Parallels for Dummies forum

C

Caegan

Bit poster
I am obviously the stupidest Parallels purchaser here, and when I logout, I'm going
to turn in my Ph.D. and book a therapy session with a professional.

May I say that I am very impressed with many of the helpful Forum contributors, both
in their knowledge and for their patience and kindness to others. True service abounds
here.

My wish is just as stated: a forum for people who need basic how-to information given
in step by step format, using basic terms/language and without making assumptions
that a person has prior knowledge of anything. Parallels for Dummies .... and Newbies.
(I'm a tad amazed at what seems very inadequate user instructions that come with
the software. How about, "How to Load PC software into your new Guest OS from PC-
compatible installation disks", clearer Printer Set-Up instructions, etc.
It took me a week and finally resorting to direct email exchange with tech help to finally
get my printer to work from both the Mac and the Guest OS, via a USB connection. I see I am not alone w/ that being a not-so-simple procedure. And with the email, it so totally depends on who gets the query. The 3rd person was fabulous ... someone who signed
'Denis' gave very clear, logical, step by step instructions that worked.

A suggestion I have to whomever is in charge of tech support instruction writing for Parallels: hire a non-computer literate person and write so he or she can follow the
instructions .... write to the lowest common denominators. The whizzes can all roll their eyes, and the people who really need the instructions can then understand them.

Thanks for considering this.
Thanks also to all the helpful people here.

Caegan
 
Don't be so hard on yourself Caegan. The support forums are really directed at helping people help themselves. Virtualization is nothing trivial, rather it is quite complex. Parallels has done a wonderful job in bringing it to a consumer level, they just need to catch their documentation up.

I, for one, will write step-by-step descriptions on how to do things when writing out a process; although I usually revert to guidelines and trying to point people in the right direction. Unless you are getting the companies' support, I think that is how support forums will always be.

What I really think needs to happen, as you pointed out, is the creation of a good, simple, user manual.
 
to learn something thoroughly
you often have to do it wrong first

this software has several layers

installing a VM
activating windows
(just reactivated today after a new mother board - WINXP tried to activate before the bridged networking was open - so failed - I found out from a MS error dialog to go into Start >> programs >> accessories >> system tools >> activate)
after the V M was online



sharing files

networking

sharing scanners and printers

back up by cloning once a week

running the VM from an external hard disk

don't expect to learn it all in 5 minutes

after 15 months I have not mastered P Transporter either
(I am glad I skipped Bootcamp because it is in beta)

regards

Hugh W
 
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I agree on the doing it wrong first part. You really don't know something well until you have broken and fixed it a bunch of times. The innards just make more sense once you've broken and fixed it.

Sadly, many people don't have this frusterating luxury (compare it to golf), in their budgets for time or resources, and thus just need the basic features to work.
 
I'll add 2 cents: doing it wrong ... indeed let's you learn alot and after you do, teach someone else how to do it ... and do that a few times.

The hiccup in my case happens when I hit that place where I don't know enough to have a
clue what to do next ... ignorance, in the case of computing, is not bliss.
I'm hoping for the Dummies book.
 
lets make a Parallels Wiki - not a "for dummies"

so Caegan post the solution here in a new thread

this forum functions as a seachable wiki with which we both receive and give help

Hugh W
 
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