tuaw.com — John Gruber of Daring Fireball recently wrote an essay about quirks and user confusion around the application install process on Mac OS X. He had read a post from Alexander Limi's blog about the Firefox install experience, and decided to address it as a system-wide discussion.
Sep 22, 2009 View in Crawl 4
danielwsmitheeSep 22, 2009
The only real advantage between OS X and Windows is OS X doesn't use a damn registry, the source of 95% of the problems I have ever had on Windows. I prefer the open XML file based system that OS X uses.
macslutSep 22, 2009
There are a lot of lame comments here. The issue isn't how installing apps can be easier for Digg users, but rather how can the process be easier for your grandparents. There should never be a person running an app from a mounted disk image, but those doing tech support see this all the time. At the very least the disk images should have a background image and Applications folder alias asking you to drag and drop, but still, it would be a lot easier on first launch for the app to have the option to move into the Applications folder. The beauty of this is that it doesn't cost anything. Apps are already checked for first launch. It's only making an easy process that much easier.
Closed AccountSep 22, 2009
ISO's don't store permissions. DMG's do.
tnoySep 22, 2009
That is true, except for the Mac applications that do not use that method for installation.
jaimequinSep 22, 2009
In windows I hit RUN. Then OK. That is all.
falafelkioskenSep 22, 2009
you don't seem to know what you're talking about. 1. the drag-and-drop instal method lets you place and move your apps pretty much everywhere without breaking the app: more control for the user. 2. installers usually don't offer any useful choices, and for a lot of applications having an installer doesn't make a lot of sense
samurai77Sep 22, 2009
Then how come I have to explain that to my Mac users all the damn time. What's really cool is when they download a .dmg and open it drag the app to the dock and toss the .dmg and then ask me why their app doesn't work. Any .ini file is much easier to work with IMO than a .plist, but maybe with more time I'll find better ways to deal with that. It's the multi user environment that's a weakness of the Mac, one on one it's fine.
Closed AccountSep 22, 2009
"Other platforms" being Windows, I presume? I love the Ubuntu (and other distros, of course) package manager concept... when it works - if there's something that's *not* in the package manager, then things are a bit annoying... especially uninstalling things. OSX is in the same boat, there... regardless of how well you or anyone else might think things are organized with most applications, A) some stupid developer *will* spew files all over the place (but this is a platform-independent problem), and B) there's no centralized location to remove applications from your computer. I certainly don't think the *install* process is too complicated, but uninstalling could use some work; it is easier for a less-knowledgable user to remove an application on Windows than it is on OSX. You'd probably still be surprised with the number of people that don't understand the concept of the "Add/Remove Programs" window, though :/
datdamonfooSep 23, 2009
@fahrvergnuugen\Control Panel, Add/Remove programs, Uninstall.I know, too hard for you mac-heads to understand.