From: ross@cbmvax.commodore.com (Ross Hippely - Manuals)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.applications
Subject: Re: Are These Some Problems Sitting In My Lap?
Summary: No, AmigaDOS and ARexx manuals are not included (sigh)
Keywords: amigados arexx manuals documentation
Date: 28 Dec 92 19:35:53 GMT
Reply-To: ross@cbmvax.commodore.com (Ross Hippely - Manuals)
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.applications
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <Paula_Lieberman.07nm@amicol.UUCP> Paula_Lieberman@amicol.UUCP (Paula Lieberman) writes:
>I'm typing this on my old 500, and in my lap is my new 1200.  So far, it's
>been giving me a few problems:
>#1 -- documentation.  Is there supposed to be an AmigaDOS manual and an
>ARexx documentation with it? Guess what -- it came wit an "User's Guide
>Workbench 3.0" and a User's Guide A1200" -- NO AmigaDOS manual, nothing
>about ARexx.  I called up the Commodore 800 number as soon as I got home
>(it didn't occur to me at the dealer's, The Memory Location.  Don Towne,
>one of the coowners, said hat none of the other 3 that came in with the one
>that's in my lap had an AmigaDOS manual, either.

Yup, 'fraid they decided to ship the A1200 with just the WB and HW manuals.  

>#2.  Will I be able to format disks? I've -tried- using the old formatting
>system.  Disks that format perfectly fine on the 500 I get some  message
>like Cylinder 0 won't format" on the A1200 sitting on me..... 

This sure sounds like something is wrong.

>oh -- I called up Commodore at 7 PM, on Christmas Eve. I was surpised (but
>happy!) to find out that there was someone there to answer the phone (bonus
>points!) 

Some of us are in desperate need of a life  ;-)

> He didn't know the answer as to whether or
>not the 1200 is supposed to include an AmigaDOS 3.0 manual with it (there
>is some indication in the User's Guide A1200 that it should, or, at least,
>"AmigaDOS User's Guide" and "ARexx User's Guide" are listed under "Related
>Documentation" on page xi of the User's Guide A1200.  

Exactly: "Related", not "Included"  :-)  We did think they were going to
ship at least the AmigaDOS book with A1200s, but it didn't happen.  We
make sure to write manuals on the assumption that such things will occur.  
Note that the Commodore sales companies in each country can unilaterally 
decide to include or exclude almost anything from the final package, so you 
can count on the packing list varying in different parts of the world.

We in documentation are hopeful that C= can provide a way around the problem
of certain items not coming in the box, such a coupon or at least an order
form that would allow you to get items that may not be included.  This has
not happened yet, however.  I do not know if you could get the AmigaDOS and
ARexx manuals through your dealer right now.

>Also mentioned is
>"The Amiga Hard Drive User's Guide, also not supplied.  

Right, you'd only get that with an A1200HD, or if you have your dealer
upgrade you with the C= HD upgrade kit.  (Not sure if those are available
yet.)

> I don't yet have a
>hard drive for the 1200 -- no cable at the dealer yet, and Don's comment
>about Commodore supplying a 40 MB hard drive as available from Commodore
>installed was his customers wouldn't want drives that small, and that he'd
>be stuck with them because they'd all want the larger sizes (one customer
>speaking here -- I didn't even bother with 40 MB for the 500 three years
>ago!! 

It might be worthwhile for you and/or your dealer to express these ideas
to C= directly.  It might help convince TPTB to supply larger drives.

Hope you get the floppy problem solved, and are otherwise happy with your
new machine.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross Hippely:                                               Technical Writer
employed by, not speaking for:              Commodore Business Machines Inc.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.applications