Layout & Navigation using Horizontal Tabs (tabbed window) vs Vertical Tabs (sections)

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For our new project, we are currently looking for latest "standard" layout. It is a business webapp which includes lot of master-detail screens/forms.

In our previous projects, we have extensively used horizontal tabs like JQuery UI Tabs.

I remember old version (5) of Dynamics CRM also utilised similar approach but in there latest 2011 version, they have replaced layout to include vertical tabs like this.

I also noticed SalesForce has also related information on vertical "tab" which is essentially multiple sections on long long page. I could not find much discussion about this sort of decision? Note that MS/SF has separate layouts for mobile & surely they are not expecting businesses to use tablets.

Is everyone moving towards vertical layout when screens are becoming wider? Is there any reason for this shift?

Edit: This is what I am talking about, the question is why?

  1. Tab Performance - CRM 4.0 vs CRM 2011
  2. No More Tabbing – Dynamics CRM 2011
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layoutnavigationsalesforcedynamics-crm-2011

1 Answers

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Actually Microsoft is changing again the CRM 2011 interface, starts from Polaris release they introduced new forms, take a look at this article and the included slides:

http://niiranen.eu/crm/2013/01/whats-new-in-microsoft-dynamics-crm-polaris-release-slides/

This release brings cross-browser compatibility including Safari on iPad, so as you can see Microsoft (and SalesForce and other companies too) adapt their products trying to provide the best UI for their customers.