Behind Apple’s Tutorials
I’m expecting my copy of Final Cut Express to arrive in a few days and was hunting online for some good tutorials. Though there are some good user created tutorials some of the best, in my opinion, are the ones by Apple. These tutorials cover every app that Apple makes, from iDVD to Motion. Of course there is a limited amount that they can cover and seem to be created for the new user of the application. For something more in depth I would head over to Lynda.com
Though they are still a valuable resource and great for anybody who is looking for an overview. The way in which Apple presents the tutorials is where the interface really shines. All the tutorials for the app in question are situated on one page and thanks to some AJAX magic I presume, when you click on a tutorial it shows up in the main pane. Apple also have added some nice “small things” that really add to the experience; for instance when you finish watching a tutorial a little tick appears showing that you have viewed the tutorial. It’s also nice to know that they stick around even if you don’t.
Moving on to my next point. How many companies actually do this? Create tutorials for the user to make their lives a little bit easier. Evidently not many as I did not even consider, before coming across them on the Apple website that Apple made theme.
Why do Apple do this? What is in their favour and what do they get out of it? Obviously it provides marketing for the product so the user is more prepared to by it knowing what he is in store for; but I think they are also subtly targeting the PC market - saying “Yes, it really is as easy as you’ve heard“. The way in which the tutorials are shown make the hardest app seem so trivial. The way in which clicking on this makes this happen. Not clicking on this and this and this, makes this happen.
Maybe I’m looking to deep, but I think Apple really are the sort of company that would convey this sort of message, even this subtly. I mean look at this blog post by Glenn Wolsey a while back. This one icon had the whole “Here’s to the crazy ones speech on it“. How many companies actually do that?
Just my thought of the day, what’s yours?
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I agree with your comments on Apple. I am a new user to FCE because I thought iMovie08 has some terrible inadequencies. I subscribed to lynda.com to use their tutorials. The other day I was in Barnes & Noble and picked up the Final Cut Pro 6 book and grabbed a Starbucks. Well, I couldn’t put the book down, so I bought it. I imagine this book will be the focal part of my training and learning this program.
March 30th, 2008 at 12:52 am