[Windu]

Looks like MS is including Office with all RT tablets, not just the Surface.

yeah that has been known for a long time now.

Won't include Outlook, though.

i hope they provide a way to upgrade it so you can get Outlook on RT machines.

[ivedoneyourmom]

Is this screenshot in any way representative of Outlook 2013? It's a goddamn mess, a usability nightmare.

Wow, what am I supposed to be looking at?

[Milchjon]

I reeeeally like what I've seen so far. It's funny how much of a difference a small cleanup makes for me personally. It might go from a dreaded tool to something I actually open voluntarily.

Can't comment on the features, since I'm not a hardcore user, but everything seems to work pretty smoothly. Setups are easy, SkyDrive works great.

BTW, that Outlook screenshot is a bit of a misrepresentation. It's weirdly compacted, which messes with the typography, and the user chose an ugly style, which leads to those grey lines and icons on the top right. They're not part of the design.

[Korey]

Love those icons

[Steelyuhas]

I don't have that option??

Hmmm, Thurrott posted it as a part of his preview. I can't check myself, haven't download Office yet.

[joshschw]

Hmmm, Thurrott posted it as a part of his preview. I can't check myself, haven't download Office yet.

It is definitely there. Might have to set up Outlook before it appears, don't know.

[DMPrince]

Is this screenshot in any way representative of Outlook 2013? It's a goddamn mess, a usability nightmare.

Doesn't look like that when i first started up the program.

[dLMN8R]

Wow, what am I supposed to be looking at?

A horrible screenshot misrepresenting what the application actually looks like

[Windu]

this is what outlook looks like



http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

[Korey]

Is this screenshot in any way representative of Outlook 2013? It's a goddamn mess, a usability nightmare.

It's not that bad. The only thing that changed was that the email action menu was moved to the right and the ribbon is collapsed.

See, I think the exact opposite. They look very out of date—versus, say, the far more modern designs of Adobe's CS icons for example.

Not sure if you know this but Adobe had the hugest backlash to a new iconset when they unveiled those. One of the biggest complaints is that the Adobe icons don't indicate what the program you're clicking on does. It's a square with a letter or two on it.

[D4Danger]

well, Metro had a good run.

we'll always have the Zune and WP7

[JaggedSac]

yeah that has been known for a long time now.

I believe that was rumored for a long time now, but never official.

[Dreams-Visions]

this is what outlook looks like http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

damn, not a fan of that at all. ugh.

[Mr. F]

Ribbon view looks like an absolute mess, the only smart thing about it is that they learned to keep it out of sight.

[pxleyes]

Kept it installed for about 6 hours. I can't stand this metro-lite interface crap. Either go all in or keep it classic. Totally unusable. I'm getting very close to going all Apple and not updating my PC to W8. It is so disheartening. Feel like I'm losing an old friend.

[Steelyuhas]

Finally installed it on one of my machines just to play around with it a bit. First off, the install process is really cool, you can start using it almost immediately. Stuff looks good, but I won't really get full use until I install is on my main laptop (AC adapter went to shit, so I had to order another one, waiting for it to come).

Did MS say if the Metro apps of Onenote and Lync were going to be available in the Store for the Release Preview soon or just that they will be released with Office later? I'd like to give that Onenote app a test drive.

[golem]

Man I hate the all white look. Where are the colors?!

[shidoshi]

this is what outlook looks like

That is a god-damned mess UI-wise.

Not sure if you know this but Adobe had the hugest backlash to a new iconset when they unveiled those. One of the biggest complaints is that the Adobe icons don't indicate what the program you're clicking on does. It's a square with a letter or two on it.

For most apps, I could totally see that argument (no matter if I agree with it or not).

Creative Suite, though? No. If you have Adobe CS, then you're somebody who knows what every one of those apps is. It should take you a grand total of once going through the apps and their icons to instantly know what's what.

[Dennis]

Man I hate the all white look. Where are the colors?!

Colors are kiddie.

Office 2013 is a serious business application for serious business people.

[buhdeh]

Um no. The white is way too fucking bright to focus on if you're working on a document for a long time.

[Iced_Eagle]

Um no. The white is way too fucking bright to focus on if you're working on a document for a long time.

Then turn down the brightness? I don't think this is a new problem.

If you're in reading mode you can inverse the colors or make them sepia so it's easier on the eyes though.

[Hoo-doo]

this is what outlook looks like http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

[gohepcat]

damn, not a fan of that at all. ugh.

WTF? Are you saying Outlook 2010 looks better?

[Windu]

metro onenote is in the store under onenote mx.

[mescalineeyes]

Metro should've stayed on WP7.

You need way more competent typo- and iconography to make this style work on a traditional screen and it seems like Microsoft blew it big time. Not only that but it also looks like a mess created by 2 designers who were not allowed to talk to each other and one guy was very old and the other guy was very young.

[MarkMclovin]

Jesus, please don't tell me you are stuck with that colour scheme for Outlook?

The only page I want as white, is the email itself and the list view pane.

[Milchjon]

Metro should've stayed on WP7. You need way more competent typo- and iconography to make this style work on a traditional screen and it seems like Microsoft blew it big time. Not only that but it also looks like a mess created by 2 designers who were not allowed to talk to each other and one guy was very old and the other guy was very young.

