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Depends on the product you're talking about. When dealing with most online
help, I've found it of little help. So the presence of a complete, hard copy
manual makes a big difference to me.
Now that the software end of TC has been dealt with, let's address the hardware
end. I have encountered hardware that otherwise worked fine, but came with
abysmal documentation. If you have to install or troubleshoot the hardware,
abysmal documentation will have you ready to return the hardware right away!
David Jones, Technical Writer
David_Jones/KSBEISD -dot- KSBEISD -at- Datahub -dot- com
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The views described herein are the views of the author, and
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To: TECHWR-L @ LISTSERV.OKSTATE.EDU
From: mjwing @ INGR.COM ("Wing, Michael J")
Date: 08/26/96 05:26:43 PM
Subject: Re: Sanity check
>My feeling about good writing, in help files, and everywhere else in
>your
>product documentation, is that good writing reassures the user that
>this
>product is worthwhile.
I half agree with you. I can see where poor documentation can make a
user think that the product is less worthwhile than it really is, but I
can't completely see it the other way around. IMO, it is the cost,
availability, ease-of-use, compatibility, and functionality that sells
me on the product. If the product does what I want, is available, and
is affordable, then I will suffer with less-than adequate documentation.
However, I may not suffer quietly.
[SNIPS]
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