Why did UI’s turn from practical to form over function?

E.g. Office 2003 vs Microsoft 365

Office 2003

It’s easy to remember where everything is with a toolbar and menu bar, which allows access to any option in one click and hold move.

Microsoft 365

Seriously? Big ribbon and massive padding wasting space, as well as the ribbon being clunky to use.

Why did this happen?

  • @TheGrandNagusEnglish
    2•4 hours ago

    Yes, actually—I have a VM reserved mostly for 16-bit software

    Do you think that’s normal? I made very clear in my comment I was referring to the vast majority of people, not a tiny majority of 80s/early 90s software enthusiasts.

    Yes, actually

    As above, do you think that’s normal? I never said *literally nobody, anywhere, on planet Earth does this.

    Some of us do put our money where our mouths are, although I admit that isn’t universal.

    Exactly. And that’s fine.

    But the vast majority of people prefer UI now over what we had in the 90s.

    but the amount present in contemporary design is way too large

    In your opinion, sure. But that’s not the prevailing opinion.