager, then you know people come to you for the stupidest things. This will prevent a lot of the unneccessary help desk tickets.
Morgan

I like the ribbons in other programs but in IE it just seems like overkill. I have the interface in IE 9 set with only the Bing toolbar and its clean and minimal. To include the ribbon on IE for Windows 8 seems like a giant step back to me and looks cluttered while taking a significant chunk of the browser window away. I hope this can be toggled off or when you are not using the ribbon selections that the ribbon ”hides”.
GP007

The new QAT feature makes this version 10x better than all the others to date. QAT + minimized ribbon = Win.
GP007

The new QAT feature makes this version 10x better than all the others to date. QAT + minimized ribbon = Win.
Johng

love it!!! it wil take time to get used to it like any change for someone who is used to the old school things but i think this is one i am going to really like.
Guest

Doesn’t do much for me personally, but I can see how it would function well on a touch tablet.
Guest

Doesn’t do much for me personally, but I can see how it would function well on a touch tablet.
markusdevine

I still do not think that what are seeing is going to be what the final GUI looks like, they might show it at BUILD. Here’s hoping! I am liking the Ribbon, though it took me a while to adapt to it but once you do it is really handy. Add some Metro to this and sign me up.
markusdevine

I still do not think that what are seeing is going to be what the final GUI looks like, they might show it at BUILD. Here’s hoping! I am liking the Ribbon, though it took me a while to adapt to it but once you do it is really handy. Add some Metro to this and sign me up.
Anonymous

HOORAY FOR THE UP BUTTON!!!

and its about time they brought the ribbon to explorer.

HATED IT in office at first, but, now I hate using old versions because stuff is just so hard to find.
- Aaron
  
  I had the same experience with Office. At first I hated the ribbon but now I’m use to it and the old 2003 menu feels ancient. Not sure if I’ll like the Explorer ribbon but at least I’ll give it a fair chance.
- veldar
  
  it will be same as menu bar but way better and you can hide it if you don’t like huge box on the upper part
- Anonymous
  
  exactly, double-click on one of the tabs in Office to collapse it and use hotkeys or click to temporarily expand it.
- Anonymous
  
  exactly, double-click on one of the tabs in Office to collapse it and use hotkeys or click to temporarily expand it.
- Anonymous
  
  exactly, double-click on one of the tabs in Office to collapse it and use hotkeys or click to temporarily expand it.
- Anonymous
  
  Agreeing, word by word…
- Anonymous
  
  Agreeing, word by word…
- Tuar
  
  why do you want the UP button?
  
  doesn´t windows 7 provide sufficient tools in the path rute to go up on a folder hierarchy ? (i mean, you can click on a folder name and explorer goes to that folder)
- Anonymous
  
  why do I want the UP button?
  
  because I never realized how much I used it until they took it away!
- Men
  
  I never really used that, I use the breadcrumbs much more instead and it’s more useful than an up button.
  
  The ribbon ui is just stupid for explorer, because the explorer should be very clear to navigate through the folders and nothing else, that thing is big and takes a lot of place and if you minimize the ribbon it bothers you so hard because everytime you click something the ribbons goes away… They should use more glass in the Ribbon UI at least!
- Anonymous
  
  why do I want the UP button?
  
  because I never realized how much I used it until they took it away!
- Candid Calum
  
  The Up button has never been needed since they included the breadcrumb bar. It’s redundant. To go ‘Up’, you click on the previous entry in the breadcrumb bar. It’s ridiculous how many people refuse to do this and desire the Up button to return. Now, Microsoft have listened, and they have included a redundant button which is pointless.
- Anonymous
  
  Its no more redundant than the “back” button is for your breadcrumbs.
  
  you can step back with the back button, why do you need breadcrumbs?
  
  well, you can choose what level to go back to with breadcrumbs, right? good!
  
  with an UP button, I can hold my mouse on one button (or use hotkeys) and look at my files, rather than making sure I click the right level of breadcrumb. good!
  
  gnome sane?
- Anonymous
  
  Its no more redundant than the “back” button is for your breadcrumbs.
  
  you can step back with the back button, why do you need breadcrumbs?
  
  well, you can choose what level to go back to with breadcrumbs, right? good!
  
  with an UP button, I can hold my mouse on one button (or use hotkeys) and look at my files, rather than making sure I click the right level of breadcrumb. good!
  
  gnome sane?
- Djlegion
  
  Because the back button doesn’t just take you back one folder, it will bring you to a previous folder if you went from one folder to a completely different folder.
- Anonymous
  
  oh, also with the folder list on the left, I wouldn’t need the breadcrumbs, up button, or the back button… but its always good to have multiple options!
- Anonymous
  
  oh, also with the folder list on the left, I wouldn’t need the breadcrumbs, up button, or the back button… but its always good to have multiple options!
- Anonymous
  
  Seems so cluttered in explorer, for an application like office its KO but for explorer…I don’t know !!
  
