burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Taking responsibility for what we buy and use is, apparently, a controversial concept. Over the ten years or so I've been on UHH, and the 50 years of my "aware" life before that, I've noticed that a large number of people seem to gloss over the fact that technology is complex. They buy things that they think they want, but they don't do their research in advance, to be sure that THEY and their new devices, are compatible with what they want to do. They yank them out of the box, plug them in, turn them on, and get disappointed.

"Ready? FIRE!! (Uh, Aim, maybe? You just took out the neighbor's flower pot…)"

We're living in an age where our technical tools are not like hammers and screwdrivers, which are easily mastered by third graders. When you buy a hammer or screwdriver, it doesn't come with a manual, because it doesn't need one. It has a fairly singular purpose and a well-known and understood method of use. But technical gear — cameras, audio, video, computers, and cars — is different. These and many other tools and toys require serious consideration before buying, and serious study before use… IF we are going to get our money's worth from them.

Those of us who write user guides and technical manuals for products and software are usually the first to test the usability and viability of the product. If even the smallest detail doesn't work for us, we explain the issues we find to the product development team AND their directors. Making operation EASY for the customer IS HARD WORK for developers, engineers, and product design staff. It's just as difficult for trainers and training content developers.

One of the unfortunate assumptions companies make about their products is that customers WILL READ the documentation that explains proper use and care. Yet surveys have shown that up to 78% of customers never read it. Many users don't want anything to do with an 830+ page camera manual, or even any sort of a 20 page "Quick Start" guide.

I get all of that, but I also know from hiring many people in a photo lab — and from training school portrait photographers, office staff, and sales people — that understanding and mastering technology requires some quality time, focus, and a certain level of detail orientation. Patience with the documentation and with the entire learning process is usually rewarded with great results and long, trouble-free product life.

There is an old acronym that floated around the Internet BEFORE 1993, when the World Wide Web was born: 'R.T.F.M.' When users got stuck, and posted questions on a bulletin board forum for the tech support staff, the POLITE response was often, "Well, did you read the manual?" Soon enough, that got shortened to the acronym.

"Read The *Fine* Manual!" is the polite version of the acronym. After the tenth or eleventh call from the same user, with the same question, the tech support person would hang up the phone after a call, and yell into a paper bag, substituting whatever 'F' word suited his/her mood.

So here's my simple request to the universe of tech purchasers. Please read the documentation that comes with your purchase, or that you can download from the manufacturer's website at no additional cost. You will learn things you can do with your device that you never thought possible. You will avoid pitfalls that cause 80% of the issues people have with their devices. You will get more done, in less time, with better outcomes! You will trust the maker of the product more, because you understand what they do and don't expect you to do with their devices.

ESPECIALLY if you have used another brand of product in the same class, you need to read the manual just to UNLEARN how your old device of another brand worked. Don't expect brand L to work like brand N. Don't expect brand F to work like brand T. Terminology may be different, control placement may be different, and the way some of the functions work almost certainly will be different.

Don't try to make a Ford drive like a Toyota. It will just annoy you. Don't try to make a Windows PC work like a Mac. It will just frustrate you. They are different brands with different design philosophies and result from different ways of thinking about the same tasks. Take them for what they ARE, not for what they are not.

A little reading won't kill you. Operation may not be obvious, even when you think it should be. There's a reason for everything, and you need to know what it is, if you are going to get along with your new device. Read the freaking manual, and get your money's worth.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

With versatility comes complexity.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

In the eighties I taught an introductory photography class called "Your camera how to use it". A typical class of twenty five students would have only one who read the owners manual, amazing among people that wanted to
learn how to use their camera.

MJPerini

Well , I agree with about everything you said, but we live in an age that wants to tell us it is unfair to ask people to take any responsibility for their own actions.
So keep ranting
But remember , you also used some logic in your arguments….. logic may offend the “Personal Truth “ of some folks……
Oh well…. God save us… (am I allowed to say God?)

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

In principle I’ll agree, but the reality is with complexity of modern cameras the manuals can be pushing 1,000 pages, and even with camera in hand, most people will be glassy-eyed within the first few pages. I agree, download the manual, familiarize yourself with it, and have it available as a reference when you have questions. Even then I’ve seen people have issues because they don’t have the right terminology to do a search.
As for buying something that can’t do what they want, that’s on them for not doing their research. Even before a new camera is available to purchase there’s usually enough info out there and reviews to understand the capabilities and limitations.
And besides all that you can almost always find a 3rd party book or videos that explain features more in depth than the user manual, which will often tell how to change a setting without an understanding of exactly what options might be best for the user’s needs. My OM-1 has a lot of pretty cool features that I like to use. The OM Systems website has a great library of videos explaining those features in depth.
All that being said, if someone hasn’t read the manual and wants to ask questions here, have at it. That’s what forums like this are for. It’s better than yet another thread about SOOC vs PP.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If it makes you feel better! I felt better after my rant.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

+++1

One thing I'd add to the conversation is this (opined on another thread): Technology isn't foolproof. If it were, there would never be updates! And the more complex a piece of technology is (today's cameras are a great example), the greater the chance of some form of future failure. Metal fatigue and "planned obsolescence" are like rust: They will slowly eat away the goods until some day, things snap.

It seems not a week goes by when someone on this forum barks about an updated piece of software (no names here) no longer working on their ten year-old Windows 7 laptop, or requires a new CPU chip. Sorry folks, staying current is the price of admission in today's world.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Good Advice
Do your homework --
Know what you are buying before you purchase it
AND
Always read the detailed manual First and the quick start section Second

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The pain starts with a refusal to take the initial responsibility to know enough to describe a problem or ask about it. We can write 20 pages of crap without knowing enough to truly answer a question.

It’s about efficiency. The obvious answers are in the manual. If not, only then do I reach out to a dealer/manufacturer/fellow user.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The concept of “sunk costs” really offends some people. A ten year old computer is a sunk cost. Worse, it’s unsafe on the Internet.

Canoon Loc: Carson City Nevada

Read the Fool's Manual

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

And I feel better after reading it.

BebuLamar

Today it's possible to read the manuals before you buy something so that's what I do. I prefer to buy local but even so I learned how to use the equipment before going to the store to check it out. So I know exactly what to do when I try the demo. Of course you can order online and when it gets to you, you have a couple of weeks to find out. If you don't like it just return and you add 1 more item to the refurbished stock for us to buy and save.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea...... "Doesn't work" just doesn't cut it when looking to get a problem answered!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sad isn't it.....