RE: Do people want a hard copy of the owners' manual for their car?

[Fred Ridder <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Peter Nielson wrote:

> Fred Ridder wrote:
> >> Oh, man. Something is wrong with my car, and I'm probably in a rush, and I'm trying to find out if I can fix it . . . the LAST thing I would want to have to do is fire up the laptop to locate some online document somewhere.
> >> Next generation cars will open the manual for you on the on-board computer.
> > 
> > 
> > Unless it's the electrical system that is causing problems...
> 
> From a tech-writing perspective, we all know that most manuals have 
> errors, or merely insufficient information to solve the problem at hand. 
> I personally like to make notes on the pages, add pointers to other 
> pages, occasionally construct sort of an index. I'll do that on the CD, 
> right, little scrawls with a Sharpie pen, while I have grease on my hands?


My point was much simpler than yours, and had nothing to do with the *quality* of the information. If a car's documentation is only provided electronically in an on-board computer, you would be completely cut off from *all* of the information--be it good, bad, or irrelevant--if there is an electical or electronic malfunction. You won't even have a number to call on your mobile phone unless that number is on your key fob. 
-Fred Ridder

 

 

 
 		 	   		  
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