It never ceases to amaze me...
 

In article ,
Roderick Stewart wrote:
I *always* read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after you've
discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't apply to the
particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's very rare that
what remains will explain in simple terms what you actually want to
know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct either.

Bought a cordless screwdriver the other day and the instructions consisted
of three pages of safety warnings and half a page of actual 'how to use
it'. Then a further several pages of warranty bumf and dealers worldwide.

--
*Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

charles wrote:

In article ,
Chas Gill wrote:

I've just bought a digital camera on line and it's clearly an
import form the USA (it even has the USA name for the camera -
which is not the same as the UK name). The battery charger comes
with two flat blade-type pins with holes in - typical USA sh1t
mains plug (incidentally WTF ARE the holes for?).

The holes are there for a retaining device, such as a sprung ball.
This will also give a better current carrying contact are.

I thought they were for wrapping bare wires through. :)

--
Ashley
For Windsor Weather see www.snglinks.com/wx

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

"Roderick Stewart" wrote in message
.. .
I *always* read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after you've
discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't apply to the
particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's very rare that
what remains will explain in simple terms what you actually want to
know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct either.

I don't know why manufacturers economise on the instruction book. Getting it
right adds so much perceived value to the product.

Bill

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

Roderick Stewart wrote:
In article , Kay Robinson wrote:

Real men don't read instruction manuals.

True, they usually spend hours on the phone to me asking 'how do I do
(whatever)?' One friend make a deliberate point of throwing all
leaflets, booklets etc out with the wrapping.

I *always* read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after
you've discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't apply
to the particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's very
rare that what remains will explain in simple terms what you actually
want to know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct either.

Rod.

Half the time the instructions don't make any sense until you've worked
things out for yourself.

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

Adrian wrote:

Roderick Stewart wrote:
In article , Kay Robinson
wrote:

Real men don't read instruction manuals.

True, they usually spend hours on the phone to me asking 'how do
I do (whatever)?' One friend make a deliberate point of throwing
all leaflets, booklets etc out with the wrapping.

I always read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after
you've discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't
apply to the particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's
very rare that what remains will explain in simple terms what you
actually want to know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct
either.

Rod.

Half the time the instructions don't make any sense until you've
worked things out for yourself.

It can take some time just to find the English section. :)

--
Ashley
For Windsor Weather see www.snglinks.com/wx

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

"Ashley Booth" wrote in message
...
Half the time the instructions don't make any sense until you've
worked things out for yourself.

It can take some time just to find the English section. :)


....Insert the batteries in the backside.....

--
R

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Roderick Stewart wrote:
I *always* read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after you've
discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't apply to the
particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's very rare that
what remains will explain in simple terms what you actually want to
know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct either.

Bought a cordless screwdriver the other day

I've never seen a screwdriver that wasn't cordless.

--
Max Demian

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

In message , Max Demian
writes
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Roderick Stewart wrote:
I *always* read instruction manuals, but generally the standard of
clarity is utterly appalling, so I'm not surprised that many people
give up all hope of finding anything helpful in them. Even after you've
discarded the 90% or so that isn't in English or doesn't apply to the
particular model of whatever it is you've bought, it's very rare that
what remains will explain in simple terms what you actually want to
know, and no absolute guarantee that it's correct either.

Bought a cordless screwdriver the other day

I've never seen a screwdriver that wasn't cordless.

All of mine (except one, which I never use) are powerless.
--
Ian

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
Bought a cordless screwdriver the other day

I've never seen a screwdriver that wasn't cordless.

All of mine (except one, which I never use) are powerless.

Then you need to try the new little impact one from Makita. Looks like
most other small powered ones but is in a totally different class. Great
for screwing down loads of floorboards. Because it's impact no torque
reaction to your wrist.

--
*Generally speaking, you aren't learning much if your lips are moving.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

It never ceases to amaze me...
 

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
Bought a cordless screwdriver the other day

I've never seen a screwdriver that wasn't cordless.

All of mine (except one, which I never use) are powerless.

Then you need to try the new little impact one from Makita. Looks like
most other small powered ones but is in a totally different class. Great
for screwing down loads of floorboards. Because it's impact no torque
reaction to your wrist.

No reaction to my wrist? That doesn't sound like fun!
--
Ian