Microsoft
Thank you for your response.
IMHO I think the MS testing was flawed.
The position of the search box, while using the Simplified Ribbon, is bordering on acceptable but is still preferred in the old position.
The issue is that you are making your assumption based on the fact that everyone uses or will migrate to the simplified ribbon. This is not the case for heavy users of Outlook which have to rely on the classic ribbon. In the case of the classic ribbon, the search bar position is clumsy and ineffectual. It slows down users that require frequent searches. In fact, addition wrist strain is experienced by the mouse hand. Surely Microsoft can support a floating toolbar for the search box so your users can place this feature where it has lived happily for a decade or more. At a minimum, right justify it on the top bar.
I know that I am not alone on this. Hundreds of test users are experiencing the same and that is only a small sample set
