Windows updates rant

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matthijs
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Windows updates rant

Post by matthijs »

As we all know, getting the latest updates is important for the security of your system. Microsoft already has a bad name on security (probably for a reason), but please guys, why do they have to make every piece of software and every process soooo difficult and unusable?!

Somewhere I read about some security patches for windows. I had to turn on my pc for some other reason, so I thought let's check for updates. First there's the digging through the labyrinth that's called "My Computer/system info/configuration". I was looking for a button "Check for updates" or something. Maybe it is somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

Well, after the 20th window or something I clicked something and suddenly Internet Explorer and a microsoft website is opened, a page about windows updates. Ok, click check my system for updates. Install updates. Guess what, they don't tell me what's going to be installed, so after the installation I find out the only thing that has been installed is some stupid Windows Genuine Advantage validation thing which allows me "to make sure my Windows version is authentic". Why in heaven's name should I need that? I was there when I bought this computer, of course it's genuine! ... :evil:

So were are those real security patches. let's go to the microsoft updates site. Too bad, trying to visit it with Safari on Mac (my real computer) is not allowed. Ok, then, I'll use Firefox on my windows pc. Again, not allowed to visit that site! :x

Please, someone enlighten me. Why, why why is everything Microsoft produces so incredibly unusable? Is every interface I have to deal with one big horrible, ugly mess? Why is everything so confusing? Even for me, as an "expert" user?
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Maugrim_The_Reaper
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

You're missing the point. Microsoft, perhaps rightly so, believe all computer users are stupid eejits and so updating is enabled by default automatically on Vista. On XP you can have the same thing with SP2, otherwise it's like pulling teeth.

Doing it manually as you describe is rarely workable. You must use IE since it uses some ActiveX crappy widget thingamagig to detect whether your copy needs updating. Also you must install the Windows I'm-Not-Pirated thing since more than one update will only install on a "genuine" PC. It's one of those anti-piracy measures that backfired - if you stop the pirated copies from being updated you just increase the overall insecurity of the internet ;). A child of six could figure that one out...but not Steve Balmer...

Look on the bright side. If you update to Vista when you are feeling deperate one day it actually works in the background without any interference. One of the few things Vista got right.

Disclaimer: I bought Vista last Summer and have since determined it does not meet my needs as a stable workhorse - so I'm buying a MacBook Pro asap. I may already be one of those Mac fanboi's everyone complains about ;).
matthijs
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by matthijs »

Good thing about the automatic updates. Indeed they should be enabled by default. However, manually checking for updates should be possible. And not that difficult. In OS X it's one click on "software updates" found in the start menu. It then checks for updates. When there aren't any, a small window tells you "Your software is up to date". If there is an update, it show you which ones, and a big blue shiny button called "Install" invites you to install them. Simple.

But, this was just one example. Today it was this software update thing, next time it's having to install a new printer, next time it's getting my network working again. It's always the same. Window after window after window of horrible incomprehensible mess. It's like they gave their "developers, developers, developers", a bunch of brilliant uber-hardcore programmers, a copy of microsoft Paint, telling them: "here, please do the interface as well".

I feel so sorry for the actual front-end designers working for microsoft. They must feel/have felt so worthless, all their skills not being put to use.
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Benjamin
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Benjamin »

<rant>
Count me out when it comes to letting a 3rd party install software updates on my pc at their leisure. The last thing I want to do is go start an application and find out it no longer works because of "sofware update". Moreover, I don't know what your talking about when you mention upgrade to Vista. First of all Vista is a downgrade. I just upgraded my copy of Vista to Windows XP. Windows XP does include automatic updates, which is the first "feature" I disable.
</rant>

Goes off and finishes installing suse linux....
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shiznatix
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by shiznatix »

I am a big fan of how Ubuntu does updates. It just says "updates available" and thats it. I click the icon if I want to install some and it shows me exactally whats going to be installed and a description of it. I click install and enter my password. Then I go back to work. If something needs restarted because of the updates (maybe it upgraded my firefox or something) then it tells me but does not get in my face about it. The best updater I have ever used
matthijs
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by matthijs »

Indeed, sounds good.

