Another novel about technical writers

[Mary Connor]

Here is WinWriter's latest tool survey:
http://www.winwriters.com/surveys/skillstech07/skillstech_tools.htm

This was far from representative sampling by their own admission, but
it's better than guessing. I'd say it's good guidance on how things
stood, but I'd caution that employers also want new blood to be able
to speak to them knowledgeably about where things are going,
tools/technology-wise.

Ideally, you cover the spectrum, but I hear your $$ pain! I bet there
are ways to secure these products for teaching purposes on the cheap;
if you'd like me to intervene on your behalf per Author-it, I'll give
it a go! They just gave free licenses to the One Laptop Per Child
project, and they seem pretty eager to reach new audiences. I'll also
try to help you get a deal from TechSmith (SnagIT, Camptasia, Morae)
if that would help.

Best,
Mary Connor

On Nov 16, 2007 5:56 PM, David A. McMurrey <hcexres at io.com> wrote:
> Still Life with Husband -- Lauren Fox (wife bored with boring tech writer
> dumps him but comes to regret it)
>
> Hey. In the Business & Technical Communication program at ACC, we are
> trying to decide which online-help software tool we should standardize on.
>
> For ten years or so, it's been RoboHelp. Should we continue with the new
> release from Adobe? We can't afford more than one such application.
>
> In the past, Robo seemed like the NAME that employers recognized and
> demanded in job posts. Therefore, we wanted our students to use it for
> projects in our classes to increase their employment chances.
>
> Is that still the case?
>
> Given our tiny budget, I'd be delighted to use a free or less-expensive
> tool; however, we want students to get serious exposure and portfolio
> items related to the most in-demand tool.
>
> And, yes, I know that Mary is an advocate of AuthorIT and Leah an advocate
> of Help & Manual. However, our experience with MadCap Flare at ACC has
> been very bad.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -- David McMurrey
>
>
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