Skip to main content

Windows 8 to feature the Ribbon UI in Windows Explorer

One of the many things we like about Windows 7 is how simple clean the Windows Explorer is compared to previous versions of the the operating system. Well, simplicity may be a thing of the past. Two days ago, Within Windows ran a feature by Rafael Rivera and Windows expert Paul Thurrott with screenshots showing a major return of the Ribbon UI, a File menu replacement that first popped up in Microsoft Office 2007.

windows-8-ribbon-ui
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The screenshot above (courtesy of Within Windows) shows the Ribbon user interface in an early build of Windows 8. The icons are temporary and would eventually be replaced by something prettier and more useful, but you get the idea. Basically, the Ribbon UI takes all of the multilayered selectable File menus of old and lays them out in an organized fashion in a row of buttons and selections. You can change what icons show in the Ribbon by selecting a different tab. In the picture above there are menus for Home, Share, and View.

Rivera and Thurrott note that this feature appears to be controversial inside Microsoft, as much of the Ribbon’s functionality is also found elsewhere. The Ribbon UI is useful in Office programs because of the complex nature of their feature sets, but here, it appears to be wasting space and over-complicating the explorer window. At a time when interfaces are getting simpler and more natural, we’re not so sure the Ribbon UI is a great fit for Windows 8–at least not here. Despite the fact that the Ribbon is supposed to eliminate File menus, a file menu still exists and it is “quite expansive.”

As Windows 8 nears its first beta, new features will continue to leak. Though Microsoft does seem to be taking security a lot more serious this go round. Hopefully that’s because, unlike this Ribbon UI, there are some killer ideas in the pipeline.

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Best color laser printers for 2024: tested and reviewed
A Brother printer on a counter in front of a brick wall.

The best color laser printers can be a great investment, saving you quite a bit of time and money. For shoppers worried about the long-term ink costs, you'll find color laser printers surprisingly affordable. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a very long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer quick performance and reliability to help keep your home office or small business productive.

If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why every model on this list is an all-in-one from the best printer brands.

Read more
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more