Online Product Manuals
I'm reasonably well-organized, although my wife thinks I'm a packrat. You'd think this would mean that I can find product manuals for every gadget I've ever bought. That's mostly true.
But sometimes my filing system fails me. Or, I've forgotten to whom I loaned something. Or, someone else in the house (but I'm not naming names) has moved it. What then?
Fortunately, manufacturers are increasingly making product literature and documentation available online. While this isn't entirely out of generosity — it reduces their customer-support workload — it's great for consumers who can find and read the material.
A good starting place is the manufacturer's Web site. For example, I'm writing this article using a Samsung SyncMaster 912n LCD video monitor. Suppose I need to know how to operate the control buttons but I can't find the manual. Samsung's home page offers a link titled "Download Center: Download Drivers, Manuals, Software, and Firmware." I can either enter the specific product model number or product name, or I can search via the product group (audio, video, computers, etc.), then by product type, then product subtype, and, finally, by model name.At this point, searching for the specific model took three tries since it wanted only "912n", not "SyncMaster 912n" but I successfully located the product manual, which was available in 28 languages (from Bulgarian to Vietnamese). The PDF file (see below for an explanation of PDF), was just under three megabytes in size, dated about a month earlier, 83 pages in length, and included a clickable Table of Contents. One minute after deciding to look for the manual, I'm looking at it!
Another way to search is using Google, where you can enter search terms using the format "912n manual site:samsung.com" (without the quotes) to only search on the Samsung Web sit (rather the entire Internet). This search took me to the right neighborhood on the Samsung site but left me having to perform a few more clicks to get to the manual. Sometimes search engine results are more efficient than navigating within a product site, so consider using both techniques.
Manufacturers often update those manuals provided online as mistakes or shortcomings are found in the printed versions, so for important products it's probably worth checking their Web sites occasionally. They also sometimes package only abbreviated versions of the manual with the product, suggesting or expecting consumers to download full versions from their sites.
Either way, online manuals are also useful when considering purchases or comparing choices, since they give — or should give! — more complete and useful information than is printed on the box. If you're evaluating something pre-purchase, evaluate the manual's organization and quality -- Will you be able to find information you need? Will you understand it? If you're buying something used, online availability of a missing manual can make the acquisition much more pleasant.
Online manuals come in many formats — HTML (normal Web pages), Microsoft Word documents, PDF (Portable Document Format), and others. Each format has advantages and disadvantages. HTML is nearly universal. If you can view Web pages, you can read HTML documentation. But it may be harder to download, save, and organize all the pieces of a large document. You'll need Microsoft Word software (or the free reader) to read Word files. PDF is becoming the most popular format for online documents, but it too requires software, Adobe's Acrobat Reader, for viewing. Fortunately, the Reader is free and easy to download and install. Visit Adobe and click on "Get Adobe Reader."
Some manufacturers take a different approach, offering search tools and links within their Web sites for different material, such as overviews, tutorials, problem solving tips, even video clips illustrating usage. LiveManuals takes an interesting approach, providing interactive product demonstrations. Although it doesn't include every product (office equipment and appliances are not yet well represented), the Wish List page accepts nominations for items to add.
AARP does not recommend or endorse any of these products or web sites. Please be advised that there are other similar products and web sites available which were not reviewed and are not listed here.
