Guess what: we suck! (take II)

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Eric Dunn noted: <<But here's the catch, nobody is likely to pay 20-30 
$ more for the software with the good manual while they will hunt for  
cheaper software, grumble about the manuals, and happily put down  
20-30$ for an after market manual and recommend the same to all their  
friends.>>

That's no catch -- really! Does it take any longer to write 500 pages  
of "for Dummies" book than it takes to write 500 pages of "by  
Dummies" book? <g> Nope! Does it cost any more to print it? Nope...  
it should cost less, because we're producing more copies (one per  
copy of the software), thus the cost per book is lower. Does it take  
longer? Presumably not, since these books come out about as fast as  
the software, and the authors don't even have the same lead time or  
access to the SMEs that we have.

_That's_ my point: If they can do it, why can't we? Many reasons,  
actually, and each of them is something we should be working on with  
our own clients.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
(http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.