I suggest making use of the Quick Access Toolbar. Move it below the ribbon, and put everything you commonly use on it. Then collapse the ribbon.
This way, common tools are a single click away, and everything else is two clicks away.
Re: the backstage File menu, I agree with you. The app menu in Office 2007 (and the File Explorer) is better because it doesn't change the context—what you're working on is still visible behind the menu. The full-window backstage menu is bewildering.
This way, common tools are a single click away, and everything else is two clicks away.
Re: the backstage File menu, I agree with you. The app menu in Office 2007 (and the File Explorer) is better because it doesn't change the context—what you're working on is still visible behind the menu. The full-window backstage menu is bewildering.