Windows 8 UI, the Sum of 2 User Interfaces

Windows 8’s UI is the sum of two user interfaces, a balancing act of Metro and Ribbon / Fluent.

Metro is not exactly tailored to traditional desktop experiences, while Ribbon fails to deliver the immersive NUI look and feel fitted for next generation form factors.

Choosing just one proved impossible for Microsoft, according to Steven Sinofsky, President, Windows and Windows Live Division. Instead, customers running the next major iteration of Windows will be able to use both Metro and Ribbon.

“This is a balancing act, and one we’ll be talking quite a lot about (…) in the coming months. Having both of user interfaces together harmoniously is an important part of Windows 8. As a starting point for the discussion, here is how we approached the design of Windows 8 from the very beginning,” Sinofsky said.

Truth be told, the software giant can let Windows evolve only so much. Just as new iterations of IE cannot break the web, so new versions of Windows cannot afford to break the existing hardware and software ecosystems.

This is also true as far as the UI is concerned. Not all existing users will move concomitantly to NUI capable devices. The vast majority of them will continue to use keyboards and mice, and traditional input models.

This is why the only valid solution when building the Windows 8 UI was to blend the best of the two worlds.

Metro and Ribbon are complementary in Microsoft’s vision for Windows 8’s user interface instead of mutually exclusive. Users can opt to either immerse themselves into Metro, or leverage the power of Ribbon and the good old desktop UI, but also to seamlessly switch between the two.

“Our design goal was clear: no compromises. If you want to, you can seamlessly switch between Metro style apps and the improved Windows desktop. Existing apps, devices, and tools all remain and are improved in Windows 8,” Sinofsky added.

“On the other hand, if you prefer to immerse yourself in only Metro style apps (and platform) and the new user experience, you can do that as well! Developers can target the APIs that make sense for the software they wish to deliver. People can debate how much they need or don't need different aspects of the product, but that has always been the case. All of this is made possible by the flexibility of Windows.”