Is it automatic? WHY (free, house, to buy, cell phone)

[AksarbeN]

Why?

Again one of those problems in life that surface from time to time without any good reason for it. This time it’s the “I bought it because it was an automatic, and now I’m reading the manual” again.

Most everything you buy that is said to be automatic isn’t. So why did I buy an automatic camera only to find myself reading the manual to find out how it works? I could have purchased a much easier simpler “manual” camera and probably not had to read any 137 page book on how to operate it. And another bad part is that the 137 page book is in four different languages and I’ve got trouble just dealing with English.

The book or operators guide seems to have pictures to help me understand what they are talking about however do pictures always help? NO.,,,, if they can’t give you a good easy to understand text explanation then pictures don’t help much.

After purchasing an “automatic” item the first thing you have to do it read the book and adjust the settings and options. Why? isn’t this suppose to be “automatic”! Who builds these items we buy that claims to make our lives easier for us? I think I’ve found the real terrorists in the world ~ and they make things to drive Americans nuts. I guess if you didn’t understand how to use it after reading the English version of the operator’s book, you can take a course and learn Spanish, French, or German. That might give a detailed explanation for you.

I’ve got just a few items around the house at are said to be automatic machines:
My camera, new HI-Def TV, new DVD unit, the auto-matic coffee pot, the stove, dishwasher, the auto-defrost refrigerator, my cell phone, the wife’s cell phone (they don’t operate in the same way), a new thermostat (I installed and had to read the manual for an automatic thermostat), my digital wristwatch, the alarm clock, the list goes on and on. There’s a drawer in the kitchen that is full and has nothing but manuals, book, operator’s guides, etc. for these items that aren’t working properly.

When will someone invent a simple “automatic on~off” switch for those many items we use everyday and eliminate this nightmare of books, manuals etc.

[LaceyEx]

Oh I feel your pain.

I'm the type that hates reading "instructions"-just show me and I catch on.

[motormaker]

AksarbeN,
Great post, I think I have some of the same instruction books you have. My camera came with a cheat sheet that I carry in my wallet and the Super Chief takes care of most all of the auto stuff. I'm so lucky.

[AksarbeN]

Sometimes you need to buy the extra decoder ring to understand the cheat sheet. Or the cheat sheet folds up like a roadmap and can’t be put into your wallet.

[motormaker]

You mean you didn't mail in the box top and get your free ring?

[tlb71]

My cell phone came with an inch thick manual... I'm waiting for the cliff notes.

[happynoodleboycey]

Something else is that the manuels are almost always written by boffins who seem to think that everyone who buys the product will instantly know and understand all their technical lingo so often you need a degree in electrical engineering just to figure out what the damn thing says!

[tet tea]

With cameras I've found it's mostly trial and error plus lots of practice ... kinda like raising kids and they don't come with instructions or a return policy!

[Tek_Freek]

From personal experience - I've written some of those manuals - it's not as easy as you might think. The key is to throw out everything that is obvious to the writer since the writer already knows it all - or they wouldn't have enough knowledge to write the manual - then write the manual as if it is going to be read by a fifth grader.

After you've done that hand both to someone who has never seen the product or the manual and have them use the product. Pay attention to what they do and say.

Then go back and rewrite the manual and give it to another person who has never seen the product or the manual and have them use the product.

Repeat until manual actually works.

Good luck with that and the explanation you give the company honchos when they ask why the damn manual isn't ready yet. Those people don't understand the words "I want to make it sure it's correct before I release it." That sentence is never heard when you utter it because it contains neither "bottom" nor "line".

The last thing I used that I would consider to be automatic the fist time I saw it? A big red button that had a sign next to it that read "Push Here". Damn door hit me in the face!

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by tlb71

My cell phone came with an inch thick manual... I'm waiting for the cliff notes.

Mine to, my wife got it for me, I told her I just want a simple phone, it has taken me 2 years to figure out how to take a picture.