Truth be told, I know there's a place for manuals, my post is somewhat “tongue in cheek” and the headline is there to hopefully incite commentary.

Still — you mention the computer section in a bookstore. I don't look at that section often, but when I scan it (while going to the kids' section for books on Caillou, Dora and other assorted cartoon characters my 2-year old loves) I often see things that are extremely outdated.

I agree – publishers probably wouldn't publish books if there wasn't a market – but even after people buy those books, do they use them? Or are they still being suckered in without realizing there are other (better) ways of learning?

For my software, I have a (hopefully good) help file laid out by task and by section of the program. Every screen and dialog has context sensitive help. As each piece of the software is written, the help to accompany it is also written. The people who use relatively simple software generally believe they should be able to use it without asking for help.

I would love to be able to do videos. They're optimal for teaching someone how to use most software.

But! There is still a place for books, especially tutorials on how to use complex pieces of software. Look in the computer section of any bookstore. Shelves and shelves of books on how to use specific pieces of software. If there wasn't the demand for such things, the publishing companies wouldn't be publishing them.

Truth be told, I know there’s a place for manuals, my post is somewhat “tongue in cheek” and the headline is there to hopefully incite commentary.

Still — you mention the computer section in a bookstore. I don’t look at that section often, but when I scan it (while going to the kids’ section for books on Caillou, Dora and other assorted cartoon characters my 2-year old loves) I often see things that are extremely outdated.

I agree – publishers probably wouldn’t publish books if there wasn’t a market – but even after people buy those books, do they use them? Or are they still being suckered in without realizing there are other (better) ways of learning?

For my software, I have a (hopefully good) help file laid out by task and by section of the program. Every screen and dialog has context sensitive help. As each piece of the software is written, the help to accompany it is also written. The people who use relatively simple software generally believe they should be able to use it without asking for help.

I would love to be able to do videos. They’re optimal for teaching someone how to use most software.

But! There is still a place for books, especially tutorials on how to use complex pieces of software. Look in the computer section of any bookstore. Shelves and shelves of books on how to use specific pieces of software. If there wasn’t the demand for such things, the publishing companies wouldn’t be publishing them.