Hmm, what do you mean exactly? Looks far from a mess to me, apart from maybe Outlook? PowerPoint and Word are a huge step forward visually to me.

[mescalineeyes]

Hmm, what do you mean exactly? Looks far from a mess to me, apart from maybe Outlook? PowerPoint and Word are a huge step forward visually to me.

oh sorry, I was talking about that Outlook screenshot exclusively. I haven't seen the other apps yet.

[Milchjon]

oh sorry, I was talking about that Outlook screenshot exclusively. I haven't seen the other apps yet.

You should try it first. Even Outlook seems to work pretty well. I only dislike the vertical folders on the left.

Can't see how most of Office would work with touch, though, and from reading a few articles, it doesn't.

[Nero3000]

I've been playing around with the new office now on several devices (tablets, laptops, dekstops), and i have no issue with the new look.

The only major gripe i have now is in Excel (which is where i spend most of my day) which is the transition for the the active cell. It is too slow, which is distracting.

Also does anyone have a list of features that were added to excel?

[BocoDragon]

Is this "desktop-only app with Metro stylings" permanent? Or will it also be launchable through Metro when it's finalized?

[mescalineeyes]

You should try it first. Even Outlook seems to work pretty well. I only dislike the vertical folders on the left. Can't see how most of Office would work with touch, though, and from reading a few articles, it doesn't.

I guess with the ribbon closed it doesn't look that bad, but still, there's too much text and too many fonts. It feels really busy and disjointed, unlike, say, Mail.app.

I guess I'll give it a whirl today. It supports IMAP, right?

[Milchjon]

I guess with the ribbon closed it doesn't look that bad, but still, there's too much text and too many fonts. It feels really busy and disjointed, unlike, say, Mail.app. I guess I'll give it a whirl today. It supports IMAP, right?

Pretty sure it does. I don't really have a clue about these things, but my webmail account worked splendidly, and it seems to use IMAP.

[mescalineeyes]

Pretty sure it does. I don't really have a clue about these things, but my webmail account worked splendidly, and it seems to use IMAP.

right on! I am hoping for it to be really good as I used to be a huge fan of Metro. I am not so sure anymore though :/

[kittoo]

Windows 8 consumer preview not supported! Noooooooooo

[FliXFantatier]

this is what outlook looks like http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

that looks horrible, my eyes have absolutely no idea where to go its a mess
definitely taking the bland classy elegant look a notch too far...

what do the other office programs look like?

[catfish]

Windows 8 consumer preview not supported! Noooooooooo

what? Installed it last night on win 8.

[BocoDragon]

what? Installed it last night on win 8.

Maybe you have Win 8 release preview? (which you should)

The real question is why someone would still be running consumer preview. Release preview is so much better in many subtle ways.

[Nero3000]

Sweet. Powerpivot is now built into Excel 2013.

[mescalineeyes]

Maybe you have Win 8 release preview? (which you should) The real question is why someone would still be running consumer preview. Release preview is so much better in many subtle ways.

because "some people" are too lazy to upgrade. don't be so judgemental.
:(

Where are the colors?!

golem
Member
(Today, 08:57 AM)
Quote


You tell me, GoW man.

[kittoo]

Maybe you have Win 8 release preview? (which you should) The real question is why someone would still be running consumer preview. Release preview is so much better in many subtle ways.

Can I directly upgrade my consumer preview to release preview? I dont want to do everything again and set the settings again :(

[chickdigger802]

looks gaudy. So is the new office completely webbased? A bit confused.

Anyhow, how big is the preview? Can i install it without it messing up my 2010 install?

[Mr_Zombie]

I'm not a fan of everything being white. UI components should be at least slightly darker. Right now everything - UI and active area - blend together. I think the whole Metro UI looks much better in VS 2012, where the UI is light grey.

[Mr_Zombie]

Can I directly upgrade my consumer preview to release preview? I dont want to do everything again and set the settings again :(

Nope, you can't upgrade. All the Metro settings will be synchronized, but everything else won't. If you check during installation process that you want to keep stuff, everything from Windows and Users folders will be dumped into Windows.old folder.

[Nero3000]

looks gaudy. So is the new office completely webbased? A bit confused. Anyhow, how big is the preview? Can i install it without it messing up my 2010 install?

No.

Don't know.

Yes.

The office 365 preview install is a seperate special install and will live independently.

[BocoDragon]

because "some people" are too lazy to upgrade. don't be so judgemental. :(

I'm just saying.... you're a bad person :(

[Windu]

that looks horrible, my eyes have absolutely no idea where to go its a mess definitely taking the bland classy elegant look a notch too far... what do the other office programs look like?

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...ok-excel-2013/

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...ook-word-2013/

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...werpoint-2013/

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-onenote-2013/

[John_B]

I'm still not impressed with what Microsoft is cooking. It feels like they are metrofying all their products, and not building them from the ground up with a new standard interface.

Windows 7 could end up with a longer life span than Windows XP (not in the consumer market surely).

[Mr. Wonderful]

You know, I'm no longer a student who gets discounts on Microsoft software. ...I have no need to upgrade from 2010.

[giga]

this is what outlook looks like http://arstechnica.com/information-t...-outlook-2013/

So much…white. The only thing Metro about this is the navigation bar on the bottom. Everything is so flat and bland that it's hard to distinguish different elements at a glance.



I mean really, you're allowed to use more than 1px strokes and black and white guys.