- me goes wiping out windows disk and replacing with ubuntu

One thing I found very strange with the windows update process is that internet explorer is opened and you are taken to a website for the updates. Than on that website some process (activeX?) checks whether my software is up to date. No wonder that the regular windows user is thought that some process opening a window and starting to run scripts on your pc is something normal. Now I also understand why those system-like-looking popup windows on websites telling users they need to install something are so effective at installing spyware and viruses on windows pc's.
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Maugrim_The_Reaper
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

All too true - the sooner ActiveX (or any relatives) die the better.
First of all Vista is a downgrade.
I agree completely - let's remember I'm buying a separate MacBook Pro to replace my Windows machine ;). I do however think it's also liberating - I suddenly have absolutely no need for Vista to stay stable! All I'll be using it for is playing PC games, and I can survive a dozen crashes, the corruption of all data, and hundreds of Windows Explorer restarts ;). No essential data or files will be Vista accessible - they'll all be on Ubuntu or Mac OS.

I think it's pure delicious that more games are making the move to Mac OS using something like Cider. I'm really looking forward to playing Spore on Mac OS... I would go so far as to say, that Mac OS is very quickly becoming more attractive to mainstream Windows users like myself, and a lot of us are not hard to please given the stupendous lack of common sense Vista exhibits.
Scrumpy.Gums
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Scrumpy.Gums »

Who could think that forcing a restart after updates are complete was a good thing? Back when I used windows, the number of times I clicked 'restart later' only to be asked 10 minutes later if I'd like to restart!! :crazy: :banghead: or you go away for 5 minutes and come back to find that its restarted automatically and joy, all that stuff you were working on is gone :drunk:
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Chris Corbyn
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Chris Corbyn »

Amen to installs which don't even ask for a serial. Installing OS X Leopard on my MacBook was as easy as inserting the disk and hitting install. No prompts for a serial, no activation. It even came back up with everything set up just the way I had it in Tiger, even my desktop background and the position of my dock.
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Benjamin
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Benjamin »

Well I just finished installing Windows XP (SP3) on the Toshiba Satellite X205 S9349. I can't really say that Vista ran slow on it, but XP runs about twice as fast. Finding drivers was quite challenging but they are out there.

Microsoft really screwed up. They were really headed in the right direction with XP. I don't think I've ever seen a company with a product so good screw it up so bad. That would be like BMW coming out with a Ford Focus :crazy:

Whatever, I'm going to play around in Windows for a while and then start installing Suse again.
matthijs
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by matthijs »

But you know what, the thing I find so curious is that most or many of the problems and difficulties I encounter are so easy to solve. It's all about very, very basic graphic design principles. Contrast: make the more important actions and information stand out. Proximity: put related stuff together. Give less important stuff less visual weight (or remove it all together!). Use the right wording for actions and buttons. Put those buttons in a place I expect. Etc etc.

The thing is, Windows does have a lot of functionality. And most of the times it works. But it's just so hard to use. If you can find the functionality, that is.

Without changing even one single line in the "back end" code of the system, a good interface designer could dramatically improve at least 10 windows with a couple of hours in photoshop. Imagine what would happen if you let a team of people do their work for a couple of years.

If I think about a random interface designer at microsoft, he (or she) must be constantly pulling his hair out in frustration. Not being allowed to do his work.
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Kieran Huggins
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Kieran Huggins »

apt-get update / upgrade FTW!
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Maugrim_The_Reaper
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

I'm pretty sure Canadians invented "FTW" now...;). What is it, a viral epidemic? Lol.

My other worry with Vista is that is seems Microsoft have learned nothing from their competition. The next Windows version (codename: Windows 7) is due for 2011 if you take the three year timeframe seriously. What most people don't realise (I didn't until researching Vista for a purchase) is that Vista is actually a mid-term release. An extension of XP with some Windows 7 features like WinFS because of the development delay and the need to make Vista appear more of an advance than it really is.

This is probably the sad part though - it means Vista is just another Windows Me style intermediate release...and it looks like it's reputation will be equally poor with all the XP upgrading going on ;).

There are even Windows 7 screenshots which show the Vista UI is still present in Milestone 1 - http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/35814/140/
The thing is, Windows does have a lot of functionality. And most of the times it works. But it's just so hard to use. If you can find the functionality, that is.
My absolute favourite example is IIS. Seriously, look up how to enable and disable IIS on Vista. It is quite possibly the most ridiculous piece of information imaginable. What on earth possessed anyone to bury IIS in a whole set of anonymous Control Panel dialogues that barely ever use the term IIS? After a friend borrowed my machine for some light IIS work, I spent a half hour searching the internet on how to disable IIS since since it's so anonymous and poorly presented you can't find it anywhere and it's always running!
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Kieran Huggins
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Kieran Huggins »

Canadian viral expressions FTW!
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Luke
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Re: Windows updates rant

Post by Luke »

I just switched back to Ubuntu. I love it. Love it love it love it love it. :)
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