off subject, but can't be helped: Microsoft has gone mad

I know the terms old-fashioned and historian have an obvious relationship, but I wanted to vent; welcome to my outlet.

I have been following the march of the new Microsoft user interfaces (UI) in Office, Vista and the yet unreleased Windows 7. It has been depressing. I have been watching for clues that Microsoft is paying attention to their more experience users and, well, it has been a dark period for those of us looking for a glimmer of hope.

I am not a Microsoft MVP, but I know enough to have a valid opinion. My experience dates back to DOS and late great Windows 3.11 for Workgroups. I have used the Microsoft Office applications since before they were bundled together (for those of you born in the 80s, that means I have nearly 20 years of Windows experience). I ran the Windows 95 beta and managed several small networks with Microsoft's Small Business Server line. When it comes to being a user, I know what I am talking about.

The first problem is with the Office Fluent interface. Many commentators have fallen in love with the new UI, I haven't. The quote you see most often is sounds like this: "once you have used the ribbon interface for a while, you will find it easier to use than the old menus". Bunk. I can say, with over a year of using the Ribbon interface, that Excel has been ruined and the new Word is less usable than the 2000 version. The biggest problem is that the menu keeps moving. You cannot remember where something and go back to it, because every Ribbon icon must be remembered in context to what Ribbon is up. It is like having one menu bar. Pathetic.

Now, why did Microsoft change the user interface? I surmise three reasons. First, the new interface is designed to make Word easier for new users. Second, Microsoft wanted to create a user interface that, once adopted (see crammed down users throats), could limit the ability of alternatives (Open Office) to mimick its behavior. Third, to keep cramming new functions into Word, they needed to rearrange the menu real estate.

The problem with these three ideas is that all of them strike against the installed user base that represents 80 to 90 percent of all users with any concessions. Even when the new versions of Windows changed the layout of the Control Panel, a classic mode was available (of course, excluding Vista and 7, but we are getting there). There is no way, through Microsoft, that you can restore the old menu system or get rid of the new Ribbon.

Now I have said that Word has the been the reason for the changes, what about Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, etc? I believe that, for Microsoft, Word development drives the others. It is the only explanation I can see to explain why the sort and filter commands in Excel are not on the main ribbon. If you only use Excel a little, and not for actually reviewing data, you won't use these basic functions used by people who actually need Excel.

So what is the problem with Vista and Windows 7? You can search for Vista and hate for the details, but the biggest problem with Vista was that it was not better than XP. It was slower, more complicated, more expensive, no classic menu options, and sold in varieties that, unless you bought the Ultimate version, represented a step down in basic ablitiy over XP. Microsoft responded by pushing Windows 7, but what adjustments have they really made? It might be faster than Vista and XP, but it is still more complicated, withoug classic menu options, and sold in varieties that, unless you bought the Ultimate version, represented a step down in basic ablitiy over XP.

The other problem is that the professional reviewers have failed to understand the problems created by Vista, Windows 7, and the Ribbon interface. Professional reviewers compare Windows and Apple operating systems and user interfaces. Most users don't. I have used Apple machines less than 30 minutes in the past 20 years and I bet most users fall in the same category. When a professional reviewer looks at a the new Microsoft changes, they have Apple thoughts in their heads. When I look at the Microsoft changes, I have XP thoughts in my head. Where the professional reviewer would see familiarities with Apple and be happy about it; I would see everything moved around without reason.

The bad news is, it isn't going to get better. I do not know what older users are going to do once Microsoft hangs the XP and Office 2003 users out to dry in a couple of years when they stop security patches. The economy will recover in time, but your computer won't.