Microsoft: Office 12 to be more in your face [Archive]

mac-er

Sep 13, 2005, 11:12 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050913/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_office

According to Microsoft, the newest version of MS Office 12 will automatically pop up the commands the system thinks you want based on whatever you are typing.

Isn't this what Clippy did? "It looks like your typing a letter."

Really, what, doesn't MS get? People don't want their computer to be in their face.

wordmunger

Sep 13, 2005, 11:15 AM

Oh, yeah, this looks like a disaster. This might finally get me to switch to iWork.

plinden

Sep 13, 2005, 11:23 AM

I'm sure there'll be a way of turning this off ... won't there?

Still using Office 2000 on my PC. This is another reason not to "upgrade".

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 11:23 AM

I'd love to see Microsoft slip up with it and Apple come in with a new version of iWork that is fast and useful.

Blue Velvet

Sep 13, 2005, 11:26 AM

It looks like you're about to type a post. Would you like some help with that?

faintember

Sep 13, 2005, 11:29 AM

It looks like you're about to type a post. Would you like some help with that? It looks like you are typing anti-Microsoft sentiments. Would you like to be corrected *cough* (censored)? :p

wordmunger

Sep 13, 2005, 11:29 AM

I'm sure there'll be a way of turning this off ... won't there?

Still using Office 2000 on my PC. This is another reason not to "upgrade".

I used to work in a computer lab where preferences were reset every time you logged out. So though you could turn it off, the next time you logged in that damned paper clip would be back again, offering to help you with your memo for the 6 billionth time.

FoxyKaye

Sep 13, 2005, 11:33 AM

Oh gods, that's exactly what M$ needs to be with Office - even more "in your face." I can think of a whole list of problems with this, but instead I'll make fun of Word a little more:

* It looks like you're typing a suicide note, do you want some help with that?

* It looks like you're typing classified government documents, do you want me to leak them onto the Internet using a Windows security flaw?

* It looks like you're almost finished with your thesis, do you want me to crash unexpectedly and delete your file?

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 11:37 AM

I'm actually really happy with Office X. I'd like them to speed it up a bit, and that's about all. That's really just nitpicking though, it keeps up with me very well.

As for Office 2003, it'd be nice if the GUI fitted in with XP a bit more although I suppose that's a bit irrelevant considering Vista. Still, it's currently a bit cramped for my liking.

Blue Velvet

Sep 13, 2005, 11:38 AM

* It looks like you're typing classified government documents, do you want me to leak them onto the Internet using a Windows security flaw?

:D

RobHague

Sep 13, 2005, 11:43 AM

lol.

Imagine if it integrates with Windows Vista.

* It look's like your shopping online, would you like me to email your creditcard details to everyone in your address book?

* It look's like your trying to delete a file, should Windows Schedual to FORMAT the drive next reboot?

* It look's like you are going to shut down, are you sure you want to leave? Really? 100%? Can't change your mind?

* It look's like you are trying to open a program. Should Windows Crash (a) when you go to save (b) when you least expect it?

OMG worse... Vista having services yo 'pay' for...

* It look's like you are typing in your credit card details. You have just been signed up to a free 60 day trial of Microsoft's News Services, you're credit card will now be debited for the $100 administration charge.

Chimera

Sep 13, 2005, 11:43 AM

Theres only one thing I want in a future version of Office and it's something that will never happen = debloat the whole thing, maybe it needs rewriting from the base up instead of continually piling new code on the old foundations.

jaw04005

Sep 13, 2005, 11:49 AM

Microsoft honestly doesn't get it anymore. Who wants Word to automatically do ANYTHING for you. It's already a pain to turn off auto-formatting. I just this one of those "windows-only" features. ;) Ballmer is running the company into the ground.

DavidLeblond

Sep 13, 2005, 11:50 AM

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 11:58 AM

Oh dear. :(

There must be a tunnel between the Redmond School for the Visually Impaired and the Microsoft Office GUI Department. Sorry to all the blind people this offends.

macOSX-tastic

Sep 13, 2005, 11:59 AM

Isn't this what Clippy did? "It looks like your typing a letter."

the seven most annoying words ever :mad:, when using MS office on windows. made me want to tear my hair out writing formal letters and the such. whoever designed that little paperclip should be bent into the shape of one.

:D

gwuMACaddict

Sep 13, 2005, 12:10 PM

Link to screenshots (http://bink.nu/photos/news_article_images/category1015.aspx)

Wow! Microsoft has singlehandedly created the most confusing user interface I've ever seen. You know what the best part is? People like my parents who still use 800x600 resolution will only probably get 1 inch of document space to actually type in :P

oh wow- had no idea it would be THAT bad... thanks for the link...

sheesh

srobert

Sep 13, 2005, 12:24 PM

* It looks like your trying to use Bold in your document. Bold is a Microfost Vista Ultimate only feature. Would you like to upgrade? Ye$ / No *

mac-er

Sep 13, 2005, 12:39 PM

This is fun.

