@robpike I've worked with an archaeological site that saw some major fieldwork in 1997-98. There are no find context data in the printed report, just numbers referring to a database that would be kept available in perpetuity. And was not.

#archaeology

@robpike This is why every single time I buy something I fetch the documentation online and back the manuals up somewhere.

I also go out of my way to email manufacturers of devices I own for digital copies of the manuals when I can't find them on the internet.

I, uh, I even tracked down the founder of a (now) defunct company to ask them for the manual of a heat pump installed 17 years ago in my house. And it worked.

@robpike I still think everyone who delivers a manual with anything should upload it to the Internet archive, use *that* as their link, and donate a reasonable sum of money for the privilege.

Saves paper, enhances & supports the archive, and always available!

@robpike "the manual archive" is a good place here, especially for the obscure things you get installed like a fire alarm or a solar panel inverter.
https://themanualarchive.com/

Then there's specific groups who go to the effort of scanning and uploading things like Shimano bike component manuals from the 1980s+, only after which does the Internet Archive cache a copy
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive/categories/shimano-manuals.134/

@robpike Well, even with a manual sometimes it's frustrating because you still need to search the internet because some stuff is not described in the manual.

I bought a mainboard recently and i looked for the section which describes where you have to connect all the knobs, switches and LEDs and stuff.

(8) System panel connector (20-5 pin F_PANEL)
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.

That's all. No description about + and - or anything.

As good as the dead link.

@robpike I share the frustration. What is worse, you can see how it is not getting better but trending in the wrong direction. Forget emailing anyone let alone finding a phone number answered by something useful.

Even as a supplier (we developed, produce and ship a small PLC called JNIOR https://jnior.com) I cannot get packaging or printed materials done at any reasonable price even if I had wanted to include it (and I do).

Part of it is that we ship in bulk (10 to 100 at a time) to people that already know how to use the product. But I can't get a damn retail package done in low quantity to provide a good first impression to a first time user. No wonder we make shit in China.

The product can produce the users manual but, of course, you have to get that far. Information is on our website but no matter how obvious it is to us, it might still be an adventure game for you.

We already do the impossible. My technical support (70,000+ units worldwide) is free for the life of the product no matter if you grabbed it surplus. We answer the phones. Email goes to us and not some intermediary.

But damn if I cannot get a nice retail kit together, even if money is no object. I cannot just let those suppliers milk us for cash to do something stupidly simple. Its why we have ended up being so DIY!

Ok. My rant for the day.

The problem is that whining is easy but it never seems to lead to a solution.

@robpike

So much this. Also, I miss the days when hardware that required support software came with a copy of that software on physical media.

@robpike "Visit our support forum!"

(…where you can slog through questions and unhelpful, guessed-at non-answers from others just as befuddled as yourself).

"Still need help? Contact our support team to open a ticket!"

(…and after a few days, weeks, or months, you might get a generic reply, autogenerated or might as well be. It'll be nonresponsive to whatever you asked, and will contain useless, not-our-fault advice like "Try updating your OS", because ZenDesk — now AI powered!)

@robpike

I'm old enough to remember when you got schematics with a device.

@robpike A family member recently bought a brand-new full and actual *car* for tens of thousands of dollars, and the car did *not* come with a printed owner's manual. 🤦‍♂️

The link to the PDF manual did resolve though. At least on that day.