Everyone Stay Calm, Firefox is Not Adopting the Microsoft Ribbon
Everyone Stay Calm, Firefox is Not Adopting the Microsoft Ribbon
Posted 09/30/2009 at 1:47pm
| by Jason Barry
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Alex Faaborg set the record straight on his user experience blog for Mozilla about Firefox 4.0 coming standard with a ribbon interface. There were a slew blogs, tweets, and news articles saying that the latest Firefox would sport the Redmond style-feature. However, it seems the information may have been a bit misconstrued.
Faaborg clarified in his blog, that while they have been investigating the interface trends in popular software products, they have not chosen the “Ribbon” to be an ideal solution for a web browser. He goes on to point out that “a tab based and contextual UI designed for holding a massive number of commands for document creation (a Ribbon) doesn’t actually make any sense for a Web browser” and they have no intention of implementing one.
It would appear the proposed interface for Firefox 4.0 (see image) resembles the Chrome and latest IE front-ends: losing the menu bar, and integrating a minimal command UI.
What do you think? Would Firefox have been better with a pretty little “Ribbon?”
Image Credit: Mozilla
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vcrguy
October 02, 2009 at 1:10pm
When Office 2007 first came out, the ribbon interfact was an interesting diversion from previous Office versions. I thought at that point, change might be good, grouping like commands together would improve my productivity. As I came to use the new interface, the more annoyed I became. Being unable to find useful commands where they previously lived, and try to adapt to the Microsoft Cool-Aid approach to interface design (it is our way or no way!) was a nightmare to say the least.
The flexability in being able to custom design my own interface to my own needs was gone and my productivity while using O2007 took a major hit because instead of easily finding commands that I use on a daily basis in a familiar place, I would end up searching the different ribbons until either I found what I was looking for, or I had to invoke help to find where Microsoft had placed it in the ended.
I am not one to hate change, when change is for the better, but the ribbon interface is a failure in my mind. Stop trying to dictate what tools you think I should use and let me configure it the way I like!
I for one would love to see the ribbon interface die.
Zazubovich
October 01, 2009 at 12:31pm
And Ftf'in ribbon interface. Microsoft screwed a retarded dog with that design decision. I have to use it to satisfy clients, but every time I have to actually do something professional or useful I will curse the Redmond dickweeds who foisted that Mac-envious interface atrocity on us. At home I still use 97, because it works.
MleB
October 01, 2009 at 5:25am
Ribbon or Chrome / IE -
Chucked the ribbon on Word by going 'back' to OpenOffice and while one does not necessarily need a raft of controls for a browser, hiding/burying/removing controls as Chrome/IE does is not helpful either.
Current Firefox already allows one to incorporate Navigation controls into the Menu Bar - so pretty the the GUI up by all means, but not by simply aping other software ' features' or making the browser useful only for lowest common denominator.
hades_2100
September 30, 2009 at 7:22pm
I hate the ribbon. Good thing they are not adopting it.
hades
quantumnerd
October 01, 2009 at 8:21pm
If you hate the ribbon so much without giving a reason for it, you're being one of those apple people who live on insults without reason..
DogPatch1149
September 30, 2009 at 6:04pm
...someone comes up with an add-on for that? (I'd say "app for that", but I don't want Apple fanboys or lawyers trying to flog me with wet noodles.)
Let me get this straight...first, Mozilla used the word "chrome" to define the URL of files describing UI elements in their browser. Next, Google uses it as the name of their entire browser, and now Mozilla wants to make Firefox look like that browser.
Next thing you know, we'll be offered something like WebSlicedChromeWidgets with SidebarAcceleratorAddOns and SpeedDialCoverFlowExtensions.
O-M-G-W-T-F-B-B-Q.
nekollx
September 30, 2009 at 3:10pm
if if it protects vs posion and confuse.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
quantumnerd
October 01, 2009 at 8:20pm
As one of the younger nerds, (my age doesn't appear "overclocked" yet) I remember pokemon (very recently). No, I won't be (edit: AN) annoying little runt about it and exibit near sexual attraction to "shinies", but I do appreciate your reffrerence.
Now, if only we could overclock pokemon, send them to other people, and watch their handhelds overheat.. heh heh
nekollx
October 02, 2009 at 8:32am
Final Fantasy refference actually...
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Yusonice
September 30, 2009 at 2:40pm
adding a ribbon would be troublesome to use compared to the normal menu bar. Good thing they diss it
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