*It looks like you are trying to order a Mac, let me shut down the computer.

yg17

Sep 13, 2005, 12:57 PM

Link to screenshots (http://bink.nu/photos/news_article_images/category1015.aspx)

Wow! Microsoft has singlehandedly created the most confusing user interface I've ever seen. You know what the best part is? People like my parents who still use 800x600 resolution will only probably get 1 inch of document space to actually type in :P

Brushed metal, except it's ugly.

*It looks like you are commenting on how we ripped off Apple again, your name and address has been submitted to the Microsoft Loyalty Enforcement team and they will be at your house to kill you in 3....2....1....0

RobHague

Sep 13, 2005, 01:01 PM

lol someone should make a 'It look's like' clippy thread ;)

Thanks for the link too, didnt realise it was even that far. My first thoughts though were "What the hell is that?". I think MS are running low on idea's... its all about the colour of the menu bars now :D

GilGrissom

Sep 13, 2005, 01:08 PM

Oh dear. :(

There must be a tunnel between the Redmond School for the Visually Impaired and the Microsoft Office GUI Department. Sorry to all the blind people this offends.
Hehe!!! ;)

My God, could those toolbars be any bigger and take up any more screen space? People are used to the normal file, edit etc, this is just confusing. Yes they look like they have nice big clear icons and pictures, (pictures are always good! :) .) but in tolerance levels and used appropriately!!

FrontPage doesn't look much different. I liked the new Outlook 2003 layout. I'm a big fan of Outlook and thought that they did a pretty good job with it, seemed more pleasent to use, but this one seems a little "out there!" I guess they probably won't be the final looks though.

mac-er

Sep 13, 2005, 01:14 PM

It looks like they are trying to the the floating Window in the Mac version of Word/Office and trying to apply it in a Windows-style menu bar.

GilGrissom

Sep 13, 2005, 05:19 PM

It looks like they are trying to the the floating Window in the Mac version of Word/Office and trying to apply it in a Windows-style menu bar.
And get some fancy visuals with that transparency!!

IJ Reilly

Sep 13, 2005, 06:05 PM

Clippy sez, "It looks like you are about get up to take a pee. Would you like me to hold..."

Nah... They'd never do that.

Would they? :eek:

Abstract

Sep 13, 2005, 06:28 PM

It looks like you are typing anti-Microsoft sentiments. Would you like to be corrected *cough* (censored)? :p

It won't censor you. It'll just execute a pre-programmed crash immediately when the words "Microsoft" and "sucks" comes up in the same sentence. :p

iLikeMyiMac

Sep 13, 2005, 06:47 PM

ham_man

Sep 13, 2005, 07:07 PM

Couldn't even view the screenies. They crashed my beloved OmniWeb...:(

Heb1228

Sep 13, 2005, 07:10 PM

Microsoft needs to fire the guy that thinks making buttons bigger makes the computer easier to use.

killuminati

Sep 13, 2005, 07:20 PM

the new word toolbar colours looks a lot like itunes 5 and mail.

Chubypig

Sep 13, 2005, 08:02 PM

I would like to see that video skit they speak of with Napoleon Dynamite! Flippin' Seeeeet! Gosh!

Apple Hobo

Sep 13, 2005, 08:23 PM

More fun stuff from Digibarn (http://www.digibarn.com/collections/screenshots/Screenshots%20Funstuff/page_01.htm)... :D

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 08:28 PM

Nice ones Apple Hobo. :D

belvdr

Sep 13, 2005, 08:34 PM

Nice ones Apple Hobo. :D

Yeah, except they can't spell at all. :)

Actually, I think Office 12 looks fine. The look may be copied from Apple, but hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 08:39 PM

Actually, I think Office 12 looks fine.

You can't be serious!

The look may be copied from Apple, but hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Ah, good, you're not serious. :D

belvdr

Sep 13, 2005, 08:46 PM

You can't be serious!

Ah, good, you're not serious. :D

Actually, I am serious when I say it looks fine. I have no problem with it at all. I'm not pro-MS or pro-Apple. Just an unbiased user. Not one company does everything wrong or everything right.

I think both camps have issues they should fix with their products.

mad jew

Sep 13, 2005, 08:48 PM

I think both camps have issues they should fix with their products.

I couldn't agree more, but do you really think Office 12 looks good? I certainly don't think it looks like anything from Apple.

Heb1228

Sep 13, 2005, 08:50 PM

I'm not pro-MS or pro-Apple. Just an unbiased user. Not one company does everything wrong or everything right.
Let us all bow before the unbiased user! I wish we could all think as clearly! Perhaps someday I will be able to become... unbiased!!!!

belvdr

Sep 13, 2005, 08:54 PM

I couldn't agree more, but do you really think Office 12 looks good? I certainly don't think it looks like anything from Apple.

I didn't say it looks like anything Apple would create; it's just imitating it. I think it looks usable, and that's all I need from an office suite.

belvdr

Sep 13, 2005, 08:55 PM

Let us all bow before the unbiased user! I wish we could all think as clearly! Perhaps someday I will be able to become... unbiased!!!!

Yeah, bow down. Maybe one day...

