My sister used to laugh at me because before I started any new game, I'd read the manual through before I even turned on the computer. She liked to learn by doing; I preferred to learn first, then do. Actually, the better appliances usually do have fairly decent manuals, but even that trend is going by the wayside. When I got my first Cuisinart 25 or 30 years ago, it came with: 1. a quick how-to sheet, 2. an in-depth manual and 3. a CD showing how to do everything. That was a wonderful machine, unfortunately killed by "improvements." (I put in in the dishwasher safely for 10 years, until THAT appliance died. Then I got a new one, with "improved" dishwashing powder. That stuff totally disintegrated all the metal parts that weren't stainless steel. Sigh.)
The next Cuisinart came with a "manual" that gave a parts list and many recipes, but no clear directions on how to do anything. The "directions" were on one side of a small sheet of paper with English on one side and Spanish on the other. I never did find out why it did such a lousy job of shredding potatoes or carrots.
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