A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped
shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions as well. One video server device that I use has the manual included in the product's hard drive as a web page which they update remotely and automatically via the internet as needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your Ipad/Tablet? Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a remote site when the power is out and the battery in the device runs down. The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the time the product ships, the manual is several iterations old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this issue at work recently. So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be if paper manuals were not included with the product? When purchasing the product, you would have to either download the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? Lu - W4LT K3/P3/K1 ------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 To: [hidden email] Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, but what does Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to be updated - open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata sheets are the only practical method. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: >> This is a classic example of the results and frustration caused by >> ignoring the Errata Sheet. > Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is trivially easy for a > decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have several dozen > tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source file, save it > as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I can do that, > Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for that pdf to > include a running list of changes and additions as an appendix. > > 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be responsible for
you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of instructions available for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can have a "local" copy on your PC or your iPAD. I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain current - and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in a standard, printed document. Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from Elecraft to be a very workable solution. Art - N4PJ On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Lu Romero <[hidden email]> wrote: > A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped > shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" > or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD > ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and > print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. > > Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. > There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many > benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to > both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions > as well. One video server device that I use has the manual > included in the product's hard drive as a web page which > they update remotely and automatically via the internet as > needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as > close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, > *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference > the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your > Ipad/Tablet? > > Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference > documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an > old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads > or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld > "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text > search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a > remote site when the power is out and the battery in the > device runs down. > > The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software > based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the > time the product ships, the manual is several iterations > old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of > thinking about this issue at work recently. > > So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be > if paper manuals were not included with the product? When > purchasing the product, you would have to either download > the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed > copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there > Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. > Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? > > Lu - W4LT > K3/P3/K1 > > ------------------------ > > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 > From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 > To: [hidden email] > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, > but what does > Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to > be updated - > open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata > sheets are > the only practical method. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > > On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > >> This is a classic example of the results and frustration > caused by > >> ignoring the Errata Sheet. > > Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is > trivially easy for a > > decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have > several dozen > > tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source > file, save it > > as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I > can do that, > > Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for > that pdf to > > include a running list of changes and additions as an > appendix. > > > > 73, Jim K9YC > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a computer. It seems possible that some radio buyers would not.
Sent from my iPad On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:22 PM, "Arthur Burke" <[hidden email]> wrote: > N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be responsible for > you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of instructions available > for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can have a "local" copy on your > PC or your iPAD. > > I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain current - > and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in a standard, > printed document. > > Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from Elecraft to > be a very workable solution. > > Art - N4PJ > > > > On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Lu Romero <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped >> shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" >> or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD >> ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and >> print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. >> >> Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. >> There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many >> benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to >> both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions >> as well. One video server device that I use has the manual >> included in the product's hard drive as a web page which >> they update remotely and automatically via the internet as >> needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as >> close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, >> *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference >> the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your >> Ipad/Tablet? >> >> Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference >> documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an >> old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads >> or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld >> "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text >> search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a >> remote site when the power is out and the battery in the >> device runs down. >> >> The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software >> based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the >> time the product ships, the manual is several iterations >> old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of >> thinking about this issue at work recently. >> >> So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be >> if paper manuals were not included with the product? When >> purchasing the product, you would have to either download >> the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed >> copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there >> Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. >> Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? >> >> Lu - W4LT >> K3/P3/K1 >> >> ------------------------ >> >> >> Message: 5 >> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 >> From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 >> To: [hidden email] >> Message-ID: <[hidden email]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, >> but what does >> Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to >> be updated - >> open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata >> sheets are >> the only practical method. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: >>> On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: >>>> This is a classic example of the results and frustration >> caused by >>>> ignoring the Errata Sheet. >>> Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is >> trivially easy for a >>> decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have >> several dozen >>> tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source >> file, save it >>> as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I >> can do that, >>> Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for >> that pdf to >>> include a running list of changes and additions as an >> appendix. >>> >>> 73, Jim K9YC >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Chuck, KE9UW
|
I like having a printed manual that actually matches my radio hardware.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Droid ...bill nr4c -----Original message----- From: "hawley, charles j jr" <[hidden email]> To: Arthur Burke <[hidden email]> Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>, "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> Sent: Mon, Jun 11, 2012 19:40:48 GMT+00:00 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] - Manuals (was KX3 and KPA500) Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a computer. It seems possible that some radio buyers would not. Sent from my iPad On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:22 PM, "Arthur Burke" <[hidden email]> wrote: > N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be responsible for > you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of instructions available > for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can have a "local" copy on your > PC or your iPAD. > > I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain current - > and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in a standard, > printed document. > > Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from Elecraft to > be a very workable solution. > > Art - N4PJ > > > > On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Lu Romero <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped >> shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" >> or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD >> ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and >> print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. >> >> Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. >> There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many >> benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to >> both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions >> as well. One video server device that I use has the manual >> included in the product's hard drive as a web page which >> they update remotely and automatically via the internet as >> needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as >> close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, >> *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference >> the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your >> Ipad/Tablet? >> >> Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference >> documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an >> old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads >> or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld >> "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text >> search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a >> remote site when the power is out and the battery in the >> device runs down. >> >> The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software >> based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the >> time the product ships, the manual is several iterations >> old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of >> thinking about this issue at work recently. >> >> So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be >> if paper manuals were not included with the product? When >> purchasing the product, you would have to either download >> the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed >> copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there >> Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. >> Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? >> >> Lu - W4LT >> K3/P3/K1 >> >> ------------------------ >> >> >> Message: 5 >> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 >> From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 >> To: [hidden email] >> Message-ID: <[hidden email]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, >> but what does >> Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to >> be updated - >> open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata >> sheets are >> the only practical method. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: >>> On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: >>>> This is a classic example of the results and frustration >> caused by >>>> ignoring the Errata Sheet. >>> Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is >> trivially easy for a >>> decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have >> several dozen >>> tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source >> file, save it >>> as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I >> can do that, >>> Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for >> that pdf to >>> include a running list of changes and additions as an >> appendix. >>> >>> 73, Jim K9YC >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by ke9uw
As long as Elecraft continues to make kits (and I certainly hope they do), printed manuals will be essential. I just can't see clicking on a box with my mouse to indicate that I have completed a step. Printing a 100+ page pdf file isn't very practical either.
