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Thread: Windows Updates

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    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    Windows Updates

    Why is it that whenever I want any Windows Updates, I'm required to use Internet Explorer?
    On my MacBook, all I need to do is start System Update and it'll tell me all the things that need updated, even programs that aren't part of the Tiger Installation.

    Grr!

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    Senior Member this_is_gav's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    Because it requires ActiveX?

    I can never understand why this bugs people. Does it bring down you computing experience in any way? If it does, just download the updates manually and use a script... :\

    For the record the Vista one (while presumably still using ActiveX and IE code) is independent of any browser. Quite an improvement all around.

    *nix is rather different to Windows. "Windows Update" is just that. It updates Windows. I wouldn't expect Microsoft to host patches for Macromedia Dreamweaver 2004. And to give a real-world example, WU links wouldn't work, as the Dreamweaver patch would now be on the Adobe site (OK to nit-pick, it probably is still on the Macromedia servers, but who knows for how long). WU would just fall-over and it would be another reason to jump on the whole Windows-bashing bandwagon.

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    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    Quote Originally Posted by this_is_gav View Post
    I can never understand why this bugs people. Does it bring down you computing experience in any way? If it does, just download the updates manually and use a script... :\
    It bugs me because I use Firefox. I use XP because thats the platform of choice for the developers of the software that I use. Why should I be forced to use a browser that I dont want to use, to update my OS. Surely thats anti-competitive?

    For the record the Vista one (while presumably still using ActiveX and IE code) is independent of any browser. Quite an improvement all around.
    I didn't know this so thanks Just another nail in the coffin for my XP Installation!

    *nix is rather different to Windows. "Windows Update" is just that. It updates Windows. I wouldn't expect Microsoft to host patches for Macromedia Dreamweaver 2004. And to give a real-world example, WU links wouldn't work, as the Dreamweaver patch would now be on the Adobe site (OK to nit-pick, it probably is still on the Macromedia servers, but who knows for how long). WU would just fall-over and it would be another reason to jump on the whole Windows-bashing bandwagon.
    AFAIK, Apple dont host the patches for OS X Software either. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but other programs can tap into the System Update program to let the user know that there's a patch.

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    Senior Member this_is_gav's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
    It bugs me because I use Firefox. I use XP because thats the platform of choice for the developers of the software that I use. Why should I be forced to use a browser that I dont want to use, to update my OS. Surely thats anti-competitive?
    How on earth is it anti-competitive? It's an update system... Microsoft can use what they want. It makes sense to use a product they use which is bundled with every Windows installation anyway...

    If you were arguing the inclusion of IE I could begin to understand (though not agree).

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
    AFAIK, Apple dont host the patches for OS X Software either. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but other programs can tap into the System Update program to let the user know that there's a patch.
    There's rather a few more applications for Windows than there are for OS X though. It would be a nightmare to manage and need a massive dedicated team. And where do you go when a company hosting these updates dies? It's an idea I can understand in principle, but I can't think of any feasible way to go about this.

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    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    Quote Originally Posted by this_is_gav View Post
    How on earth is it anti-competitive? It's an update system... Microsoft can use what they want. It makes sense to use a product they use which is bundled with every Windows installation anyway...

    If you were arguing the inclusion of IE I could begin to understand (though not agree).
    I'd agree wth this. There is much less chance of things going wrong when they only have to deal with IE, I can imagine that the number of problems would increase dramatically if they had to support every combination of Opera, Safari and Firefox.

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    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    why deal with IE at all? Why not just let the "automatic updates" program have direct access to the cache of updates online? That way you can install them from there, rather than having to go through IE?

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    Senior Member this_is_gav's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Updates

    Which it does do now... they've corrected a problem (which didn't really exist in the first place). Your next Microsoft OS won't be forced to go through IE. You weren't expecting a patch for a 7 year old OS to strip out the ActiveX dependency were you? Like I said, if you don't want to use IE, then you have a Microsoft supported alternative - several if you're part of a domain.

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    Re: Windows Updates

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
    why deal with IE at all? Why not just let the "automatic updates" program have direct access to the cache of updates online? That way you can install them from there, rather than having to go through IE?
    There is no stand alone "program" in Xp, it is integrated in to iexplorer with ActiveX controls I think, anyways im not going back to Xp, Vista has an independant updates program, it works regardless of browsers and is much more efficient and convenient IMO.
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