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Documentation rant (slightly) -- no user manual in PDF?!?

I realize that in this day and age, manuals are bulky, extraneous and heavy. Oh, and not to mention they are also made out of paper. No big deal, honest.

I'm okay that there are no paper manuals, but why why WHY did they not include a standard PDF version of the user manual?

It's not even an option in the help menu anymore.

In looking at where the L8 manual is supposed to be, nested deep within the contents of the application package -- and voila -- instead of a simple, easy to use (and print) PDF file there are loads and loads of ... HTML files?!?

Does Apple really think that opening Safari (or Firefox) is going to be any faster than using Preview?

Who signed off on this? 😉

Sorry, it's a rant I know. If there is another solution, like buying bound copies of the manuals, I will do it. But why did they take away the pdf?!?

G5 dual 2.0, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jul 25, 2009 5:20 PM

203 replies

simon66

Level 1

39 points

Aug 5, 2009 5:26 PM in response to Ben R

Any half decent graphic designer (I speak as a half decent graphic designer) could make the necessary additions to the existing L8 PDF manual in a day or less, so why aren't they doing it? Do they really have such little respect for their loyal customer base? Are they just hoping it'll go away? It's all very well producing our own PDF manual, but where does it end, do we need to start having to program out our own bugs? It's bad enough that Apple want to charge us to beta test their new app. Over the years I've invested in a whole heap of metal purely on the basis of using Logic (which I love) I don't know (or care) if there's been some kind of personnel change but there's something really wrong here.

Aug 5, 2009 10:31 PM in response to extensivegroup

Please Apple, take this seriously!!!

Aug 6, 2009 8:09 AM in response to the SAS Logic Helper

Thanks again for everyone's "help" here. Since starting this thread I assumed there would be a tiny amount of interest, but really thought it might fall on deaf ears. 150+ replies and over 8000 views later I'm solidified in my belief that Apple seriously dropped the ball in releasing Logic 9 (and Final Cut 3) without full PDF documentation.

Nice to see the user-generated PDF files on here, but I'm holding onto hope that Apple will eventually see the light and release their own.

Until then, this thread will remain open and my "question" will remain "unanswered".

Aug 6, 2009 8:26 AM in response to extensivegroup

And to make matters worse, I misplaced the teeny tiny little manual that came with Logic 9. I thought I put it right next to my Logic 8 manuals. Apparently one of them ate it.

Aug 6, 2009 10:07 AM in response to MartinOM28V

haha. I lost my Logic 8 manual some time back. Had I known we would get such poor documentation with Logic 9, I would have guarded it with my life. They'll be worth a fortune on ebay.

Aug 6, 2009 7:51 PM in response to bouzoukikid

nevermind

Aug 6, 2009 10:27 PM in response to extensivegroup

Thanks to all involved for the PDFs and the hard work involved.

Apple need to smarten up their game or they're gonna lose a lot of customers...

simon66

Level 1

39 points

Aug 7, 2009 8:46 AM in response to graeme hodge

Even if Apple suddenly make a PDF manual available, they need to realize that's not enough. We need some kind of ongoing dialog so that as users we're kept in touch with what's going on. maybe they could take a leaf out of Cockos book

http://www.reaper.fm/

"We didn't hide REAPER 3 until we were ready to market it. Instead, we offered our pre-release builds in public to all of our users, and continued to refine and develop as they told us what they liked, what they didn't, and best of all, what new features were most important to them. "

Not bad for 60 USD

Message was edited by: simon66

Message was edited by: simon66

Aug 7, 2009 10:20 AM in response to extensivegroup

Just showing my support for this topic. Lack of printed manuals, while unfortunate, is understandable. But a lack of PDFs?! That's unthinkable. Has anyone at Apple ever actually tried to USE Help Viewer for help? It's all but unusable. The ball has really been dropped somewhere.

Aug 8, 2009 7:17 AM in response to Soma spiral

Is anyone on this forum aware of any comment or response whatseover from Apple on this ridiculous omission ?

Complaining about this debacle puts me in mind of the tag-line from the 'Alien' movies:

"*+In <cyber>space, no-one can hear you scream+*"!

This is now at best, bad PR and (in reality), probably downright contempt for a loyal and enthusiastic user base.

Is there perhaps some disrapprochement between Apple and the owners of that well known format in which we would all like to see the documentation?

I do suspect however, that there is probably a good deal of executive 'arse-covering' as those bright young things responsible for this monumentally short-sighted decision either run for cover or have extra hands gratfted on in order that they might point more fingers at 'culpable' colleagues.

What me - cynical?

maceasy

Level 1

24 points

Aug 8, 2009 7:48 AM in response to extensivegroup

Apple never communicate with their users. That has always been the policy. I draw my own conclusions from that, and will consider what is the best software for me in light of their attitude.

Aug 8, 2009 8:30 AM in response to maceasy

Judging by the number of views for this topic (currently above 9,000) I'd say it has gotten someone's attention at Apple.

Whether or not we hear anything is something else entirely.

Aug 8, 2009 10:57 AM in response to maceasy

maceasy wrote:
Apple never communicate with their users. That has always been the policy.

Ah - I had no idea. So no Apploid ever posts to these forums? - how very odd. I am sure it has always been thus and is therfore not odd to many here. I personally find it odd that this would be their policy. I suppose it does obviate any of their staff shooting themselves in the corporate foot.

{quote:title=}{quote}
I draw my own conclusions from that, and will consider what is the best software for me in light of their attitude.

I can imagine several possible interpretations of the above but am not entirely sure which of these might be your intention. How does the fact that Apple take this taciturn approach actually affect the way in which you choose software?

Pancenter

Level 6

14,662 points

Aug 8, 2009 11:34 AM in response to alancurtis

alancurtis wrote:

{quote:title=maceasy wrote:} I draw my own conclusions from that, and will consider what is the best software for me in light of their attitude.{quote}

I can imagine several possible interpretations of the above but am not entirely sure which of these might be your intention. How does the fact that Apple take this taciturn approach actually affect the way in which you choose software?

Probably saying he/she would consider support as a criteria for choosing software. A complex pro application like Logic needs more than an html manual, I've used Logic since v2 and can't imagine a new user jumping into version 9 with the manual Apple has provided. I guess they expect everyone to be Garageband graduates.

pancenter-

Aug 8, 2009 11:42 AM in response to Pancenter

Ah I see.

Support is clearly a criterion but surely only one of several criteria to be considered.

I was wondering whether (s)he was actually saying that (s)he does not use Logic because of the stand-off nature of the developers.

Anyway, many thanks for the response.

Documentation rant (slightly) -- no user manual in PDF?!?