Re: Attacking the manual!

[John David Hickey <jdavid -at- FARABI -dot- COM>]

Greetings!

> Second, although I'm a techwhirler and editor myself, I'm afraid I
> have to agree with the competitors. Nobody I've met buys a product to
> use the manual, and the holy grail of product design is to produce
> something so intuitive that no manual is necessary. (Think "door",
> "pen", "coffee mug", etc.) Speaking as a user of products rather than

<monkey wrench in works>
First off, it may be true that no one buys a product because of the manual,
But you could also say that few people buy a car because it has a fan belt.
The customer expects such things to be included, so they don't feel they
gotta ask about the manual/fan belt. But try removing either component and
hear them scream.

As for "door", "pen", and "coffee mug", they may not come with user's
manuals because, in the case of "pen" or "coffee mug", the user-related
information is written on the box it comes in (this pen writes best on
paper. Don't stick it in your eye). As for the "door", if you're buying a
door, it may come with installation instructions, usage, and cautionary
information (don't let the door bang your butt on the way out).

These everyday items are so common we don't even notice that they *do* come
with user manual (allbeit itty-bitty, teeny-weeny ones).
</monkey wrench in works>
--
Be seeing you,

Dave
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jdavid -at- farabi -dot- com
Lone Writer at Farabi Technology Corp.
Montreal, Quebec

4000+ readers? I Am Drunk With Power! <maniacal laughter>
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