  If they keep it just like in office, hide when not used…I’m all for it…
Anonymous

HOORAY FOR THE UP BUTTON!!!

and its about time they brought the ribbon to explorer.

HATED IT in office at first, but, now I hate using old versions because stuff is just so hard to find.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

Now, can we please have some native integration with Skydrive, please??
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

Now, can we please have some native integration with Skydrive, please??
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

Now, can we please have some native integration with Skydrive, please??
Grannyville7989

Despite I find the Ribbon UI very useful in Microsoft Office, I have found it to be very cluttered and top heavy on my applications. I also dislike the way that Microsoft have used it in their other applications, such as their Live Essentials suite, as a find it either unnecessary and ugly. I don’t think it suites Explorer. It seems like Microsoft are going with the “one size fits all” mentality.

Hopefully, the Ribbon UI is just a placeholder for when the implement the Metro UI style, as the GUI is usually the last thing that Microsoft implements when it comes to a new version of Windows. Plus, we have seen some evidence that Outlook from Office 15 had the Metro UI, so I’m assuming the same will go for Windows 8.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Marston/542557737 Jonathan Marston

I like the functionality and discoverability that the ribbon brings, but I also think (at least in its current form) it’s big, ugly, and messy looking. It would be awesome if they could take the functionality of the ribbon and also make it look pretty…
Anonymous

You fucking call that Improvement in Windows Explorer ?
I dislike the Ribbon in Explorer, i love it in Office BUT A word processing program is differnt from an important part of the OS like Explorer.exe.
It feels too cluttererd, and not so good application of ribbon in explorer
Lets just wait for BUILD and see more
They promised a “Re-imagined windows” , the explorer is still white and blue which sucks, ubuntu has the best, they should copy the launcher in Ubuntu also.
Something important here – Expose like in Macs it is very important, since i stop using mac to windows 7 i missed it i had to install “switcher”, very important feature, and i hope we have different desktops i.e dwsktops 1-4 for example where you can switch between them, and each has diffrernt things or applications running in them.
- Anonymous
  
  so if you have used office… dont you know you can minimize the ribbon and use quick launch? and since its not “a word processing”… a note, office its not a word processor, its a suite, where is Word, the word processor .
  so if you have used office “like you say” dont you know you can hide ribbon? even in office webapps, you can do that. so what is the problem? if its not like a word processor, it means you can minimize it and then use the keyboard and quick launch toolbar…
  
  and expose? sure… alt+tab or win+tab aren’t enough … oh yeah you can use mouse on them, or arrows. or you can use control tab. control + win + tab. and you dont have to keep holding the keys. you can use mouse or arrows to select what you want.
  
  and who in PC has 1 monitor?….. usually peolpe get a second monitors or more if thats not enough for you… then maybe you should use ubuntu? or osx if you think they are “better”
Anonymous

You fucking call that Improvement in Windows Explorer ?
I dislike the Ribbon in Explorer, i love it in Office BUT A word processing program is differnt from an important part of the OS like Explorer.exe.
It feels too cluttererd, and not so good application of ribbon in explorer
Lets just wait for BUILD and see more
They promised a “Re-imagined windows” , the explorer is still white and blue which sucks, ubuntu has the best, they should copy the launcher in Ubuntu also.
Something important here – Expose like in Macs it is very important, since i stop using mac to windows 7 i missed it i had to install “switcher”, very important feature, and i hope we have different desktops i.e dwsktops 1-4 for example where you can switch between them, and each has diffrernt things or applications running in them.
Anonymous

I don’t like this way they are still keeping the Aero UI for windows 8, for normal desktops it will be fine but for tablets I’d say drop it and make everything Metro. Failure do this means the tablet will suffer the same fate as win7 tablets.. People want to see something new.. am tired of the boring aero feel.. even more annoying is that its more clustered the ribbon makes things.
Anonymous

I don’t like this way they are still keeping the Aero UI for windows 8, for normal desktops it will be fine but for tablets I’d say drop it and make everything Metro. Failure do this means the tablet will suffer the same fate as win7 tablets.. People want to see something new.. am tired of the boring aero feel.. even more annoying is that its more clustered the ribbon makes things.
http://twitter.com/kid_jenius Daniel Paulino

