The tools we use: more power, more speed

[Michael Uhl <uhl -at- VISLAB -dot- EPA -dot- GOV>]

For the newbies out there, I say, listen to the laments of your
colleagues suffering with sub-standard equipment. When you interview
for your next job, ask specifically about the equipment you will be
told to use. You can learn a lot about the company's attitude toward
technical writers and documentation based on the equipment they assign to
you.

I took my current job primarily because of the state-of-the-art tools we
have. As a matter of fact, my other computer is a Cray T3D...  :-)

If you want better tools, demonstrate to management how much it is costing
*them* in their penny-wise-pound-foolish approach. Give them numbers and
give them options, e.g. lease what you need.

Management has an infatuation with spreadsheets and the idea of improved
profits.

-Mike

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Michael Andrew Uhl                          Internet: uhl -at- vislab -dot- epa -dot- gov
Lead Technical Writer                       Compuserve: 72624,2155
SVC/NESC                                    Phone: (919) 541-4283
Martin Marietta Technical Services, Inc.    ftp site: ftp.nesc.epa.gov
Primary Support Contractor for the EPA
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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              Scientific Visualization Center (SVC),
       National Environmental Supercomputing Center (NESC)
           U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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