Windows 8 now comes with the option

48 THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WINDOWS 8

New Feature: EXPLORING RIBBONS

hen the ribbon interface was first introduced in Office 2007 there

were, from some quarters, howls of pain. A few years on and it’s been

introduced to Windows Explorer. Microsoft is, however, mindful that its

new operating system is designed as much for finger-friendly tablets as it is for

mainstream computers. Small icons on a ribbon don’t really lend themselves to

finger-based computing, and the ribbon is fairly tall, so that when it is visible

smaller-screened tablets might suffer from having a reduced viewing area in

Windows Explorer. check this

With those two things in mind, Microsoft has made the Explorer ribbon check this

optional. By default, it’s hidden away, but you can easily call it up when needed.

In this way Microsoft hopes to satisfy everyone. Those who don’t like the

interface don’t have to use it, but if you are a fan it’s ready to be called upon.

Calling up the ribbon in Windows Explorer is easy. When first opened, you

won’t see a ribbon. There is, however, a small downward pointing arrow in the

top right of the application window.