Ribbons saga continues: Ribbons in WordPad UI (Windows 7)

After Paint in new Windows 7, now here comes the first screenshot of new WordPad in Windows 7. And again it’s all from UX Evangelist. Yesterday I was happy to see ribbons and but asked myself are they just missing the point. But now, after WordPad I know answer on that question.

I won’t go through some long introductions – you can read my article about new Windows 7 user interface and Windows Live Waver 3 user interface with some screenshots from Windows Paint and Windows Live Movie Maker in my earlier post – Ribbons saga: Ribbons in Windows 7 and in Windows Live Wave 3.

I’ll just cite myself:

I am happy to see ribbons implemented all over future Windows 7 operating system and Windows Live too, but I don’t like that fact of putting them in some applications just because “we can do that” principle.

And I will keep that one.

But looking at the new WordPad screenshot with ribbons interface just makes me feel good. Really. It is simple, clean and elegant – though it has just one tab, it looks like it is using ribbons in good matter.

If this is the way where Paint, Live Movie Maker and other applications with ribbons will go in future – then I think Microsoft is doing great job.

Ribbons in WordPad are looking good – they are filled with nice number of options, something like stripped-down version of Word and that is what WordPad really should (is supposed) be.

Consistency is great goal and ribbons can help in achieving that one. We just need to think about price for that goal. For now, things look promising.

But, in the name of consistency, please remove that gray, Windows 9x looking ruler bar. It’s even in WordPad under Windows Vista.

Try with one from Word, it will look much better:

So, I hope we will be able to see more and more ribbons coming in future applications. Windows Explorer with ribbons would be really great, Windows Live Writer as well. So, after seeing WordPad I’m sure that we are moving in positive direction.

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5 Responses to “ Ribbons saga continues: Ribbons in WordPad UI (Windows 7) ”

1. Whoa says:

   September 19, 2008 at 3:29

   Hey, can you tell me if there is any Ribbon UI control for integration into my .NET Windows apps for free? Thanks. Oh and where did you get Windows 7?

   Reply
2. ux passion says:

   September 20, 2008 at 17:31

   I don’t have access to Windows 7, I just see some sreenshots all over the web, mostly on UX Evangelist site and just re-post some of them with some comments.

   Regarding free ribbons control, let me take a look deeper into that one so I will let you guys know if i discover anything.

   Thanks for commenting

   Reply
3. pushparajan says:

   February 17, 2009 at 6:47

   i want create ribboncontrol in windows application using vb.net plz can u tell me sir.

   Reply
   • UXPassion.com says:

     February 27, 2009 at 2:57

     In that case you need Ribbon control for Windows Forms if I am right. Try looking at Codeplex for free version I think I recall seing one there. Also, there lot of 3rd party vendors offering that type of control.

     Good luck with your efforts!

     Reply

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