The first time I used windows live mail, i hated the ribbon. It used way too much space on my laptop screen. However, I discovered a lot of useful commands because the ribbon presented the buttons so well. So yes, you hate it at first, but i learned to use it, and now im the most efficient i’ve ever been with regards to my email. I think the same thing will happen to many average users. If they just took a few minutes to discover what the ribbon UI offers, they would love it, as it shows them many commands that they haven’t seen before with the old UI

I’m excited for windows 8, not just for the tablet interface, but for the small details that MS is including
http://twitter.com/kid_jenius Daniel Paulino

The first time I used windows live mail, i hated the ribbon. It used way too much space on my laptop screen. However, I discovered a lot of useful commands because the ribbon presented the buttons so well. So yes, you hate it at first, but i learned to use it, and now im the most efficient i’ve ever been with regards to my email. I think the same thing will happen to many average users. If they just took a few minutes to discover what the ribbon UI offers, they would love it, as it shows them many commands that they haven’t seen before with the old UI

I’m excited for windows 8, not just for the tablet interface, but for the small details that MS is including
http://twitter.com/theloz Loz Lowe

I was so sceptical about the Ribbon UI in Explorer (although I love it in Office). Having seen this my fears are completely allayed. For God’s sake though Microsoft, please change that UI skin. The chrome and icons look completely out-of-place next to the Metro UI of the ‘immersive’ start screens. I’m reminded of WinMo running TouchFlo3D or similar. Really not a good comparison to draw!
http://twitter.com/theloz Loz Lowe

I was so sceptical about the Ribbon UI in Explorer (although I love it in Office). Having seen this my fears are completely allayed. For God’s sake though Microsoft, please change that UI skin. The chrome and icons look completely out-of-place next to the Metro UI of the ‘immersive’ start screens. I’m reminded of WinMo running TouchFlo3D or similar. Really not a good comparison to draw!
Sam

I believe the office department will add there own metro design to the final product. They don’t want to give away too much before BUILD.
Tonious

I was pleasantly suprised with the windows live movie maker ribbon ui ease of use. Soo easy to work with
http://www.Nave360.com Sebastian Gorgon

My thoughts on the ribbon interface in explorer in Windows 8 http://twitpic.com/6d6i08
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricardo-Dawkins/746307628 Ricardo Dawkins
  
  Minimize it..
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricardo-Dawkins/746307628 Ricardo Dawkins
  
  Minimize it..
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricardo-Dawkins/746307628 Ricardo Dawkins
  
  Minimize it..
- Anonymous
  
  so you mean this
  
  http://overhackit.com/2011/06/minimize-ribbon-in-explorer-windows-8/
  
  or this? (updated version)
  
  http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-29-43-metablogapi/1641.Figure-24-_2D00_-Alex_2700_s-customizations_5F00_thumb.png
  ?
  
  rigghtttttt
Paul_vansteenkiste

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Seriously though I love the ribbon and I’m quite sure people will love it too. Especially the first page with the copy paste stuff. My mom will finally find the copy function on her own.
Paul_vansteenkiste

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Seriously though I love the ribbon and I’m quite sure people will love it too. Especially the first page with the copy paste stuff. My mom will finally find the copy function on her own.
Paul_vansteenkiste

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Seriously though I love the ribbon and I’m quite sure people will love it too. Especially the first page with the copy paste stuff. My mom will finally find the copy function on her own.
Anonymous

what’s the big deal?? you can toggle the ribbon anyway.. if you don’t like it..
Justice

Oh good, I was worried my new larger monitor would leave more room for content and I wouldn’t get as much Microsoft UI chrome per square inch.
http://twitter.com/EduardoMLD EduardoMLD

I think it’s very cool!
Anonymous

i like how people say “this looks ugly” like if it was rtm… and they wouldn’t change anything about it. not an icon, not a color… i mean, if you actually used a milestone, you would see it used the same ribbon from mspaint and wordpad, now in this video they use the office 2010 like ribbon.

