The "DVD Basics" Page Needs to be Re-Written

[stevenjs]

Greetings,

Glad to find a newbie's forum, I'm among the newbiest.

Which is how I came to videohelp.com, and landed on the "DVD Basics" page looking for some light. See, https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

Instead, I found more confusion after reading the article than I did when I began. Since I was unable to post here right away, I posted to another forum, which can be found at

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Desktops/Q_21162166.html

Happily, my question was answered, but seriously, why such misleading use of language in a "DVD Basics" page on a site called "videohelp.com?"

If you want good technical writing, best use a newbie. This is the technique used in most instructional design and technical documentation settings. Someone who knows nothing but how to write sits down with a subject matter expert and makes the expert's knowledge understandable to someone who is encountering it for the first time. I have an article on this at http://stevenjs.com/TechnicalWritingEditor.pdf if anyone is interested.

I would like to see that page at a minimum re-written so the next newbie who goes there doesn't end up knowing less than before.

Is the rest of the writing here as bad as that?

[Skoorb]

I've not read that article, but the problem with your approach is that it requires a lot more manpower to implement. This site is packed to the hilt with information, and much of it is written by independent people for free (hell, probably all of it). So, while some of the articles could be better, unless people receive money for time spent I don't think that it's entirely feasible to go at it like this all the time...

I agree that this site can be confusing at first. I'm reasonably tech savvy, and yet found the site overwhelming at first. Every link clicked has a submenu with a zillion articles underneath it. Now that I've dropped a few hours going around the site though I have come to find that it's chock full of info. Save having an entirely separate section of the site, such as newbie.dvdrhelp.com, I guess it's the price we pay for material!

[yoda313]

Hello,

This probably should be in the feedback forum.

Actually, with a little reading it's not that hard to find "dvdshrink" or tmpgenc. Those are perfect starter programs. I still use both.

If you're confused at all just post on the forum as you did and ask "What does this mean??" You might get a few wise guys saying read the manual but someone will try to help you.

Kevin

[stevenjs]

Thank you, Skoorb, agree we should be reminded that content on such sites is usually provided free by people doing their best to make themselves clear.

However, there is an editor or content webmaster, someone in charge of deciding what gets put up and where.

It's not just that this particular article was misleading, it is directed toward newbies and creates confusion with false and misleading statements and has top of the home page prominence. In fact, it is the first link in the upper left navigation under "What is."

I think the site should show greater editorial care, especially in pages providing basic information to newbies.

[lordsmurf]

I'm a writer too. I think the page is fine as is. At most, maybe a bit of editing in the opening paragraph. At most.

[stevenjs]

That you are "a writer too" and think "it is fine" does not make it so. Perhaps you are not a newbie and make assumptions a newbie would not.

You should discover the page's errors at

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Desktops/Q_21162166.html

and then speak.

[SLICK RICK]

I'm a writer too. I think the page is fine as is. At most, maybe a bit of editing in the opening paragraph. At most.

lordsmurf,

I think that this guy, for some reason is trying to get people to view or download that article of his. Cobra just deleted another one of this guys threads stating the exact same thing, with him giving a link to his article.

SLICK RICK....

[Cobra]

I think the thread in the Feedback forum was in response to stevenjs being told he was in the incorrect forum. I have now fully rectified the situation.

[stevenjs]

Loudsmurf,

I assure you, I am not "trying to get people to download that article."

My only intention is to improve this site's content.

And yes, Cobra did what you say, I was unaware this was some dire offense in these forums, and I chided him soundly in a private message for his draconian remedy to my simple desire to post in the correct forum.

Had I known the "feedback" forum, way down on the bottom of the list existed, I would only have posted there.

I have no interest in controversy. If you are unable to see the errors on the page, kindly avail yourself of the remedy provided.

[Capmaster]

Loudsmurf,

I assure you, I am not "trying to get people to download that article."

My only intention is to improve this site's content.

