When it comes to workshop manuals, I'm firmly in the old school camp — I want to have a printed manual sitting at my elbow on the workbench. And if it's dog-eared and grease-smudged...all the better.
So it was with some dismay that I read Haynes' announcement of its plans to end print editions. In fairness, they are actually stopping the print editions of new manuals and will continue printing existing titles, but I suspect the handwriting on the wall means they will cease all printed versions eventually. It's the digital future. The plan, apparently, is a transition to their subscription service, where their selection of manuals will be available for an annual fee. This is nothing new, of course; we don't own the content on our streaming services, nor the operating systems on our devices; we pay for the right to access them and there are terms and conditions that go along with that.
Personally, I prefer the Honda Factory Workshop Manual, but Haynes is a great backup, as they consider the home mechanic, offering some helpful details and work-arounds that the factory manuals ignore. I've also used online and PDF versions when necessary, and while it works, I really don't like having my $1200 MacBook Air sitting anywhere near the bench, collecting dust, debris and the occasional errant blast of brake cleaner overspray. I can also print out the relevant pages for the workbench, but that's one more step.
I've personally lost four motorcycle magazine titles to digital editions in the past two years, so I realize that the future is at my doorstep. But clicking through the lastest Rider magazine is just not the same as paging through it. I may have no choice, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Luddites unite!
So it was with some dismay that I read Haynes' announcement of its plans to end print editions. In fairness, they are actually stopping the print editions of new manuals and will continue printing existing titles, but I suspect the handwriting on the wall means they will cease all printed versions eventually. It's the digital future. The plan, apparently, is a transition to their subscription service, where their selection of manuals will be available for an annual fee. This is nothing new, of course; we don't own the content on our streaming services, nor the operating systems on our devices; we pay for the right to access them and there are terms and conditions that go along with that.
Personally, I prefer the Honda Factory Workshop Manual, but Haynes is a great backup, as they consider the home mechanic, offering some helpful details and work-arounds that the factory manuals ignore. I've also used online and PDF versions when necessary, and while it works, I really don't like having my $1200 MacBook Air sitting anywhere near the bench, collecting dust, debris and the occasional errant blast of brake cleaner overspray. I can also print out the relevant pages for the workbench, but that's one more step.
I've personally lost four motorcycle magazine titles to digital editions in the past two years, so I realize that the future is at my doorstep. But clicking through the lastest Rider magazine is just not the same as paging through it. I may have no choice, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Luddites unite!
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