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Starting to HATE Mac

S

Simple Living

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 26, 2007
80
0
Why doesn't Mac come with a manual? Why don't the programs it comes with have manuals or user guides? Instead you get these useless video tutorials that don't do what they say they'll do. I really am starting to LOATHE Mac for their arrogant cockiness in thinking that everything is so freaking user friendly when it's not.

Even Vista is starting to sound good.
 
Yikes.. Vista will make you come screaming back believe me. Are you speaking of the iLife or iWork applications? Not having manuals is becoming part of the entire software industry. They get to sell a lot more "ultimate guide to iWork " type books that way:)
 
Simple Living said:
Why doesn't Mac come with a manual? Why don't the programs it comes with have manuals or user guides? Instead you get these useless video tutorials that don't do what they say they'll do.
Click to expand...

They generally seem much better than Manuals, there is also the Help menu ;). Alternatively you can buy something like this.
 
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IIRC, most of the software on install disks have PDFs on the disk which are essentially electronic user manuals. Printing manuals and packaging them have become a financial waste to most companies, and packaging CDs or even having the manuals pre-loaded is becoming much more common.

I'd say quite honestly if you're a part of this website and still having trouble, you're not looking hard enough for a solution.

If you think I am out of line saying this then please tell us the problem and we'd be happy to help! :)
 
Since when did ANY computer or software come with a half decent manual? Certainly not the Dells I now make a living from setting up.

Calm down. Either buy a book, or patiently look for answers in these forums. Or both.

Using a Mac is frustrating at first if you've just switched from a PC. Believe us when we say that your patience will be more than rewarded.

SL
 
Terrific user manual!

If you want a manual that covers the ins and outs of OS X and it's bundled apps (iLife, etc.), pick up a copy of The Missing Manual by David Pogue.
It's excellent and I purchased my copy on Amazon. :D
 
jaybrad said:
If you want a manual that covers the ins and outs of OS X and it's bundled apps (iLife, etc.), pick up a copy of The Missing Manual by David Pogue.
It's excellent and I purchased my copy on Amazon. :D
Click to expand...

I also have this and highly recommend it. However it mostly covers just OS X. Come April 4, Robin Williams, via Peachpit Press, will be releasing Cool Mac Apps, which covers both iLife 08 and iWork 08. You can pre-order it on Amazon as well, which I have. I have her Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard book, which is very good, but not as in-depth as David Pogue's.
Again, patience will be well rewarded! :)
Morod
 
Simple Living said:
Why doesn't Mac come with a manual? Why don't the programs it comes with have manuals or user guides? Instead you get these useless video tutorials that don't do what they say they'll do. I really am starting to LOATHE Mac for their arrogant cockiness in thinking that everything is so freaking user friendly when it's not.

Even Vista is starting to sound good.
Click to expand...

I think we know what you wanted to get out of this thread..... not just a simple vent.

Either way I think you are over reacting. iLife is the dumbest set of tools you can use, if you are having problems then I honestly think it's your own fault.
 
Simple Living said:
Why doesn't Mac come with a manual? Why don't the programs it comes with have manuals or user guides? Instead you get these useless video tutorials that don't do what they say they'll do. I really am starting to LOATHE Mac for their arrogant cockiness in thinking that everything is so freaking user friendly when it's not.

Even Vista is starting to sound good.
Click to expand...

It does come with a manual. It's in with the install discs named Everything Mac/Everything Else.
 
i have never read a manual for any program -- PC or Mac. but i like to buy the "tutorial" books for cubase, photoshop, etc.

the only Mac program that needs to be more user friendly is Compression. it should be easy to use but its confusing!
 
Every app has a "manual" in the form of the "Help" menu. Change an application and the menu bar's help menu changes with it. There is Mail Help, Safari Help, iMovie Help, etc. There hasn't been a question I couldn't find the answer to in Help menu so far. You can search (ask a question) in there as well. So it's not that Apple is cocky by not giving you a hard copy manual. They've just packaged it better. ;)

Apple FTW!
 
I find it easier to have a manual in PDF form and do a search of that. I got the CS3 package in few months ago, and it came with 15 Lb of books. However, I never use them because the help file has the same information and I can keyword search it.
 
You know, the last few PCs I owned didn't have manuals either. They came with a small booklet that explained the basics just like a Mac and that is all. They have done this partly to save paper, but also because not everyone needs a book to tell them how to do things. For those who do, it's included in the computers help files.

This is the way things are these days, get used to it.
 
Do what I do when I begin getting upset with Mac...

Go use Windows for about 10 minutes

Then when you come back, everything is all better :)
 
hate is a strong word, do you really hate your make or do you just dislike it because you cannot learn how to use it

just ask questions thats what this place is for
 
EB66 said:
hate is a strong word, do you really hate your make or do you just dislike it because you cannot learn how to use it

just ask questions thats what this place is for
Click to expand...
No its not, its also for discussion, and this is basically a complaints thread, better than having someone make one for every single annoyance in OSX.
 
Do Shift+Command+? in an app to bring up the search/help function

Go to and choose a topic, there will be a link to the manual. Your mac mini or imac should have come with a hardware manual, though you can get it off that support page.

And for quick reference, I got the Leopard manual from apple's site here

Also, here is the manual for ilife apps, just choose the iapp you want help with.

And I don't see how this can be confusing, the video tutorials are nice.
 
I opened up a brand new copy of VISTA at my friends house.

$$%#$%@#$%^ there is NO manual.

I do not recall the last time I got a printed manual for a computer product.

Usually a PDF manual on the disk is more than sufficient.

Not to mention with Mac there is such a great Help system built in.

I was beginning to feel really stupid. Posting a question on here BEFORE using HELP, and finding the answer there BEFORE it was posted here.

That being said.... which would you prefer?

1) Wading through a 300 page hardcopy?
-OR-
2) Entering a keyword related to your problem and having all relevant options presented to you.
 
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