And yes, Cobra did what you say, I was unaware this was some dire offense in these forums, and I chided him soundly in a private message for his draconian remedy to my simple desire to post in the correct forum.

Had I known the "feedback" forum, way down on the bottom of the list existed, I would only have posted there.

I have no interest in controversy. If you are unable to see the errors on the page, kindly avail yourself of the remedy provided.

Posting a duplicate post is not a "Dire offense" and locking it is not a "draconian remedy". You made a mistake, it was corrected. You weren't admonished for it, nor were you punished. I fail to see the indignation on your part.

Suggestion: Read the forum's AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) which is at the top of each and every page, accessible via the "Rules" link. Familiarity with the rules here will no doubt prevent confusion about what constitutes a minor infraction, and what is considered a serious offense.

[BobK]

You're probably right. The other possibility is that he, like most people, will take the time to write a post complaining about something that other people did for free, but no hint that he might rewrite the guide himself.

[johns0]

To me DVD-R/W means both dvd-r & dvd-rw,same with dvd+r/w for dvd+r & dvd+rw.Doesnt require any rewriting to me,simple enough to understand.

[lordsmurf]

You should discover the page's errors at
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Desktops/Q_21162166.html
and then speak.

That site you link is entirely worthless.
Sure, give me your username and password, and I'll be glad to read it.


Perhaps you needed a more dummy-friendly version?
"A DVD is a pretty round thing. Using techno-babble computer magic, you can put stuff on it. Movies are one kind of stuff. Movies are good. The end."

.... and then when you graduate from this level of conversation, you can jump into real guides like www.videohelp.com/dvd and www.digitalfaq.com/othervideo/dvdformats.htm

[Heywould3]

To me DVD-R/W means both dvd-r & dvd-rw,same with dvd+r/w for dvd+r & dvd+rw.Doesnt require any rewriting to me,simple enough to understand.

I agree and i also see his point.. if you fell out of the sky and sat down to buy a burner.. and you saw the way the dvd basic -page was writen if you had any confusion at all it might not make sence to you y its saying DVD-R/W the formats are -r -rw so where would a person find + or - R/W?

on the same hand.. most people in this relm have some computer savy so its common sence for them that its refering to both r and rw. its just a matter of semantics.

to be honest.. this sounds to me like a question my dad would ask.. the fact the original poster fealt the need to post this tells me that he hasnt had much if any contact with dvd writing. if attention was paid to tv, store adds, and reading articles it might have become clear what was being talked about..

last thing. out of the hundreds of thousands of posts and members this is prolly on of the first if not the first post asking for the article to be updated.. so it works the way it is.. for most people..

Cant please all the people all the time

P.S. quick note.. if you do a search " how many dvd writing formats are there" you might get be supprised what you find

[stevenjs]

Johns0,

My point exactly. Those who know what it means, know what was intended. Those who do not, do not.

BobK,

I think this forum has a few rather nasty people making irrelevant and uncalled for replies. What do you think?

To All,

I will not post here again, if I can help it. "No good deed shall go unpunished," as they say.

[makntraks]

My only intention is to improve this site's content.

Would you like to tell me how the hell you'd accomplish this???
Last I heard this was a USER supported board... and said USER knowledge that supports this USER supported board more than likely blows your knowledge of this or any other subject away...



makntraks

[Cobra]

This thread has been locked down at the request of the original author. He has now left VideoHelp and will not post again.

/ Moderator Cobra

[Capmaster]

On that note, a draconian remedy heretoforeafter known as the "locking of the thread" is about to be dealt with great aplomb ....click!

This thread has been locked down at the request of the original author. He has now left VideoHelp and will not post again.

I locked it but he never requested it of me. I thought it was time .....

[Cobra]

I was wondering who locked it down. I was just on my way to get it done.

As I say, stevenjs has now left and will not be back. It's all done now - nothing more to say.

Click.

[Capmaster]

Full moon today?

[Baldrick]

Thanks for the feedback. I removed all R/W so it doesn't confuse too much.

[Baldrick]

What happend? I want feedback.