Skip to main content

A New Explorer

By
Microsoft has decided to revolutionize the user interface of the Windows Operating System(again). In the upcoming Windows Operating System, the most striking change, according to me is the new look of the Explorer, The first time I saw it, I could not believe my own eyes. Everyone is going minimal these days. Putting  an Omnibar, removing clutter, keeping most used buttons and trashing the rest and so on. Then I first saw this.
Home Tab for Explorer

I instantly dismissed this as one of the thousands of fan site creation or something like that. But Googling around I found out that this was absolutely authentic! In the process I found this.
Honestly, I never hated the ribbon as long as it was kept for applications like Office etc. But now that it is in Explorer, Windows Explorer, I take a strong exception to it.
Just one look at it is enough to make me go nuts. What were they thinking? For people with small screen sizes this HUUUGEEEE toolbar alone will take up a lot of space. I don't know how Windows 8can be  "Touch friendly". To make it worse, the buttons are arranged into multiple tabs.
For example, to share, you need to go to the Share tab to do things.

Share Tab for Explorer

However of all things I found the new View Tab the most annoying, no more a drop down menu that neatly shows you different viewing options. Instead you get this.

View Tab for Explorer Showing View Types
For me it was actually quite horrifying.
Now since the Microsoft team is working very hard for their designs, it can't be all bad. Well, it actually isn't. Some of the positive features for having a ribbon is that you can integrate more options in the space. Yes, its is also a negative aspect for most of the users who will simply be overwhelmed by the plethora of options available. But still I found a few things which can come in handy.
Like the File Menu, or what is left of it gives an option to open a Command Prompt Window.

File Menu Options

Also the Disk Tab was nice.
Drive Tab for the Disk Tools
But the best feature of the Ribbon UI is that it can be hidden! Lol! So I found this most to my liking.
My favorite screenshot so far
Which means I can still free up the space for my screen real estate, make it look as clutter free as possible and keep hoping for the best. But overall, I have been quite disappointed.

Pros:
  • More features available close at hand
  • Novel looks
  • The new Up Button
Cons:
  • Is complicated
  • Takes up too much screen space
  • Buttons too small for Touch
  • Not user friendly
  • Slightly intimidating
I fervently hope, the guys working out there "Respect the Explorer" and come up with a simpler version of Explorer, even if they have to keep that Ribbon. In any case I wish them all the luck.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

No spam please :)

Popular posts from this blog

Operational Situational Summary - Ukraine 2 March

By
From a glance at the map and the news reports, it appears that the Russian advance has been very slow or even checked. However, a deeper look shows the situation has worsened significantly for Ukraine. That this happened as per my expectation in the past few posts makes me feel worse. In the North, the Russian forces have already encircled Chernihiv in the past couple of days. This is not yet fully updated on this map. The two strong armored spearheads from Konotop (which had also fallen) are currently holding in Pryluky and Nizhyn. The Chernihiv garrison probably has a day or two before the Russians reach Kozelets. Then any breakout attempt to Kyiv will become extremely difficult and will likely result in very heavy losses. It is to be expected that this city too, will fall soon without affecting the battle of Kyiv. This is bad for Ukraine. Now that the International Community has rallied for Ukraine, the previous fears of Russia dealing with breakaway republics in the East should be
Post a Comment
Read more

Growing up

By
Time affects everything and everyone We all grow up. After college, friends go places, to different states and far away countries. You get less and less time. Some go for higher studies, again, in other states. Parents get older. Then friends start getting married. First it’s usually the girls. One by one, your crushes tie the knot. You dismiss it, you are still young. Then your guy friends start getting married too. Your circle shrinks. In the end you look around. All you are left with are ideological nutjobs, immature imbeciles, idealistic crazies, bohemian hippies, or other misfits. Do you really belong here? Okay, that was too harsh. But you think. You say to yourself, ‘ dil to baccha hai jee ’.  Okay, fair enough. And then... Then, you see a growing pot belly. Something you always despised. Your dad had one (he still does). After taking a shower, you look at the mirror. You are losing hair. You search on Amazon for hair growing products - it is too much of a hassle. Hair transplan
Post a Comment
Read more

Operation Situation Report Summary - Ukraine 4 March

By
 Defense Without Strategy Ukraine seems to be hell bent on fighting a static war without almost any flexibility. Their forces may be valiant and defiant, but without a coherent strategy, the best they can hope for is to prolong their own suffering WITHOUT significantly hurting the enemy. Here is how the situation stands as of now. Kherson has fallen. The front in the South was decisively broken day before yesterday with the capture of the railway station and port. Naturally, the Russian forces did not wait and moved straight North to Mykolaiv. All UA forces on the Dnepr facing South are likely to be outflanked. Unless the Russian spearheads are cut off and destroyed in a day or two, it will be too late. The fall of the entire South seems to be inevitable.  To extricate the forces, UA should have withdrawn forces from other sectors (including far away Donetsk front). Now, the best they can try is to win time to reinforce Kyiv. Kharkov is almost surrounded. This battle seems to be fought
Post a Comment
Read more