73, Bob N7XY On Jun 11, 2012, at 1:04 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > AFAIK, Elecraft continues to recognize that a significant number of Hams do > not have a computer or choose not to use one for their hobby. Of course none > of those Hams are represented here or on any e-mail lists, but that does not > mean they don't exist, Hi! > > 73, Ron AC7AC > > -----Original Message----- > > Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a computer. > It seems possible that some radio buyers would not. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:22 PM, "Arthur Burke" <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be >> responsible for you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of >> instructions available for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can >> have a "local" copy on your PC or your iPAD. >> >> I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain >> current - and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in >> a standard, printed document. >> >> Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from >> Elecraft to be a very workable solution. >> >> Art - N4PJ > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html _____ N7XY DX Cluster Node - telnet to n7xy.net, port 7300 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by ke9uw
That's almost too funny to contemplate! No computer - no email, no rig
control, no logging program - I would probably never know the guy existed! LOL! Art - N4PJ On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 3:40 PM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email] > wrote: > Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a > computer. It seems possible that some radio buyers would not. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:22 PM, "Arthur Burke" <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be responsible > for > > you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of instructions available > > for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can have a "local" copy on > your > > PC or your iPAD. > > > > I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain current > - > > and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in a standard, > > printed document. > > > > Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from Elecraft > to > > be a very workable solution. > > > > Art - N4PJ > > > > > > > > On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Lu Romero <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > >> A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped > >> shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" > >> or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD > >> ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and > >> print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. > >> > >> Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. > >> There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many > >> benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to > >> both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions > >> as well. One video server device that I use has the manual > >> included in the product's hard drive as a web page which > >> they update remotely and automatically via the internet as > >> needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as > >> close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, > >> *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference > >> the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your > >> Ipad/Tablet? > >> > >> Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference > >> documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an > >> old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads > >> or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld > >> "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text > >> search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a > >> remote site when the power is out and the battery in the > >> device runs down. > >> > >> The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software > >> based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the > >> time the product ships, the manual is several iterations > >> old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of > >> thinking about this issue at work recently. > >> > >> So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be > >> if paper manuals were not included with the product? When > >> purchasing the product, you would have to either download > >> the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed > >> copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there > >> Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. > >> Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? > >> > >> Lu - W4LT > >> K3/P3/K1 > >> > >> ------------------------ > >> > >> > >> Message: 5 > >> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 > >> From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> > >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 > >> To: [hidden email] > >> Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >> > >> Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, > >> but what does > >> Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to > >> be updated - > >> open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata > >> sheets are > >> the only practical method. > >> > >> 73, > >> Don W3FPR > >> > >> On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > >>> On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > >>>> This is a classic example of the results and frustration > >> caused by > >>>> ignoring the Errata Sheet. > >>> Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is > >> trivially easy for a > >>> decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have > >> several dozen > >>> tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source > >> file, save it > >>> as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I > >> can do that, > >>> Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for > >> that pdf to > >>> include a running list of changes and additions as an > >> appendix. > >>> > >>> 73, Jim K9YC > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> Elecraft mailing list > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] > >> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by ke9uw
In this day and age, I wonder how large a subset is represented by those
