Tag: documentation

WOULD IT KILL THEM TO INCLUDE A MANUAL?

My sentiments exactly! How about simple instructions? Like "We just updated. Please clean out your cookies and reboot." How hard would that be? It might not really solve the problem, but it is unlikely to make things worse. Frankly, I don't think their software can get much worse. It is dysfunctional more often than not … Continue reading WOULD IT KILL THEM TO INCLUDE A MANUAL?

WOULD IT KILL THEM TO INCLUDE A MANUAL?

My sentiments exactly!

WHERE’S THE MANUAL?

The subject came up again last night. Owen bought a receiver (not new) and supposedly in good functioning condition. He couldn't get it to do anything but sit there and click. He downloaded the "manual" or what claimed to be the manual. He still could not figure out how to make the receiver tell the … Continue reading WHERE’S THE MANUAL?

“BAD” IS THE NEW “GOOD” IN TECH SUPPORT – Marilyn Armstrong

Bad customer and technical support is the new good. You only think it's bad. The problem is your attitude. Or so they'd have you think. YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE All the big technology companies are working hard to save a few bucks. Competition is fierce. Every penny counts. Since executives won't accept … Continue reading “BAD” IS THE NEW “GOOD” IN TECH SUPPORT – Marilyn Armstrong

THE MANUAL YOU DON’T HAVE – Marilyn Armstrong

Last night, someone I know and who should know better, complained that Olympus, from whom he bought his camera, should fire the tech writer. Because there was no manual. There was a booklet that listed the options but didn't explain what they were or what to do with them. Well, duh. I felt obliged to … Continue reading THE MANUAL YOU DON’T HAVE – Marilyn Armstrong

SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS – Marilyn Armstrong

When Garry came into the bedroom, I was staring at the radio. Garry takes his hearing aids off at night, so we have bedtime conversations at high volume. Shouting, really. "Why are you staring at the radio?" "I'm trying to figure out if it's on. Oh, it just started to make noise. It's on." "But … Continue reading SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS – Marilyn Armstrong

ON BECOMING OBSOLETE

It's an odd feeling to be declared obsolete. I had been getting increasingly less relevant for a while, but after the dot coms went down, the high-tech world turned on its ear. Venture capital disappeared and so did the start-ups that had been my bread and butter. Tech writers were replaced by automated systems that generate "documentation" … Continue reading ON BECOMING OBSOLETE

WHEN YOU COULD LOOK IT UP IN A BOOK

Last night, someone I actually know and who should know better, complained the camera company from whom he bought his camera should fire the tech writer. Because there was no manual. I felt obliged to point out the reason there is no manual is they never hired a tech writer in the first place. If … Continue reading WHEN YOU COULD LOOK IT UP IN A BOOK

TOO MUCH TECH

I went to the dentist. Discovered I'm not (no longer?) dying of infection (antibiotics), but I need a $1200 crown. If I plan to keep the tooth, that is. At which point, I noticed how lovely was the late afternoon sun. Trying to forget about dental issues, I grabbed my camera to snap a few pictures. My … Continue reading TOO MUCH TECH

3 PERFECT SHOTS ON THE PENTAX Q7

Three Perfect Shots Take a subject you’re familiar with and imagine it as three photos in a sequence. Tackle the subject by describing those three shots. The pictures are my living room, picture window, and snowy front yard between yesterday evening and this morning, all taken (finally!) on a teeny tiny Pentax Q7.  You cannot … Continue reading 3 PERFECT SHOTS ON THE PENTAX Q7