Windows 7: Outlook 2013 (Office 2013) Help to De-Uglify

Hi there

Whoever designed the base colors for Office 2013 must have been totally STONE DEAF and COLOR BLIND at the same time. I can't believe that comments weren't made before this stuff was allowed out of the door.

There's almost no possibilities to customize the backgrounds or colors and on a large monitor the base white looks really HIDEOUS -- you need a good pair of Sunglasses while working with it.

The only other choice is some type of Grey (shown in screenshot) which looks very similar to "The Fruit Company's Window colour scheme. Still looks hideous and that Blue !!!!!.

Outlook also displays the unread message titles in the most sickly blue (can't seem to change it) I've ever seen.

Before I remove this POS from my computer is there anyway to De-Uglify or customize like I had in Office 2010 with the Black background.

I don't like it opening with a prompt screen before I get the base screen (often needs another TWO keyboard strokes !! -- example for EXCEL 2013 shown) -- I should be able to open it in a Window with the menus just like like Office 2010. It means I now have to make a load of extra keyboard strokes before I actually get a workbook screen to start getting my work done.

I don't want the sign in reminders either -- I don't intend to use Cloud services etc.

Cheers
jimbo

No there isn't a way (that I know of) to change it. It was too cumbersome and hogged my Internet Speed with Cloud and whatnot; so I went back to good ol' office 2010. Maybe you should too

Metro or Tiles style...got to love it being forced upon us...sadly it looks like everything is moving in that direction.

I too will stick with Office 2010.

Hi there
Thanks for the replies

I've stuck Office 2013 on a VM -- I'll have to use it sometimes for Work compatibility --but I've reverted back to Office 2010 for my day to day work on my own work laptop.

Can't understand why as we move into late ist quarter of 21st century why we can't customize more of this type of stuff - we all have different colour sensitivities etc etc.

We should make stuff MORE customisable -- shouldn't have to lead to more complex operations or maintenance if it's done right.

Cheers
jimbo

I agree ... but it looks like as MS advances with it's software it has been slowly taking away bit's and pieces along the way for what ever reason.

2013: In Word/ Excel: FILE - Options, General tab, last line - uncheck Show the Start screen when this applications starts.

Also, I've just created a tutorial for that.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...abilities.html

Hi there
Thanks for the info I'll use that on my version on the VM.

I still HATE the whole color scheme etc - so for my normal work I'll stick with Office 2010 for the foreseeable future and only use Office 2013 when I have to for work purposes.

Rep'd you +1 for the info -- not obvious to find it.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45, thank you for rep.

I think, the only way to influence Office colours is customizing High Contrast Themes somehow.
I think, someone have created a Classic theme for Windows 8 from High Contrast theme or something...