Re: giving a toss about documentation

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

Consumer video equipment is probably a very poor choice of an 
analogy for documentation, because the industry has spent decades
developing products are are sufficiently user-friendly to require
minimal or even no documentation outside of their own embedded
menus.  VCRs and DVD players are, however, a great example of
what well thought out user interfaces can do for products.  Spend
a few moments with an old VCR from the early 80's and it quickly
becomes apparent how much easier the newer products are to
use for what is their most common function (playing movies from
the video rental store).

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com>

You're kidding right? Currently the market is being flooded with 50$CAN 
DVD players. If my only option was between a 150$ DVD player and a 50$ 
one, an the functions of the 50$ one were adequate, there no chance I'd 
even consider whether it was documented or not.

I mean honestly. It's a DVD player that comes with generally understood 
buttons and basic functions. Even if there is a function that isn't clear, 
I can probably figure it out in no time. Not worth the cost of 
documentation.



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