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I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:21:53 PM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		I bought a Canon Rebel Xti like new.  It didn't have an instruction manual.  No problem, I downloaded the thing from Canon.

The manual is a pdf file; no problem, I have Acrobat.  I start printing.  Wait.  Every page had COPY splattered all over it in big black letters, making the manual useless.

An hour later, I determine that the orginal PDF file has security settings to prevent alteration.  Every time I export the file, it has the same COPY on it.  I download a handy program that strips the copy protection.  Same problem.

Another hour later, I learn that PDF files also have layers.  Yet this particular layer isn't just invisible; its been hard coded in.

Finally, an hour later, I figured out that if I optimize the PDF file and discard hidden elements (namely the hidden COPY image plastered on every page.) 

Why... oh why do I bother? More importantly, why do companies go to such extensive lengths to complicate documents that will become obsolete within a year?

Stephan


_____________________________

Nosce Te Ipsum

"The blade itself incites to violence" - Homer

Men: Find a Woman here
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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:25:15 PM   
CalifChick


Posts: 10717
Joined: 10/28/2007
From: California
Status: offline 		Geez, Stephan, if you were a weal twue geek, you would have known what to do at the first sign of COPY. 

Cali


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AKA "The Undisputed Goddess of Sarcasm", "Big Bad Cali" and "Yum Bum". Advisor to the Subbie Mafia, founding member of the W.A.C. and the Judgmental Bitches Brigade, member of the Clan of the Scarlet O'Hair-a's and Team Troll

(in reply to Stephann)
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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:27:44 PM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		Nah; weal twue geeks don't know everything, we just know how to figure things out.

If it had been a client with such a problem, they'd never know what I went through to fix it.

Stephan


_____________________________

Nosce Te Ipsum

"The blade itself incites to violence" - Homer

Men: Find a Woman here

(in reply to CalifChick)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:29:12 PM   
CalifChick


Posts: 10717
Joined: 10/28/2007
From: California
Status: offline 		 If you tell me you have ever owned a pocket protector... ahh, who the hell am I kidding? I'm out of your identified target audience.  Sigh.

Cali


_____________________________

AKA "The Undisputed Goddess of Sarcasm", "Big Bad Cali" and "Yum Bum". Advisor to the Subbie Mafia, founding member of the W.A.C. and the Judgmental Bitches Brigade, member of the Clan of the Scarlet O'Hair-a's and Team Troll

(in reply to Stephann)
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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:29:42 PM   
lronitulstahp


Posts: 5392
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Stephann

I bought a Canon Rebel Xti like new.  It didn't have an instruction manual.  No problem, I downloaded the thing from Canon.

The manual is a pdf file; no problem, I have Acrobat.  I start printing.  Wait.  Every page had COPY splattered all over it in big black letters, making the manual useless.

An hour later, I determine that the orginal PDF file has security settings to prevent alteration.  Every time I export the file, it has the same COPY on it.  I download a handy program that strips the copy protection.  Same problem.

Another hour later, I learn that PDF files also have layers.  Yet this particular layer isn't just invisible; its been hard coded in.

Finally, an hour later, I figured out that if I optimize the PDF file and discard hidden elements (namely the hidden COPY image plastered on every page.) 

Why... oh why do I bother? More importantly, why do companies go to such extensive lengths to complicate documents that will become obsolete within a year?

Stephan

(yawn...) Wake me up when an available single dominant geek pops up...

(in reply to Stephann)
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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:29:47 PM   
faerytattoodgirl


Posts: 5824
Status: offline 		female geeks are hot!!

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I am flawed.
Imperfect.
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SPAAAAAAAANK!!!

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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:33:39 PM   
LadyHibiscus


Posts: 27124
Joined: 8/15/2005
From: Island Of Misfit Toys
Status: offline 		Stephen I had no idea.........welcome to the club!

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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:38:02 PM   
DiurnalVampire


Posts: 8125
Joined: 1/19/2006
From: Nashville, TN
Status: offline 		If they hadnt made the information so difficult to actually manage to get at, youd not have the feeling of accomplishment you get for the 5 minutes you actualy look at the manual before you chuck it away and decide o earn to use the camera on your own anyway since t doesnt tell you what you want to know.

