Online vs. Paper

["Bailey, Doug S" <dsbailey -at- INGR -dot- COM>]

I found out today that the head of development wants to go with full
online
documentation (probably a combination of online manuals and online help
within the application. No paper!!  I do not agree with this decision
and
===========

In my opinion, the only documentation that should always
remain on paper is that content involving procedures
which cannot be performed with the computer running.
Examples of this are:

1) How to install a new hard drive
2) How to install an operating system
3) How to do any particular task inside a computer.

The user obviously cannot access the online help if his
hard drive is removed from the system, or if it is unplugged.
Any other documentation can either be viewed online or
it can be printed.  Sure, that transfers the burden from
the company & printshop to the user, but hey, that's life.

If we have to drag Joe Six-Pack kicking and screaming
into the Electronic Age, then so be it.

Doug

Doug Bailey, Technical Writer
Intergraph Corporation
Huntsville, AL 35894-0001
dsbailey -at- ingr -dot- com

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