A Culture of Software Updates

It seems to me that over the last year or two we have entered an era of early continuous software updates. I have 4 computers at work (2 OS X Leopard, 2 WinXP) 2 at home (one OS X Leopard/boot-camped Vista and one Windows Vista) and between the 6 of them I seem to be continuously asked to update something. I mean if it isn't OS X, then iTunes wants to get freshened up. On Friday alone I updated Java on my XP machine, the iPhone SDK on 2 machines, Leopard wanted a couple of quick fixes, Aperture 2.0 decided the time was right to go to V2.1. Some of these downloads are massive.

Don't get me wrong, there is something nice about knowing that your favorite app or OS is being fixed, maintained and upgraded. The process is almost effortless, with the exception that Vista wants you to re-boot and gives you the option to do it now or get reminded again in less time than you'd like. But there seems to be a culture that has emerged that has caused me to spend more time clicking that I approve EULA's and on "OK" buttons than I do dealing with the spam menace. Can't these things just run in the background, or at least give me the option to flat out opt-in, and only hear about upgrades on applications that I deem as critical?

Comments

[in8sworld]

It's not only OSX and Vista! I have an old PIII running Ubuntu that the kids use and whenever I log on as admin, I get hit with a ton of updates for that as well. The system only updates for me though, not them.

[Non-Prophet]

On a side note, Vista really sucks. I always hated all of those pop-up's in XP, but Vista has more of them. If I plug headphones into my machine I get a pop-up telling me I did so. Is that really necessary?

[ohwilleke]

Good point.

[Pete]

Linux here too, updates usually just 2 clicks, nothing to complain about, and usually something to look forward to.

another sidenote:
The Linux desktop is light years ahead of any of the commercial OSs (the proof:Compiz!!!!!!!). The major distributions are making it so easy to install and work with these days, perfect for people like me who used to blow whole weekends trying to get E (enlightenment) running on Slackware 11+ years ago. Now you can have the slickest 3D desktop up, running, and fully updated in under an hour, even on older hardware.

[in8sworld]

Ouch, Slackware - you have serious geek cred now ;)

[Non-Prophet]

I've been down the slackware road also. Linux, or at least old Linux, was too much like being at work for me. I want to get on with researching my hobbies, and UNIX hasn't ever been one of my hobbies. I've heard good things about Ubuntu, but I can't think of a reason to go down that road right now.