DeSnousa

Sep 13, 2005, 08:56 PM

OMG ugly to the max. Totally un-user friendly. Im glad I made the switch to osx this year, i believe Microsoft has finally screwed up.

How long before Mac's become mainstream now?

Heb1228

Sep 13, 2005, 08:58 PM

Yeah, bow down. Maybe one day...
Good, you caught the sarcasm.

belvdr

Sep 13, 2005, 09:00 PM

OMG ugly to the max. Totally un-user friendly. Im glad I made the switch to osx this year, i believe Microsoft has finally screwed up.

How long before Mac's become mainstream now?

Quite awhile, because there is still software that runs only on Windows and Windows-based servers are widespread.

Also, Apple doesn't seem to cut much of a discount to companies.

Eluon

Sep 13, 2005, 09:40 PM

I think it is ugly, but they may also enhance it some more - clean up the interface. Remember, windows has never been known to be user friendly. I think apple should work hard for an office application that can replace office for some of us that aren't so power users.

it was never about quality - it was always about business. Microsoft has always had the better business and marketing of its systems. Everyone knows that is how they got started.

yippy

Sep 13, 2005, 09:55 PM

I don't mind the buttons that much. The thing that really annoys the heck out of me is those popups that try to help or inform you of things. And not just clippy, but also the ones from the SysTray that say "It seems you have unused icons on you desktop" and stuff. That is so annoying and no way to stop it.

The best word processor I have ever used was Adobe Page Maker 6.5. That was powerful, you could easily format any kind of document from flier to formal paper, and it did what you told it to and not what you didn't (ie, no auto-format junk). Problem is it is only for OS 9 and the replacement, InDesign I think, just is no where as good or easy to use.

O.T. Anyone know how to change the highlight function in Word. If I click the courser in the middle of a word and then drag to highlight another word with that it automatically highlights all of the first word to. Does it not understand that where I click is where I want it to start highlighting? Most annoying thing about it that I run into every day.

Daveway

Sep 13, 2005, 10:33 PM

A GUI is really bad when it actually gives you a headache just looking at it! :o

notjustjay

Sep 13, 2005, 10:33 PM

It looks like you're almost finished with your thesis, do you want me to crash unexpectedly and delete your file?

You laugh, but this is EXACTLY what friggin' happened to me a few months ago.

The EVE BEFORE a major milestone deadline was due, Word crashed. Not only did I lose everything I had done between save points, but it actually COMPLETELY CORRUPTED my document. I could open it, it would load, and just as it would finish displaying the Window, it would all disappear again with an unexpected error.

I spent the rest of that evening reconstructing my thesis from backups and text-file-readers.

The following week I switched to LaTeX. It was a pain to learn, but it did such an amazing job... I'd never look back.

amholl

Sep 13, 2005, 10:44 PM

I like the brushed metal, but i think ive seen it before,
I just cant get over how unoriginal microsoft is. They r so stupid.
I also hate clippy :D !!!!!

SummerBreeze

Sep 13, 2005, 10:52 PM

I'm sorry, but do people really need any help using a word processing program? I mean, come on, you type stuff and it appears on the screen. Why would they make it more in your face?

*It looks like you waiting until the last minute to type a paper. That was bad. Would you like me to stop it from printing?*

Speaking of the Paper Clip of Death, has anyone seen the Windows RG: Really Good Edition Flash Movie (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/winrg.php). If not, load it up and click on Word to see what the Clip does, it's hilarious.

dubbz

Sep 13, 2005, 11:36 PM

That's not good...

They better not mess up OneNote! I'll sulk if they do.

derajfast

Sep 13, 2005, 11:37 PM

please dont kill me......but i always thought the one great thing about microsoft was office...i just think that it is a very good and intuitive program...sure its a little cluttered with word...but i excel is fantastic as ais powerpoint....word is little confusing.....but i think this looks pretty awful and even more confusing

slimflem

Sep 13, 2005, 11:49 PM

* It looks like you're typing classified government documents, do you want me to leak them onto the Internet using a Windows security flaw?

....good one.

iMeowbot

Sep 14, 2005, 12:04 AM

It's not Clippy II. All they're really doing is highlighting interface features that you're most likely going to want next. Their last attempt, going so far as to hide less-common menu options, was pure evil and needed replacing.

kaylee

Sep 14, 2005, 01:59 AM

a few comics about "Binky" the paperclip:

http://www.ubersoft.net/d/19991120.html
http://www.ubersoft.net/d/20010423.html
http://www.ubersoft.net/d/20020305.html

yg17

Sep 14, 2005, 12:34 PM

Why cant MS do pro users a favor and make an option to turn off every single auto formatting, wizard, talking paperclip, ect? Sure, some of that crap is great for grandma, but a lot of people, myself included, absolutley hate auto formatting and would love nothing more than Word to be Notepad with the ability to change fonts and double space things.

ibook30

Sep 14, 2005, 01:00 PM

"It looks like you are typing code, would you like to steal some from :
Apple
Sun
Someone more talented than you .... "

badmofo9000

Sep 14, 2005, 01:05 PM