RE: Windows 3.1 to Windows 95

[quills -at- airmail -dot- net]

Ok, then lets look at Word with this view. If they did tailor Word 
for the casual user, and not the professional power user, then what 
can we say about it's use as a technical writing tool?

The first thing that comes to mind, if the above is true, is that it 
is TOTALLY unsuited to our needs.

If it isn't tweaked and maximized for professional use it will cause 
problems at all levels of complexity and implementation. It would 
throw obstacles in the way of its use as a technical writing tool.

Scott

At 11:07 AM +0000 11/4/08, Sarah Blake wrote:
>  > It seems to me that Microsoft devoted their efforts with Office 2007
>to the
>>  casual user, failing to take into consideration the skilled users who
>rely
>>  on advanced functions.
>
>I agree with this completely.  It seems to be far easier to access the
>kind of basic formatting and layout functions that casual or basic users
>usually want, but the more advanced features that I use all the time
>take quite some unearthing to find.
>
>>  One of the mantras of technical communication is audience analysis
>which
>>  should also apply to software development. I'm of the opinion that
>Microsoft
>>  devoted their efforts to those who're not skilled with the tool and
>forgot
>>  about those of us who use it for a living.
>
>However, it is entirely possible that they /did/ analyse their audience;
>how many people are there out there who use Word in the ways that we do,
>compared with the number who just want to get a basic document down on
>paper?
>
>That I don't like it doesn't necessarily mean they didn't do the best
>thing for their business; as companies have an irritating habit of
>doing...
>
>Sarah Blake
>Senior Technical Author
>Micro Focus
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