When Do You Read the Instructions? 135
An anonymous reader asks: "I originally submitted this as a poll, but the answers I'm guessing, were way too long. However, I would like to ask the crowd at Slashdot: When do you read the instructions?"
"So when do you reach for that instruction booklet? Do you:
- ...research on the internet, in magazines and also pestering friends who own one, so you're an expert before buying said item?
- ...carefully read the box and all of the instructions even before unwrapping the protective plastic?
- ...study the instructions and the quickstart guide?
- ...refer to the instructions and study the quickstart guide?
- ...lose the instructions when throwing the packaging away, but study the quickstart guide hoping for the best?
- ...look at quickstart guide when it's not obvious how to turn it on?
- ...frantically search the instruction book after letting the 'magic smoke' out of your appliance hoping you'll find somewhere saying it's suppose to do that?
- ...after it's been smashed to pieces with a hammer?"
Importance... (Score:4, Insightful)
If I'm just playing around... that's it, I play around and look at the manual if there's a problem.
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
And for the last time
Re:Importance... (Score:1)
I've more or less never needed to read instructions for TV's, VCR's, DVD Players, Microwaves etc etc
ffs there easy operate
never read instructions unless I run into problems (Score:2)
Reading the instructions...only when everything else has failed... 8p
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
Re:Importance... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
Re:Importance... (Score:1)
OS X generally only installs the GNU stuff in cases like make where the GNU embrace-and-extend and all-the-world's-an-i386-linux crowds have make it awkward to do otherwise.
Re:Importance... (Score:2)
Me... (Score:2)
When it breaks (Score:1)
I never (Score:5, Funny)
I also use Windows...no manuals needed! Plug and Play! USB! I never buy stuff from companies that don't have an 800 tech support number. Let THEM read the manual to me!
Re:I never (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I never (Score:2)
Re:I never (Score:2)
Re:I never (Score:1)
Confidence = c
Eyecatching = e
Money = m
Confidence is most important, looks are secondary, and money comes last... at least if you're looking for a woman who you'd actually want to be with right? You can always counteract being good-looking with a little bit of money, and a lot of condfidence. But you can't have more confidence than your looks, or you'll end up looking like an ass. So the equation goes:
e=mc^2
YMMV. It's all relative
Re:I never (Score:3, Interesting)
e = mc^2
e = 0 x c^2
e = 0
Re:I never (Score:1)
not sure though.
A Poem (Score:2)
I swear it takes too long.
So I read them afterwards instead
To see where I went wrong.
EULApr0n! (Score:2)
Then again, they might never get past the EULA in which case they wouldn't be violating it, would they?
"By reading this agreement you automatically consent to be bound by its terms."
When (Score:2)
Half the fun... (Score:1)
Re:Half the fun... (Score:2)
Amen. Nobody makes good manuals anymore, including program language software vendors. Seems most everybody now thinks "Help" is adequate. The only salvation is third-party manuals, which are usually frightfully expensive.
My kingdom for a good tech manual!
#define instructions (Score:3, Insightful)
The only case when I -very quickly- read them it's when I'm looking for the default password of a piece of networked equipment. which usually it's not even written down.
cheers
---
open source is like poker: would you trust a deck of card that you cannot see being shuffled, but you have to trust who said it was done?
Re:#define instructions (Score:1)
Re:#define instructions (Score:2)
Re:#define instructions (Score:3, Insightful)
Nowadays, you are lucking if the modem manual says "User are to make under installing
I'm confused (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'm confused (Score:2)
Are there devices out there which are not operated by a hammer?
There are a few devices that are not operated by hammer. My hammer is actually operated by the liberal application of some device ;)
Re:I'm confused (Score:5, Funny)
Are there devices out there which are not operated by a hammer?
No wonder your girlfriend is broken.
Re:I'm confused (Score:2)
Always (Score:2)
Yes and yes. I always read the instructions. I wish everyone would.
Re:Always (Score:2)
I just got the motorola V551 to hook up with my powerbook. Surprised that it came with a charged battery, i asked the guy if I could test it out to make sure it worked.
I learned motorola's phone menu system in about 5 minutes, and had it transfering files to my powerbook without even looking to see if there was a manual. I then spent about an hour at home searching the web to find the features I really wanted, and made the phone work the way I wanted it to, spent another half hour configurating the
Instructions should not be required. (Score:2, Interesting)
If you require instructions, the device is too complicated and is badly designed.
The obvious exception is where the equipment is dangerous / mission critical / requires complicated user interaction. For example, cars have a pretty simple interface (at the minimum: a wheel and two pedals), but you need to know the rules of the road to use these machines safely.
Re:Instructions should not be required. (Score:2)
Difference between boys and girls (Score:5, Interesting)
Note: Yes this is a broad generalisation, but this is slashdot.
Because the guys jump into using it so quickly, they learn faster through trial and error. The pace of learning with girls is a lot slower due to their desire to know how stuff works first.
