Microsoft Improves Windows Explorer with Ribbon UI on Windows 8

Microsoft today gave another sneak peek of Windows 8 — showing a new approach to Windows Explorer, the place where users search for and interact with files in the operating system. The change will be familiar to many Microsoft customers, because it’s styled as a “ribbon” of commands very similar to the interface used in recent version of Microsoft Office 2007.

According to a Microsoft Windows team Alex Simons, they've evaluated several different UI command affordances including expanded versions of the Vista/Windows 7 command bar, Windows 95/Windows XP style toolbars and menus, several entirely new UI approaches, and the Office style ribbon and that the ribbon approach offered benefits in line with their goals.

He said the motive of redesigning Explorer is based on opt-in data from hundreds of Windows users showing that, despite having over 200 commands, only ten of those represent 81.8% of Explorer's total usage and only two of the top 10 commands are featured prominently in Vista and Windows 7's command bar.

The new Windows Explorer on Windows 8 looks like this:

Goals of the new Windows Explorer
We set out to accomplish three main goals with this new version of Explorer.

1. Optimize Explorer for file management tasks. Return Explorer to its roots as an efficient file manager and expose some hidden gems, those file management commands already in Explorer that many customers might not even know exist.
2. Create a streamlined command experience. Put the most used commands in the most prominent parts of the UI so they are easy to find, in places that make sense and are reliable. Organize the commands in predictable places and logical groupings according to context, and present relevant information right where you need it.
3. Respect Explorer’s heritage. Maintain the power and richness of Explorer and bring back the most relevant and requested features from the Windows XP era when the current architecture and security model of Windows permits.

The new approach is drawing a mixed reaction from Windows users in the comments on Simons’ post.

On the surface, the ribbon looks inconsistent with the tile-based, Windows Phone-style design and fonts that Microsoft has adopted for the default Start screen in Windows 8. Microsoft will be giving more details on Windows 8 next month, and it will be interesting to see how the company bridges the new and old elements of the overall Windows interface.

Check out the video below where Alex illustrates few of the changes in the next Windows Explorer:


The new operating system is set to roll out next year, i'll love to hear your opinions on this, especially the Ribbon UI design.