DV
Owner if an Olympus, destroyer of user manuals 

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I will be your Dominate if you will be my submit - Fox

Snarko Ergo Sum
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VampiresLair

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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:40:38 PM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		DV,

Trust me, this beast of a 170 page manual doesn't even scratch the surface on how to use this camera :|

I have a photographer's manual that explains things like composition, white balance, ISO settings, and aperture.  It's a little tough to adjust those things, when you don't know which of the unlabeled buttons do what

Stephan


_____________________________

Nosce Te Ipsum

"The blade itself incites to violence" - Homer

Men: Find a Woman here

(in reply to DiurnalVampire)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:41:27 PM   
patwi


Posts: 296
Joined: 6/24/2007
Status: offline 		Woo! Geeks are fantastic and attractive. Sadly, I haven't the tech knowledge to call myself one, I'm simply a dork. 

(in reply to DiurnalVampire)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:45:04 PM   
lronitulstahp


Posts: 5392
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline 		i'm a  closeted nerd with a strong attraction to geeks.  something about a man who can figure out a 500 page owner's manual.  They usually have no trouble tweaking all my girly parts...with precision.

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Profile   Post #: 11
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:46:20 PM   
dcnovice


Posts: 37282
Joined: 8/2/2006
Status: offline 		Do real geeks look at manuals, though?

_____________________________

No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up.

JANE WAGNER, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF
INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

(in reply to lronitulstahp)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:48:16 PM   
lronitulstahp


Posts: 5392
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline 		they glance from time to time....

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Profile   Post #: 13
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:48:35 PM   
patwi


Posts: 296
Joined: 6/24/2007
Status: offline 		Yes. Real geeks can quote from manuals. 

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Profile   Post #: 14
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:48:51 PM   
dcnovice


Posts: 37282
Joined: 8/2/2006
Status: offline 		Congrats on your technological triumph, Stephan! No mean feat, that.

I'm pretty sure PDF layers would have defeated me. I'd have wound up photographing each page on screen and then trying to print the pictures! Or maybe taking screen shots. By the time I was done, I'd have hurled the camera through a wall, pretty much rendering the whole agony moot.

_____________________________

No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up.

JANE WAGNER, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF
INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

(in reply to dcnovice)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:53:17 PM   
Emperor1956


Posts: 2370
Joined: 11/7/2005
Status: offline
quote:

Ironitulstahp:  i'm a  closeted nerd with a strong attraction to geeks.  something about a man who can figure out a 500 page owner's manual.  They usually have no trouble tweaking all my girly parts...with precision.


You come with an OWNER'S MANUAL?   cool.   Wish the women I own did that.

E.

_____________________________

"When you wake up, Pooh," said Piglet, "what's the first thing you say?"
"What's for breakfast? What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?"
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.

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RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:54:20 PM   
Emperor1956


Posts: 2370
Joined: 11/7/2005
Status: offline
quote:

dcnovice:   Do real geeks look at manuals, though?


Of course they do.  Where do you think "RTFM" comes from?

E.

_____________________________

"When you wake up, Pooh," said Piglet, "what's the first thing you say?"
"What's for breakfast? What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?"
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.

(in reply to dcnovice)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:55:38 PM   
Stephann


Posts: 4214
Joined: 12/27/2006
From: Portland, OR
Status: offline 		For enquiring minds, I really did get the stupid manual printed out as it should have been.  Poor trees.

Stephan


_____________________________

Nosce Te Ipsum

"The blade itself incites to violence" - Homer

Men: Find a Woman here

(in reply to dcnovice)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:56:00 PM   
MistressOfGa


Posts: 2929
Status: offline 		You should have this .... http://www.hypersnap.com it would make a world of difference in your life, and I have the key code for it, if you d/l and want it :)

MoGa

Oops..Get the 3.64.02 Pro version of hypersnap

< Message edited by MistressOfGa -- 4/16/2008 8:57:44 PM >

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Profile   Post #: 19
RE: I... am a geek - 4/16/2008 8:56:14 PM   
dcnovice


Posts: 37282
Joined: 8/2/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Emperor1956

quote:

dcnovice: Do real geeks look at manuals, though?


Of course they do. Where do you think "RTFM" comes from?

E.


Hey, I didn't know. I'm the antipode of geek. When IT asks what operating system I have, I say "Quill."

< Message edited by dcnovice -- 4/16/2008 8:57:01 PM >

_____________________________

No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up.

JANE WAGNER, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF
INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

(in reply to Emperor1956)
Profile   Post #: 20
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