This has parallels with "reading instructions". From the large sample of friends that I have, very few of them (male) ever choose to read the instructions.
Personally, I'm affronted that I even need to read the instructions (especially for consumer electronic items). In this day and age, electronic items (VCR/DVD/camcorder/digicam) should be usable by anyone who spends 60 seconds playing with it (think iPod). In short, we should not ever need to read instructions.
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:4, Insightful)
Reading the manual gives you the CD-ROM drive. Playing with things gives you the cup holder.
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:3, Insightful)
At a minimum I will skim the docs. Even if the item is very simple. The item may use new features or have a different interface. I want to get the most out of anything I buy.
The sibling post's cd-rom or cup holder comment is true.
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:2)
such as Magic faster by RTFM than by just trying.
Playing (under assistance) during RTFM helps,
though. Watching rarely, even assisted.
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:2, Insightful)
It did take me awhile to get over a childhood of being yelled at for messing with stuff my brother always got to play with.
Leave girls alone and give 'em tools, and they'll break stuff too!
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:3, Interesting)
First, because computers are so much about convention that they'll never make sense unless you just jump in and start using it. Second, because books so often tell you how a computer should work, but rar
Re:Difference between boys and girls (Score:2)
This applies to relationships, too.
It Depends (Score:3, Insightful)
Study the instructions and the quickstart guide (Score:2, Insightful)
But for complex gadgets with more than an on/off switch, and I'm talking things such as digital cameras, mp3 players and the like, there are typically more options than you could manage to figure out on your own, even if given the time. A lot of the extras in gadgets like these are harder to do than a street fighter combo.
Take the time to read through
Re:Study the instructions and the quickstart guide (Score:2)
This was my first digital camera, prior to this I've only owned a ~$20 35mm.
My point is, I love figuring things out, and this was a piece of cake. Some people don't read the manuals just for the challenge.
The answer is simple (Score:2)
problems (Score:2, Insightful)
like horizonal or vertical frequencies of a monitor. Most of the time those QuickStart guides
are useless for be because they focus on setting up the hardware in windows environments.
I bought a new TFT Flatscreen and the manual was provided on a CD. My luck was that the screen
accepted my XOrg settings and worked right out of the box. The manual itself was a set of html pages
that didn't work under linux using fi
Magic Smoke (no not that kind) (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Magic Smoke (no not that kind) (Score:2)
Depends. (Score:1)
For the wireless router I picked up, I looked long enough through the manual to pick up the configuration address for my browser-- I already knew how to set it up otherwise.
For my recent motherboard upgrade, I checked the manual thoroughly to make sure there weren't going to be any surprises on the compatibility front, especially with RAM.
For videogames, I typically check the story section, a quick glance at the controls, and a quick glance over the weapons, with a later fu
I read instructions every day (Score:1)
manual? (Score:1)
Depends on the thing... (Score:2, Interesting)
Other things only get the manuals read when I'm either really bored or really stuck. I've never read the manual for my origina
Only when (Score:2)
Rarely. (Score:2)
Expensive hardware comes in at work? Yeah, I'll read the instructions (I don't do that type of stuff much though).
New gun? Yep, read the instructions. Unless I already have one just like it.
Re:Rarely. (Score:2)
Re:Rarely. (Score:2)
Safety (Score:3, Insightful)
I might read the instructions for expensive/irreplacable items, as well. Unless I don't own them.
c.
Re:Safety (Score:2)
If there's a potential safety issue (beyond just using electricity), I definitely read the instructions.
Heh.
A week or so ago I was installing some ethernet runs in a steel factory. The guy who was instructing me where to put things said "Mount it inside the PLC, right here. Be careful not to touch that stuff, though... that's live 480 volt, it'll make you dance."
We also couldn't use zip ties - after a couple of months appearantly the corrosive environment eats through them and they break.
~Will
on the throne (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:on the throne (Score:2)
never borrow a manual from Kcornwell.
Google (Score:1, Funny)
What's wrong with Ask Slashdot? Here's yet another example of a question that can be easily answered using Google [google.com].
I know it is time to read the instructions (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I know it is time to read the instructions (Score:2)
pretty much pegged me... (Score:2)
Got me right off the bat. I don't buy often, I only buy what I know will work, and I have a full and complete understanding of what I'm buying before I do.
Guess I'm a late adopter.
I've tried (Score:2)
I've tried, but you can't follow them. Betweem being written in some language that doesn't exist. Sure it looks like English, but even in the most slang versions English doesn't allow the grammar used. As a native English speaker I'm often unable to figure out what is intended.
That above assumes that the step is there. In most cases the instructions go from step 4 to step 6 without any indication. (that is the numbers are 1,2,3,4,5,6..., but there is a step 4.5) Often I notice this because I can fi
two reasons why I do it (Score:2, Interesting)
The other reason is for non-consumer level gear. A Linksys router I would fully expect to be plug and play. A high-end Cisco router? perhaps not.