who are amateur radio operators and *don't* have a computer? I've travelled in numerous parts of the world. In many cases, the U.S. is looked upon as the greatest place on earth - but, from a technology perspective, many countries offer significantly greater bandwidth "across the board" than we do here in the U.S. A friend of mine who lives in South Africa often crosses the border in Mozambique. Long-distance back to South Africa is prohibitively expensive, but SMS (i.e., text messaging) is free. The data is "piggy-backed" on many transmissions. Try convincing AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc., that they could do that here. In numerous contries around the world, you can already use your cell phone to make purchases from vending machines. Why aren't we doing that in the U.S.? My first personal experience with the internet was back in the late 80s - about all that was available to the average user was FTP. AT the time I had a 1200 baud modem and thought it was hot stuff. Now, with reasonable broadband (even in a small town like mine) 24/7 connectivity would seem both affordable and prevalent. However, I also remember seeing a statistic recently that indicated more than 40% of all internet users (in the U.S.)accessed the web from somewhere other than their own home! After I win the lottery, I'm going to buy an Elecraft K3/0 and a remote-rig setup - I already have 6 computers and two iPADs! Art - N4PJ On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 3:40 PM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email] > wrote: > Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a > computer. It seems possible that some radio buyers would not. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jun 11, 2012, at 2:22 PM, "Arthur Burke" <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > N1MM has taken the approach that *they* are not going to be responsible > for > > you having a paper copy. But they do have a set of instructions available > > for you to "print" to a .pdf format so you can have a "local" copy on > your > > PC or your iPAD. > > > > I find that works extremely well and it's a lot easier to remain current > - > > and it was already too much of a PITA to print the manual in a standard, > > printed document. > > > > Personally, I find the manual availability in .pdf format from Elecraft > to > > be a very workable solution. > > > > Art - N4PJ > > > > > > > > On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Lu Romero <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > >> A lot of Equipment manufacturers I work with have stopped > >> shipping printed manuals. You get a printed "Quick Start" > >> or "installation guide" with the product and either a DVD/CD > >> ROM with the manual in PDF or a website to download and > >> print the latest iteration of the manual in PDF. > >> > >> Printed manuals are both expensive and hard to keep current. > >> There are many benefits to paper manuals, but also many > >> benefits to "soft" manuals. There are mutual benefits to > >> both the manufacturer and the customer, and yes, detractions > >> as well. One video server device that I use has the manual > >> included in the product's hard drive as a web page which > >> they update remotely and automatically via the internet as > >> needed. Anywhere you use the product, the manual is as > >> close as the client computer's browser. When (not *IF*, > >> *WHEN*!) the server goes down, though, how do you reference > >> the manual if you didnt print it or move it to your > >> Ipad/Tablet? > >> > >> Im still not "paperless" in manuals and technical reference > >> documents; I like to have a printed version around. Its an > >> old habit. But Im a dying breed. More and more, I see IPads > >> or Tablets being used for this purpose, a handheld > >> "reference library" of sorts. Its quite efficient with text > >> search functions... that is, until you need the manual at a > >> remote site when the power is out and the battery in the > >> device runs down. > >> > >> The tech in the gear we use today is more and more software > >> based. It changes so quickly and so often, usually by the > >> time the product ships, the manual is several iterations > >> old. Its a sign of the times. I have been doing a lot of > >> thinking about this issue at work recently. > >> > >> So, Im wondering, how upset would us Elecraft customers be > >> if paper manuals were not included with the product? When > >> purchasing the product, you would have to either download > >> the manual from the web and print it if you wanted a printed > >> copy or get it on Optical Media and print it from there > >> Just wondering what everybody thinks about these scenarios. > >> Is it blasphemy? Is it progress? > >> > >> Lu - W4LT > >> K3/P3/K1 > >> > >> ------------------------ > >> > >> > >> Message: 5 > >> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:51:48 -0400 > >> From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> > >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and KPA500 > >> To: [hidden email] > >> Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >> > >> Yes, updating of on-line pdf manuals is easy and trivial, > >> but what does > >> Elecraft do when 100 manuals have been printed and have to > >> be updated - > >> open them and pencil in the changes? I think not - Errata > >> sheets are > >> the only practical method. > >> > >> 73, > >> Don W3FPR > >> > >> On 6/10/2012 10:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > >>> On 6/10/2012 6:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > >>>> This is a classic example of the results and frustration > >> caused by > >>>> ignoring the Errata Sheet. > >>> Yes, BUT -- with modern desktop publishing, it is > >> trivially easy for a > >>> decent technical writer to keep a pdf up to date. I have > >> several dozen > >>> tutorials online as pdf files, and I can edit the source > >> file, save it > >>> as a pdf, and upload it to my website in an hour. If I > >> can do that, > >>> Elecraft should be able to do that. It's equally easy for > >> that pdf to > >>> include a running list of changes and additions as an > >> appendix. > >>> > >>> 73, Jim K9YC > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> Elecraft mailing list > >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] > >> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Let's end this thread for now in the interest of reducing list volume
overload and thread drift. Note: We will be continuing to ship products with printed manuals for the foreseeable future. 73, Eric List moderator --- www.elecraft.com On 6/11/2012 2:55 PM, Arthur Burke wrote: > In this day and age, I wonder how large a subset is represented by those > who are amateur radio operators and *don't* have a computer? > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by Lu Romero - W4LT
I like that the manuals for the K1 and K2 are online, for the reasons
that were stated. I assume that this is true for the K3, but I'm new to it, but since the KX3 manual is also out there in PDF, it's a pretty sure bet. The only thing that I need to do is to copy them to my Tablet; they already reside on my main computer. While very attractive, well-done and professional, the K1/K2/K3 manuals are large. Being spiral-bound does help with the desk space. No, I wouldn't mind at all if Elecraft did away with the printed version of the *user's* manual. It is still handy to have the printed assembly manual if one buys the equipment as a kit, although the relevant pages could be printed so that each step of the assembly could be checked off. It's been some years since commercially-available computer software has been packed with printed manuals. Much easier to include the manual on a CD and have the latest version posted to the manufacturer's website. Anyone remember the weight of the numerous manuals that accompanied something like the Microsoft C compiler? I'm going more and more paperless, with a Kindle and a Kindle, Nook and generic e-reader for my Tablet. Now that an electronic version of QST and CQ Magazines are available, that will be less paper to accumulate (and lose!) around the house. 73 de Jim - AD6CW ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by ke9uw
Then make the manual an optional item, at extra cost,
if the majority say that they don't need a printed copy. 73 de Jim - AD6CW On 6/11/2012 12:40 PM, hawley, charles j jr wrote: > Well...if you buy a computer program, you pretty much would have a computer. It seems possible that some radio buyers would not. > > Sent from my iPad > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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