How to change the theme of Office 2013

I'm one of those users who likes to change the theme on a fairly regular basis (my window colors are set to follow my randomly-cycling wallpaper, and so is Trillian).  However, I find it difficult to freshen things up in Office 2013 with the new choices.  There's simply not enough contrast between elements in the White theme, and not enough contrast between active buttons and the background in the Dark Gray theme.  This means I spend all my time in the least of three evils: Light Gray.

Why not roll out with a few new themes for us, eh?  Like maybe one that uses a lighter shade of the app color as the base (so a light slate for Word, a light green for Excel, a light teal for Publisher, etc.), or even Blue and Black options like in 2010, or one that at least sorta follows our Windows color?  Then we'll not only have an option that helps reduce eye strain, but ones that make the apps appealing to use again.

This sums up my frustration with Office 2013.  I also experienced severe headaches after just 10 to 15 minutes looking at my display.  It ain't worth it!

I'm on my way right now to Best Buy to have them unload this blasted package and give me a refund.

Ed Taylor

Windows 8 is a pain at first but once you get used to it it is quite nice.  Not so for Office 2013 and some idiot's stupid ideas of limiting colors.  You have got to be kidding me about this.  Page after page of comments on beta versions of this product should have given you a heads-up that your color scheme does not work.  How could you ignore such significant data?  Obviously, your young yuppie software engineers were so prideful that they kept their heads up their axxes and simply did what they wanted to do.  It's no wonder since Balmer took control in 2000 that your Microsoft's value has dropped 40%.  I'm leaving your stupidity and investing my stock elsewhere. 

Your stupid answer is only that - stupid.  I changed to the dark grey and it is so bright that after ten minutes in Word, I have a splitting headache.  You leave me no recourse but to go back to Office 2010.  I hate that because I really like the improvements that have been brought to 2013.  But at the end of the day, it has to work for me and that means that it has to be visually acceptable. 

I have a small business and I bought copies of this product to upgrade all of my computers from Office 2007.  Fortunately, I ran a trial first for a week, and after such a poor showing in colors, I took every package back to my local retil store.  Given the comments around the web, how many $2000-$5000 hits can you take? 

Heed this warning:  Microsoft is so locked in it's arrogant ways that it underestimates it's customers.  You arrogantly took the start menu out of Windows 8.  Why, when so many are used to it.  Why not make it an option for us if we want it whether it's forever or for just the transitional time of change?  For $5, Stardock satisfies that problem and makes you look absolutely stupid.

The same goes for the exclusion of letting us set our favorite colors for Office 2013.  It is the most major fail and I hope that a bunch of your staff gets fired over this.  They simply don't deserve their jobs which will prove to significantly contributto the further and eventual demise of this once, most powerful company. 

So, it's Office 2010 for my company.  We will pass on 2013, Windows 8 and about everything else new that you throw at us.  And, when it is time for us to upgrade our computers, we are seriously going to consider Macs.  Apple may be pricier up front but their interface is perfect.  I't time that you learn from them.  Microsoft lost it's lead years ago.