[AccessD] Access poll

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/07/microsoft_word_patent/

A different subject primarily, but this snippet towarsd the end:
<quote>
Bootnote

OpenOffice, touted by many as an alternative to Microsoft's Office, is destined to look a 
whole lot more like its prime competitive target in the near future. The largely Sun-
Microsystems-backed OpenOffice has revealed a planned new look and feel that adopts the 
ribbon interface Microsoft introduced to its own productivity suite with Office 2007.

The change, part of Project Renaissance, is a risky move: Microsoft's ribbon interface has 
served to confuse rather than help users, because of its departure from the familiar drop-
down system of menus to access hidden features. You can see the change here
<http://blogs.sun.com/GullFOSS/entry/prototyping_a_new_ui_july />.
</quote>

One comment on the linked page sum up my concern about the ribbon - there are lots more 
which essentially make the same point.:

"Since 2004 over 90% of the sold new monitors have been widescreen. Whenever possible 
spare the vertical space for actual user instead of ui elements."

-- 
Stuart

On 8 Aug 2009 at 15:09, jwcolby wrote:

> Microsoft owns office and they are in a position to FORCE the world to change, and that is what they 
> are doing.  You can bet your bottom dollar it is for their own reasons.  Usability?  Maybe.  Or 
> maybe they had lost control of the interface and had competition designing office products that 
> looked identical but were free (Open Office anyone?) and maybe a redesign could be copyrighted or 
> even patented...
>