so I'm reading through the Mac Plus manual, and I'm struck by how alien some of these concepts must have been.
They have multiple pages devoted to how to use a mouse.
On the other hand, the OS has a very consistent workflow and design language and methodology. They can explain complicated, abstract concepts in simple ways because they are consistent.
Apple of 1985 did a lot of things worth admiring (and a lot of shit, but that's another story.)
This kind of well produced, very well written, very thorough software manual, one that doesn't make assumptions about what knowledge you're bringing to the table, is sorely missing from modern software.
I'd pay $20-30 to have manuals like this for many pieces of modern software.
(OTOH, those pieces of software would need to be more well designed, and more consistent in their design language, in order for a manual like this to be at all useful.)
@ajroach42 the worst part of it is sometimes there is good documentation out there but it is hidden in the computer. PDF files, man pages, info docs; they all require file to know where to look.
@craigmaloney
I agree. Add in wikis and support forums, too.
In addition to knowing where to look, they also require understanding the language used within. Especially with man pages, they can be very oblique and difficult to understand. (This is not a rule, and there are plenty of examples of excellent man pages, but enough of them are dense and difficult that it can turn people away from Man Pages as a general rule.)