Modern UI (metro) WTF

[Jammrock]

Yes. Right-click on the application, Pin to Start. Or open the all apps, right-click, Pin to Start. Or drop a shortcut in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\St art Menu\Programs.

Works for folders and mapped network drives too. Right-click the folder/drive, Pin to Start.

Just about anything can go on the Start screen. It's not just for modern apps. Modern apps support live tiles on the start screen. Everything else pinned there are just static shortcuts...like the start menu.

I know your woes all to well. I did desktop for 9-years. I've moved people to Win95, Win98 SE, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, and finally Vista. Then I quite and left for the server world. Not because of Vista, though that would make for a better story, but because I got sick of the CTO's crap.

[cjolley]

I get to do it all for our 40 person department.
In order:
Database design & programming
Desktop programming (related to the databases)
Servers (for our department only, general MIS does networking)
helpdesk triage (general MIS does full HD) <- this is the source of the eye-rollers

[Umfriend]

I have not even got to grips with the ribbon in office (and shit****ingkillyoualldead hope they won;t try that nonsense on SSMS) for real, which really disincentives the use of mouse vs keyboard but W8 is something else. I understand it from a touchscreen point of view but even then it is extremely hard to get to the more hardcore parts (services.msc, resmon.exe, little used apps). If you use a lot, a lot, of those, organising the start menu is way easier than grouping huge icons on pages to touch.

Whatever, I am just verily pissed off at the way MS forces UIs for products that have been around for quite a while. Build classic modes. Build shells around the basic UI. Were I rich, I'd buy MS and have them revert. Yes, I've had a tiny bit of w(h)ine. But given the many apps, tricks, hints and tips to get windows to do what you could get it to do in the past, I am not alone in my ****stration.

[Jammrock]

You do know you can both edit and create custom ribbons in Office now? Office 2007 ribbons were static, true, but starting with Office 2010 you can edit existing ribbons, create new, custom ribbons, and then export/import the ribbon via a file.

You can also create custom keyboard shortcuts to quickly access commonly used functions.

File > Options, Custom Ribbon. The "New Tab" button creates the ribbon. Up/Down arrows move its position. From there you can create groups or just add individual functions to the tab. This way your tab can be the default tab with (potentially) everything you want on it.

[VJ]

You do know you can both edit and create custom ribbons in Office now?

It adds a whole new dimension to "getting lost"!

On one hand, I applaud Microsoft for trying new interfaces, but on the other hand they sometimes feel counter productive. And then there still are big annoyances that have been around for ages now:
- Powerpoint language setting: always defaults to the system language, no way to set a language for a document like in word. Any word you type, any textbox you make will use the system's language.
- Languages in Excel: try using a Polish Excel, all function names are translated (IF becomes JEŻELI)! And no way to set them to English, unless you have the English user interface (which at work I do not have)
- Opening multiple Powerpoint documents: always in the multiple document interface, not in separate windows (like it is possible in word), more difficult to arrange with other windows (e.g. viewing 2 ppt and a pdf).
- Close icon on Skype (ok, recent acquisition) does not close, just minimizes.
- Don't get me started on figures and equations in Word...

The first 2 clearly show that the developers do not consider people might use different languages. I have a whole list of such small annoyances, and I know I'm not alone with them. The ribbon interface is ok, but to me it is annoying that its content changes with the window size.

[Umfriend]

You do know you can both edit and create custom ribbons in Office now? Office 2007 ribbons were static, true, but starting with Office 2010 you can edit existing ribbons, create new, custom ribbons, and then export/import the ribbon via a file.

I do. But it simply isn't better than the 2003 UI, especially if you, like me, want to use the keyboard as much as possible. A simple ALT + first letter of a menu category would open a the menu and from there on you could find your way (if you did not know them by head). It works that way with the ribbon as well but the next key might get you anywhere from the right or the left on the screen. And the first key is simply ridiculous: N for Insert, M for Formulas, A for Data and L for Developer? You (not you personally) have got to be joking. And then you press A, shitloads of keys to choose from like "Y21", splattered all over the ribbon. Drop down simple lists was way easier (and could be adjusted as well).

The thing is, everything can be done. But even after years of ribbon, people are still trying to get the old way back. Same with Metro.

[The PIT]

Metro since hardly any apps use it it's a total waste of time. I mean office 2013 dumps straight onto the desktop as soon as launch a program. So you end up making desktop short cuts to your programs. I understand why MS where trying to make a unified start screen but not the half way baked way they've not encouraged programmers to use it including themselves.
The old style desktop should have been the default and metro optional on desktop pc's. Tablets metro should be the default.

[Umfriend]

Exactly.

[UtwigMU]

I remember how PC Tools 2.something and Wordstar 4.0 for DOS used to have ribbon style interface, where you would see all commands in 3-4 lines ribbon at the top.

Then came out UI revolution when they invented pull down menu.

Now we're back to ribbon.

[cjolley]

The weird thing about the ribbon to me is that even though the commands are right there in front of me I can't seem to see them.
Every single time I need to do anything I have to hunt for the button, and I've been on it at least two years at work. o:

[Jammrock]

Which is why you can make custom ribbons. So you're stuff is exactly where you want it.

[Umfriend]

But I want it in a menu bar. A nice, hierarchic structure that runs you through the menu as you use shortcuts. I know, the ribbon does that as well but as said, pointers at shortcutkey Y21 are annoying and the next level may require you to look all over the Ribbon to find.

[Umfriend]

I feel appreciated: http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+8+D...ticle34354.htm

Now get back an hierarchic menu bar in Office and I'll be extremely happy.

[dZeus]

I feel appreciated: http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+8+D...ticle34354.htm

Now get back an hierarchic menu bar in Office and I'll be extremely happy.

Bring back WordPerfect!

More seriously: there is a search bar add-on for office, that allows you to find a menu option by typing the name.
I did not think there was much logic in the old hierarchic menu bar design in Office, nor do I think the Ribbon interface is completely rational in where functions reside. But it's a step up (imo), and can be customized.

As for Metro... I don't care about it, as long as I can run the classic desktop with start menu (not start screen), with no forced exposure to Metro and without needing to change 10 billion setting. It would also be nice if it were possible to run a metro app inside the classic desktop, so I can multitask comfortably between different programs, which is the idea of the classic desktop.

[Umfriend]

Bring back WordPerfect!

Amen! I've always liked WP better, if only because formatting made so much more sense in WP.

Framework III I was less a fan off.