I guess when SW kept telling us all that no one wanted a reference guide we all laughed because we new what a joke that was. The now have a download of the pdf version 1000 pages long and even say they are going to offer a printed version. The question i ask is if i am on maintenance then i better not have to pay the manual. That should be included with the software. Its not like we are paying chump change $1200+ a year maintenance. I am not about to spend $100 in ink jet cartridges to print it out, nor am i taking it to kinko for $65 when it should be part of the service in our maintenance. What are your feelings? Do you think they will try to charge us?
I agree completely! When you buy a Corvette, you get a complete owners manual, not a "What's New" from the 2003 Corvette, even though you may have owned one.
"Michael" wrote in news:7s7Ub.35990$% snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyroc.rr.com:
Save trees! Ruin you eyes! Seriously though... I don't like reading off of a screen. I think they should send out a paper version to any maintainance customer that asks for one.
A good compromise might be to offer it at cost. SW could surely have it printed and shipped for less than individuals would pay to have it done at Kinko's.
I'm a bit on Arlin's side, if you assume all the current $ is being spent properly. If it's being wasted (according to MY value system) then , by all means, I want more. But if it is, in fact, being used properly, then he has a good point.
However, I'm not so sure I really want a book. It's the same thing as the help button, and the electronic version has hyperlinks to related areas. True, it's harder to read it on the bus, in the easy chair with a *drink* (coffee...) in hand, etc, but is it worth jumping to the index several times just to find all the references? Turning pages of a book is such hard work! And where do I put these massive books???
Now, all that being said, I'm glad I have a copy for those here that want to read a hard copy. :-) (This message truly borders on silly - back to work, slave!)
We are seeing a decrease in SW corporate doing a good job in the first place ie.. SP0, SP1, SP2 (hush no ones supposed to remember that one), SP
2.1 and of course the great install routine they now force us all to use. I am just glad i do not have some of the problems you guys have or i would be ballistic. Also SW makes a good profit margin. I can tell you that my Cam program comes out with 3 books every major release and they change a hell lot less features than SW, they also charge the same on maintenance as SW.
A distinct advantage with the PDF manual is that (when displayed on the computer screen) it can easily be searched through the left-hand column index or by text strings. Also, the pages contain built-in links which allow the user to instantly view inter-related topics.
How long do you think it would take to find each and every reference to "fillet", for example, while fumbling through the two volume set of printed paper manuals.
The main advantage I see with the paper version is to just have it open alongside the monitor and not compete for screen area.
Certainly all registered/maintained users should be entitled to a free printed copy of the guide, but I'd be willing to bet that, after the cozy feeling of having one in hand wears off, the large proportion of physical manuals go largely unused. Those who want to use them should be provided with the hardcopy. All others should be glad to save some trees!
A big problem with the paper version is obsolescence. As soon as corrections are made or new information is added, the PDF electronic format can be instantly replaced and up to date. With paper, addendum sheets have to be slipped in between existing pages and it's hard to justify printing complete new volumes until many modifications pile up.
In my opinion, the best manual to have in print is the What's New Guide for each release, since it's something each user really ought to go through carefully one page at a time, while actually bookmarking progress...
Just my 2¢
Per O. Hoel _________________________________________________________________________
i believe this is the exact reason why hard copies aren't published.
don't forget that all languages have to get updated, not just english. how many copies of each language should be published? ... and when the manuals become obsolete (which they will in 9~10 months) what happens to the unused manuals? waste not, want not
I agree with a lot of what you said - especially your point that after a while printed manuals mostly go unused. However, just because they are on my mind, I can think of three more big advantages of a printed version over an electronic one:
If you can't remember what a thing is called, you can quickly flip through until you see the picture that corresponds to what you are looking for. I never bothered to memorize exactly how to work a vary pattern or vary sketch or whatever the hell that thing is called -I just remembered to flip through and look for the picture of the slots shriking as they got patterned (that one time every six months when that feature comes in handy)
With an online manual, you go right to what you are looking for (assuming you know the name and can spell). Its really hard to stumble across intersting things that you are not looking for. Little accidents can make all the diference - you are flipping to page 280, but when passing page 250 you see a picture of something that you didn't know you didn't know. Before you realize it, that little discovery is shaving minutes off of every day.
Folded corners, post-its, written notes, etc that we use to make it easy to navigate. Printed manuals are really interactive, and grow with you.
I'm glad we got a printed manual at SW World this year. I might not use it much, but I bet the times I do use it I'll learn something by accident.
I like that - "learn something by accident" - is that copyrighted, or can I use it too? I have to agree there - paging through, sometimes something catches your eye. I'm also one of those that has trouble getting out of the dictionary after just one word. However, I have to point out that I also do that with the electronic version. Slightly different method, but veering off the intended path on purpose is only a click away. :-)
Another advantage of pdfs is the ability to zoom in on the text or images. I tried printing out a few pages and found the font too small and the graphic quality marginal for my tired eyes.
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