Keep that Ribbon bar (Files, Library), and move the Folders/View to the right of those, put the Global Search there, and most other changes in that same row. All my clients know to go to the Ribbon for the non-basic features, and my current client was complaining to me without the Ribbon..
- Some redundancy with features on the “new task-based” ribbon is fine. Fewer clicks and more obvious action buttons are more important than cleanliness.
- Like Office and Windows toolbars, add an option to Show text for icons, or customize it.
- The Folders/View dropdown wont get used if it’s off to the upper-right. My clients need at least the list of 3-5 views across the top of the library