A 3rd party microcontroller dev-kit? I had to look up the datasheet for the power regulator they used to find out what kind of power it wanted. At which point there aren't as many manuals written at which poin
As my sig always used to say.... (Score:3, Funny)
What are these "manuals" of which you speak? (Score:2)
Re:What are these "manuals" of which you speak? (Score:2)
When do I read the Instructions? (Score:2)
Depends . . . (Score:2)
What's a good example of the first? I'm not sure, since I don't typically read the manual. I would suppose when I installed Gentoo the first couple of times I read the manual. Now, I just use a checklist. Originally, building a system like that was totally unfamiliar and I was really stuck.
When I was a kid, and c
Manual (Score:1)
Depends on risk to life and limb (Score:2, Insightful)
Just long enough (Score:2)
Always (Score:2)
can. This has saved me a lot of hassle (e.g. I
never bought a "copy"-protected CD because it was
lacking the "CD Digital Audio" logo).
Of course, everyone else I know is even too lazy
to read the quickstart guide or the less-than-1K
BSD licence throughoutly.
My 1/50th $ (Score:3, Interesting)
I just bought myself a new digital camcorder, all the bells and whistles, natch. So I record a few friends and I outing to buy an XMas tree, and a few other things. So often, especially with complex equipment, how to do something is not always immediately clear;
Want to turn on night-mode or light assist? Oh, you need to switch the camera to program mode, go into the menu and select the moon icon.
Want to take still pictures? Move the dongle to the top, and press the record button. Cant do that? Oh yeah, we ship you a card full of sample images so you have to erase it first.
You want to erase it? Just flip the dongle back to the bottom, choose picture review, and then format card.
Now, its time to transfer the video off. Well, the camera has USB2.0 and FireWire (dv) output, but only includes the USB cable. Well, no matter, my mac's in the shop anyhow. So I plug in the USB cable to a windows box I found collecting dust, since I couldnt find USB drivers for the camera in linux.
So when I plug the camera in, windows just stares at me. I read through the quick start manual, and it says flip to "picture" mode instead of "movie" mode. Seems odd to me, but whatever.
So I flip it, and the software comes up, and says pick some pictures to download. Sure enough, lots of sample images, but no mention of getting my movie off.
So I go back to the manual.
And then, several hours of reading it later (could they have cut the esperanto section and included an index PLEASE???) I find a small one line comment hidden at the bottom of the page that discusses hooking my camera up to ANOTHER CAMERA.
That note?
"You will need to purchase a seperate DV cable to transfer video from the camera"
So yeah, I play first, and then read the manual, and then post on slashdot how shitty the manuals are
It Depends (Score:2)
I'm thinking I should have gone anonymous with this one.. *shrugs*
Depends on circumstance. (Score:2)
I rarely look properly at the instructions unless something either breaks or I can't figure out how to use a certain function. But there are a few exceptions.
Charging (Score:2)
Computers, et al, come with instructions? (Score:2, Funny)
When it really matters, of course! (Score:2)
Or, of course, if I can't figure out how the hell it turns from jet to robot and back.
Standard Faire (Score:2)
I mean, there's nothing else to do then...
how many languages? (Score:2)
Baz
Almost always (Score:2)
Re:never (Score:1)
To be honest im used to many many products not having any instructions at all now, due to the fact that the manufacturer KNOWS that people wont read them.
Best way round this i ever saw was in the FF games, i think it was FF7 where was you played for the first few hours, it actually taught you the instructions. Only problem was there wasn't a way around it so every replay you would end up learning the same things again.
I know its not possible for simpler objects like microwaves
Re:never (Score:1)
Guess that kind of proved my point, for the first time ever, a valid slashdot comment. Rejoice.
I gotta ask whats the adv. cost of one of these, im from the lowly UK and not many microwaves here have digial displays...
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
The one that really killed me was a Saab. Who puts the ignition in the console between the seats? I began to think it was an anti-theft device.
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:1)
Apparently though, it *is* an anti theft device. At least on older Saabs, that's some kind of physical lock for the transmission. This was a shiny new one, and it seemed just like any other ignition key (aside from it's location) to me. I guess die-hard Saab people like to feel the lineage.
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Of course, in a way I should have known. I used to drive a Beetle, and after you find the battery underneath the back seat, life should hold few surprises.
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Makes me wonder why car designers do things like that. I mean, is there a reason, or is there some guy in Europe that just wants to be an arsehole, and has to put things in different places when he has a bad day?
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:3, Interesting)
Then again, for years the gas cap was in the trunk...
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
I'll take a Holden anyday.
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
Re:Not for common tasks (Score:2)
I think its really important to check out the controls of a vehicle you're not familiar with. It bothers me that rentals never have the manual. You don't want to be driving in bad weather and have to mess around trying to get the defroster or the windshield wipers working.
When I was 19 I had an experience that taught me not to start driving an unfamiliar vehicle without checking it out. I was working for a guy whose business was in Dijon (France) but who lived way out in the country, over an hour away.