I just got finished installing a radar I bought off of Craig's list. The radar seems to fine and I got a killer deal, but there is one problem: Newbies like me depend on the owner's manual to figure out how to use such tech equipment. Some of it is intelligible, but some of it is written for people who are already tech-savvy. They used to say about banks that they only make loans to people who don't need them (now, of course, it's just the opposite: they only make loans to those who can't afford them). Well, the same could be said about the manual writers: They are written for those who don't need the manual!
Ranting about manuals
- Thread starter John
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John, Not only that but sometimes by writer for whom english is not a first lang
That makes some interesting sentence structure. Computer manuals are often that way it would be nice if they could include a version that was dumbed down for the first timers.
That makes some interesting sentence structure. Computer manuals are often that way it would be nice if they could include a version that was dumbed down for the first timers.
John, what I find helpful sometimes is to find the manual
on line. Terms I am not familiar with can be dragged and dropped (highlighted, dragged with left mouse button and dropped by releasing left mouse button to a new location) to either Google or Wikipedia.org. Makes deciphering some of these manuals much easier. Frank
on line. Terms I am not familiar with can be dragged and dropped (highlighted, dragged with left mouse button and dropped by releasing left mouse button to a new location) to either Google or Wikipedia.org. Makes deciphering some of these manuals much easier. Frank
the converse is also true
I was just reading my genset owner's manual and there are 4 pages, illustrated, devoted specifically to how to change a spark plug. I never knew it could be that complicated.
I was just reading my genset owner's manual and there are 4 pages, illustrated, devoted specifically to how to change a spark plug. I never knew it could be that complicated.
Speaking as one
who writes such manuals for a living, I must point out that many times the consumer is not the intended reader; rather, it is a technician doing the installation. Other times, the intended reader is one who has no technical background, so every single step and safety doctrine there is must be included. Then, of course, there are those written by a Chinese or Japanese engineer that are not fine-tuned since, as we all know, technical publications is the redheaded stepchild of most engineering organizations.
who writes such manuals for a living, I must point out that many times the consumer is not the intended reader; rather, it is a technician doing the installation. Other times, the intended reader is one who has no technical background, so every single step and safety doctrine there is must be included. Then, of course, there are those written by a Chinese or Japanese engineer that are not fine-tuned since, as we all know, technical publications is the redheaded stepchild of most engineering organizations.
You need instructions?
Sorry, just couldn't help myself. My complaint is about the ones that print one manual for multiple iterations of the same product. My luck is I am always looking for something that is missing in the copy that I have.
Sorry, just couldn't help myself. My complaint is about the ones that print one manual for multiple iterations of the same product. My luck is I am always looking for something that is missing in the copy that I have.
Rick D and I had a long thread recently
about the Link 2000 manual and the use of a very, very important feature. We both found the manual utterly confusing until we examined it in more detail. I'd even called the manufacturer about it with little success or clarification. OTOH, sometimes the first time you do something it's really hard, and when you're finished you realize, hmm, that wasn't so hard after all. Kinda like bleeding diesel engines!!! And it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway): how many times have we heard this phrase right here on this board? "Have you read the instruction manual???" [That's only for the guys here!)
about the Link 2000 manual and the use of a very, very important feature. We both found the manual utterly confusing until we examined it in more detail. I'd even called the manufacturer about it with little success or clarification. OTOH, sometimes the first time you do something it's really hard, and when you're finished you realize, hmm, that wasn't so hard after all. Kinda like bleeding diesel engines!!!
And it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway): how many times have we heard this phrase right here on this board? "Have you read the instruction manual???" [That's only for the guys here!)Yanmar a classic example
They are so poorly written or translated that an entire cottage industry has evolved that gets the instructions right. Larry the tech writer makes some very good points. And some projects defy explanation. The curren issue of Boat DIY has a mult-page article with a dozen photos about chainging out the portlights. Perusing the article is enough to make one take up golf.
They are so poorly written or translated that an entire cottage industry has evolved that gets the instructions right. Larry the tech writer makes some very good points. And some projects defy explanation. The curren issue of Boat DIY has a mult-page article with a dozen photos about chainging out the portlights. Perusing the article is enough to make one take up golf.
When all else fails...
Back when I had to work for a living, some of the courses I taught in a community college included computer-assisted drafting. I had a sign in the lab "When all else fails... RTFM" It was borrowed, I believe, from the electronics industry. Even though manuals may be poorly written, they may sometimes be your only source of information, so I made my students learn to look some things up and figure them out. Good practice for the real world. *grr
Back when I had to work for a living, some of the courses I taught in a community college included computer-assisted drafting. I had a sign in the lab "When all else fails... RTFM" It was borrowed, I believe, from the electronics industry. Even though manuals may be poorly written, they may sometimes be your only source of information, so I made my students learn to look some things up and figure them out. Good practice for the real world. *grr
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