second, “it takes to much space, too cluttered”…. its not like you cant minimize the ribbon??
yeah, like any ribbon i know, yeah!! surpriseee, ribbons can be minimizedddd! if you dont like it, just put stuff in quick access toolbar… yeah! ribbon also has quick access bar, all ribbons i know do!. so you can just have more space with buttons you really need in quick access toolbar! surprise!
even 3ds max! yeah even there some people dont like ribbon and disable it and well some do, the truth is, its faster is some ways, in others its the same speed with no ribnon. BUT it has its avantages.
of course 3dsmax its not an explorer for a OS nor made for touch like microsoft expect windows 8 to be, a little finger friendly if you gonna use “normal” version.
but My point its ribbons work well in alot of software, BUT if you dont like it or it “takes too much space” you can just MINIMIZE it. and use the QUICK ACCESS toolbar. and/or learn how to use the keyboard
Anonymous

i like how people say “this looks ugly” like if it was rtm… and they wouldn’t change anything about it. not an icon, not a color… i mean, if you actually used a milestone, you would see it used the same ribbon from mspaint and wordpad, now in this video they use the office 2010 like ribbon.

second, “it takes to much space, too cluttered”…. its not like you cant minimize the ribbon??
yeah, like any ribbon i know, yeah!! surpriseee, ribbons can be minimizedddd! if you dont like it, just put stuff in quick access toolbar… yeah! ribbon also has quick access bar, all ribbons i know do!. so you can just have more space with buttons you really need in quick access toolbar! surprise!
even 3ds max! yeah even there some people dont like ribbon and disable it and well some do, the truth is, its faster is some ways, in others its the same speed with no ribnon. BUT it has its avantages.
of course 3dsmax its not an explorer for a OS nor made for touch like microsoft expect windows 8 to be, a little finger friendly if you gonna use “normal” version.
but My point its ribbons work well in alot of software, BUT if you dont like it or it “takes too much space” you can just MINIMIZE it. and use the QUICK ACCESS toolbar. and/or learn how to use the keyboard
http://www.gadgeterija.net Denis Jelec

Dear God I hope they get rid of these cluttered Ribbon elements…looks hideous and in complete contrast to tablet Metro interface shown…

This is major downer from designer’s perspective.
- Anonymous
  
  my points exactly.. windows 8 might sell just like windows 7 but if they are looking to make it a tablet option then it will be a total failure.. it will have the same fate as windows 8
- Anonymous
  
  my points exactly.. windows 8 might sell just like windows 7 but if they are looking to make it a tablet option then it will be a total failure.. it will have the same fate as windows 8
http://www.gadgeterija.net Denis Jelec

Dear God I hope they get rid of these cluttered Ribbon elements…looks hideous and in complete contrast to tablet Metro interface shown…

This is major downer from designer’s perspective.
Jinge

I like it. It just misses the “view” menu, to select how you want to see your icons…
The “share” tab is nice too. Maybe adding extensions can make it great!
Jinge

I like it. It just misses the “view” menu, to select how you want to see your icons…
The “share” tab is nice too. Maybe adding extensions can make it great!
Anonymous

That is a cluttered, space wasting terrible UI.

Everyone is going more minimalistic Microsoft is going toolbar crazy.

Ribbon UI is terrible as are Tiles.

I hope we’ll be able to hide it completely.

And all those options and settings but will you allow users to move and sort files as they wish, Custom Sort, like we could in XP, Vista and COULD NOT in Windows 7? It’s so annoying that I can’t move two files together cause Windows sorts them alphabetically, whose genius idea it was to remove it?

Also are we going to be able to sort those buttons and remove/add functions to the toolbars as we want?
Guest

Hope they’re saving the good stuff for BUILD. Because so far W8 is looking like a fairly standard upgrade and not the “reimagined Windows for a new generation of computing devices” that Sinofsky promised and MS desperately needs (particular to try and reverse their position in tablets).
Guest

I don’t know whats up with the ribbon stuff … to much buttons … to much segmented … hate it…
- Guest
  
  I’ll had to that I work with banks and they are slow to evoluate. I’m still in the 1024 era. Fatty button that take 1/5 of the working space is just sad.
- Guest
  
  I’ll had to that I work with banks and they are slow to evoluate. I’m still in the 1024 era. Fatty button that take 1/5 of the working space is just sad.
- Guest
  
  I’ll had to that I work with banks and they are slow to evoluate. I’m still in the 1024 era. Fatty button that take 1/5 of the working space is just sad.
SDreamer

Two arguments come up when people see the ribbon, screen spaced being “wasted” and cluttered.

Yeah, by default the screen space is used up a lot, imagine having every menu item in the menu bar open. If you closed all of them you’d just see the menu bar. The same can be done in Ribbon, just double click the title, and the ribbon interface minimizes to just the titles, clicking them again brings em up just like clicking a menu bar.

