[Libreoffice-ux-advise] [Bug 135501] Change the default UI (see comment 67)

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=135501

--- Comment #93 from John Mills <jmills59 at yahoo.com> ---
(In reply to Justin L from comment #91)
> Created attachment 180077 [details]
> defaultToRibbonUI.oxt: extension that sets the default UI to notebookbar
> 
> Like all of my extension configurations, this was based on trial and error,
> not on intimate knowledge of the correct way to do things. It works - that's
> all I can say. Any feedback is welcome.

Thank you, I think that is a useful tool to be available!

> If TDF considers the ribbon UI to be a strategic benefit they should:
> 1.) Have a meta bug that is collecting issues about it. (I assume one doesn't >exist since it isn't attached to this issue)
> 2.) Then keep putting out tenders to fix these issues
> 3.) Then strongly encourage all the beta testers for the next release to switch > to notebook bar and do their testing that way. It should also be a focus of a >year of internal QA testing.

> This isn't an issue that you want to rely on volunteers to handle. It is way too > important. The user experience must be excellent as soon as it becomes the  default, and issues related to it must be fixed quickly.

> After notebook bar is deemed ready, it should also wait until an X.0 release to >debut as default.

You make some very interesting points here Justin, although I don't agree with
your last one about a X.0 release as that would mean any migration would now be
over two years away.

There is very little doubt that having a 'ribbon' is a strategic benefit for
LibreOffice. I often think that some people here are so blinkered that they
have no experience of supporting users that have only ever really used MSO as a
desktop office client. This irrational 'hatred' for all things Microsoft is
nonsensical.

I can understand that there are currently some deficiencies with the Notebook
bar implementation, however it appears there is no concern to really improve
these as it is much easier to stick with the status quo and pretend everyone
wants to stick with the Circa 25-year-old MSO 1997 like interface that
LibreOffice currently uses. It's just so blinkered, even Collabora Office has
shifted to the 'notebook bar' as default as they understand the benefit for
their product and user adoption and the strong draw it has for users coming
from something like MSO365.

I think with a non commercial project like LibreOffice there isn't the strong
emphasis for providing your users what they want, there is no financial benefit
to chase, you don't really 'compete' in any real sense. So if a few people
really like the old ways then so be it, hey it's free after all isn't it? 

Well wake up to the reality, MSO is for millions and millions of students
worldwide, and I dare say there are more pirated copies of MSO being used than
LibreOffice users. It's the ostrich burying the head in sand situation and you
guys don't see it. LibreOffice will become less relevant over time. I think you
see this already with less coverage in the FLOSS media for new releases.

In almost every review you find for Libreoffice you read a variation on the
same theme, that it is a very powerful Office Suite, with good features but it
looks ancient and people just generally don't really like the UI. This will
accelerate over time, it has already and it will continue to, the competition
like Only Office are building much better mind share now. 

Why are WPS/Kingsoft Office, Softmaker/Free Office, Polaris Office, Thinkfree
and other desktop office clients defaulting to a 'ribbon'like interface? Is
this possible because they understand that this is for the benefit of their
users? And for the commercial companies with financial constraints that perhaps
they see this as a benefit to sell more of their software? 

Someone with some insight in TDF needs to seriously look at this issue and
commit resources to resolve any perceived missing functionality with the
notebook bar interface. The guys in the design team work hard and it appears to
me they are always battling to get resources like developer support.

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