Re: Cost Analysis for FrameMaker

[Cirrus Matusek <CMatusek -at- LTDCOMMODITIES -dot- COM>]

I agree with Michael Wing.  If you value your job, and have even a fraction
of a good attitude, you won't confront your manager with any of what was
suggested.  Check out the stc.org site for some good comparisons of
Framemaker.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wing, Michael J [SMTP:mjwing -at- INGR -dot- COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 8:17 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Re: Cost Analysis for FrameMaker
>
> I'd be very cautious in following this advice as presented.  Especially
> since you just moved into the job.  The advice is too arrogant and is
> built
> on sand.
>
> I'll wager that pontificating (paraphrased) "that everyone knows that
> FrameMaker is the industry standard, and, therefore I shouldn't have to
> prove anything" will not endear you to your new manager.  My guess is that
> your manager wants you to back up your wants and desires with justifiable
> facts. I guess some people just like facts before they make large
> purchases
> and retrain personnel.  They're funny that way.  The, "everyone knows"
> reply
> is not a fact.  It is hearsay.  Besides, FrameMaker is a favorite among
> Technical Writers who still produce tree-killing tomes of the printed
> word.
> It in no way dominates or even comes close to a majority of the word
> processing market;^)
>
> Also, taking the "It's not my job" attitude may insure that a Technical
> Writer is all you will ever be.  I say, "do get sucked in" and not only
> that, hit a home run.
>
> Faced with this task, I would try the following:
>
> - Check an internet search mechanism for the terms "FrameMaker",
> "PageMaker", and "comparison"
>
> - Visit Adobe's and PageMaker's web sites.  They probably have some
> marketing collaterals and white papers with their metrics.
>
> - Check the on-line archives of PCComputing, ZDnet, or some other magazine
> that does product comparisons and ratings.
>
> - Call Adobe and Pagemaker directly and ask if they have metrics.
>
> - If you have a copy of each program, put them on similar machines and
> test
> them one against one another.
>
> Mike
>
> Michael Wing (mailto:mjwing -at- ingr -dot- com)
> Staff Writer/ Web Applications Developer
> Intergraph Corporation; Huntsville, Alabama
> http://maps.intergraph.com
>
>
> > Kari Alt wrote:
> > >Hello,
> > >I just moved into a new Technical Writing job where the TechComm
> > department
> > >uses PageMaker for the majority of their technical user manuals which
> are
> > on
> > >average 100-200 pages long.  <snip>
> >
> >
> > I would say that I don't know how to do a serious cost analysis, and
> that
> > that isn't what I was hired to do. And besides, I would tell my
> supervisor
> > that there is plenty of documentation to the fact that FrameMaker is now
> > the
> > industry standard for the kind of work I am doing, and I shouldn't have
> to
> > "prove" anything any more.
> >
> > What your super is asking for would take you hours, if not days to
> > calculate, and would be based almost entirely on APPROXIMATIONS. Don't
> get
> > sucked in.
> >
> > IMHO,
> >
> > Fabien Vais
> >
> > ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
> > Fabien Vais - Documentation Analyst
> > Technical Writing, Technical Translation/Globalization, Editing,
> > Publishing,
> > Teaching, Training
> >
> > e-mail: phantoms -at- total -dot- net
> > Mailing address: 38 Elderidge, Montreal, Quebec, H9A 2P4
> > Phone/Fax: (514) 685-4752
> >
> >
> >
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> > =
> >
>
>
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>


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