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Whenever the MadCap question comes up on this list, I have the same
reaction. Most (all?) of these competitive products offer free demo
versions that you can try before you buy.
If you're buying new help authoring software, take the time to download
a demo version of every product you're considering. See if you can use
it easily, see if it does everything you need it to do, and see how many
bugs are in its current release. During the demo phase, you can also get
a feel for support. I did, and I'm very happy with my decision.
Diane
-----Original Message-----
From: Donald H. White [mailto:trlbldr -at- comcast -dot- net]
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:09 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: MadCap Nightmare
Gee, this is interesting. A fellow tech writer finds problems with a new
software application. Same person advises other tech writers of the
things
she/he has found. Result: we ask the messenger what he/she has done to
fix
the problems.
I thought software vendors would run their software through a QC
process,
even though my experience has indicated over the years that a company's
QC
"process" may be, well, less than effective. Nonetheless, if something
doesn't work, it doesn't work. I've spent a lot of my time -- more than
I
should -- letting companies like Symantec, Adobe, and Dell know of
problems
I've encountered. If they replied, they wanted me to fix the problem or
perform some really time- and labor-intensive effort to make their
software
work.
I don't own the software. I'm only a licensee. And, the software doesn't
require a programmer to use it, supposedly. So, why can't a vendor sell
and
support its products?
As for Anonymous, I believe that she/he did have an "agenda:" to let
those
on this list know about his/her experience with Flare. What's the
concern
over an agenda? Each of us has an agenda: pay the mortgage, wake up in
the
morning, drink coffee, etc.
Donald H. White
Sr. Technical Writer/Editor
James River Technical Communications LLC
804.795.2914
dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com
www.jrtcllc.com
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