http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2006/12/19/being-a-responsible-open-source-developer.aspxFirst off, let's start this post by saying I think there are a few key points in computer history where things turned. The introduction of the GUI (even though both Apple and Microsoft just build on what Xerox did); the Internet; Object Oriented Languages;enCommunityServer 2007 SP1 (Build: 20510.895)http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2006/12/19/being-a-responsible-open-source-developer.aspx#1359965Thu, 04 Jan 2007 04:28:49 GMTc06e2b9d-981a-45b4-a55f-ab0d8bbfdc1c:1359965ACAC<p>Good commentary Bil... find myself agreeing with many if not all your points.</p><img src="http://weblogs.asp.net/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1359965" width="1" height="1">http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2006/12/19/being-a-responsible-open-source-developer.aspx#1278338Wed, 20 Dec 2006 09:29:24 GMTc06e2b9d-981a-45b4-a55f-ab0d8bbfdc1c:1278338FransBoumaFransBouma<p>That 120+ pages document about how to build a UI is pretty silly, when you consider the irony that ALL Office 2007 applications look completely different: Outlook doesn't use the ribbon but has new controls for menu/buttonbar (colors are different) and for example publisher has old-skool office 2003 menu's/button bars. Word has a ribbon and Excel has too. </p> <p>Didn't they read their own document? So why does anyone else have to obey to their 'standard'?</p> <p>About Dare's screenshots: IMHO that's exactly why the ribbon was created: to get previews of what an action would do so I don't see why these are bad at all, they IMHO match perfectly with the intention of the ribbon. </p> <p>Of course the buttons are way too big, but that's with every button on the ribbon. If you look closely to what the ribbon really is, it's just a menu with big buttons, so you STILL flip through the menus (tabs on the ribbon in this case) and have to hunt for a feature. In short: it doesn't make things more productive (I don't find it easier in Word, and I'm using word quite a lot lately for design docs), just different. </p> <img src="http://weblogs.asp.net/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1278338" width="1" height="1">