For cluttered, new users won’t know that File, Edit, View, etc truely mean. It’s easier when they see these newer titles, then see them categorized in groups across the ribbons. I assume the change for this is that usually people ignore the separators in the drop down menus of the menu bar, and don’t really see the grouping being done. I think the ribbon brings another of level organization. The reason power users generally see this as clutter is because we’re also ignoring the grouping of the tool selections.

The only problem I have after getting acustomed to the ribbon, is shortcut keys. Sure you can hit alt+f, then some other key, but that’s a hassel versus just hittin the shortcut key to directly invoke the action. Once you get the key presses down, then it gets a little easier, but it’s still a lot more key presses then the older menu bar.
SDreamer

Two arguments come up when people see the ribbon, screen spaced being “wasted” and cluttered.

Yeah, by default the screen space is used up a lot, imagine having every menu item in the menu bar open. If you closed all of them you’d just see the menu bar. The same can be done in Ribbon, just double click the title, and the ribbon interface minimizes to just the titles, clicking them again brings em up just like clicking a menu bar.

For cluttered, new users won’t know that File, Edit, View, etc truely mean. It’s easier when they see these newer titles, then see them categorized in groups across the ribbons. I assume the change for this is that usually people ignore the separators in the drop down menus of the menu bar, and don’t really see the grouping being done. I think the ribbon brings another of level organization. The reason power users generally see this as clutter is because we’re also ignoring the grouping of the tool selections.

The only problem I have after getting acustomed to the ribbon, is shortcut keys. Sure you can hit alt+f, then some other key, but that’s a hassel versus just hittin the shortcut key to directly invoke the action. Once you get the key presses down, then it gets a little easier, but it’s still a lot more key presses then the older menu bar.
guest

is that again a new start icon in the video
Cloud

I don’t hate Aero UI , but I MUCH prefer Metro UI
http://www.facebook.com/people/Prachi-Desai/100002704672517 Prachi Desai

We are witnessing some new features coming out regularly from the Windows 8 team. The New Explorer too looks but will power user enjoy these new features. Read more – http://alldailyupdatesandnews.blogspot.com/2011/08/windows-8-new-explorer-looks-and.html
Adrian

I made a concept for a much smaller Ribbon
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2969/windows8explorer.png
Adrian

I made a concept for a much smaller Ribbon
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2969/windows8explorer.png
Anonymous

There’s no way its going to win any awards for good looks but functionality is preferable to presentation in my opinion.
Tony_tha_Mastha

Thank god I’m getting a 1080p laptop
Tony_tha_Mastha

Thank god I’m getting a 1080p laptop
Tony_tha_Mastha

Thank god I’m getting a 1080p laptop
Tony_tha_Mastha

Thank god I’m getting a 1080p laptop
http://twitter.com/s_a_r_k_i_s sarkis chamelian

They cant wait of us to try it……………… GIVE IT TO ME NOW !!! I want to TRY IT !!!
Anonymous

don’t like it. the ribbon is great for office where there are a million commands. for something as simple as the shell, this is ridiculous. I laughed at this guy telling me how easy was to delete a file by pressing the ribbon button. I mean what is wrong with the delete key? Do I really need to waste real state on the delete button I managed to get without for ages?

also what about the context menu paradigm? the reason it was created was so that you wouldn’t clutter toolbars with things that are context sensitive. MSFT broke that with this and it shows me useless stuff that doesn’t apply to the current item. it is not discovereable and it is a huge step backwards in the proper utilization of the most widely used application in the world: windows explorer.

this is a huge mistake and should be rolled back.
Nako1771

One word:ugly.
It’s taking too much space unnecessarily, and is too complicated.
I can complete almost any task through keyboard shortcut.
Nako1771

And with Vista-style address bar(can click to change folder), I don’t understand why they put “up” button back, it’s useless, and ruined the entire visual design of address bar, IMO
Anonymous

For those that hate the look of the ribbon, this is not the final look it hasn’t been metroized yet. The final look is much nicer. A leaked picture of office came out a few months ago with the metroized ribbon (it was collapsed) but it looked really nice. http://www.winrumors.com/microsoft-office-15-full-metro-ui-screenshot-leaks/
http://twitter.com/BenBradford80 Ben Bradford

Have Microsoft ever actually user tested this ribbon stuff? Does anyone actually find it easier to use?
- Anonymous
  
  Yes.
Drasko Divic

Primary function of OS in PC for users are file management and in last versions this functionality declined!
Finally somebody in MS realise that and put full functionality and power back again in Explorer!!