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Surely using the app store, or dragging an app to the applications folder is more sane than every program needing a installer program to put all the files in th

• Wowfunhappy 7y ago
  > Surely [...] dragging an app to the applications folder is more sane than every program needing a installer program to put all the files in the right places? Yes. It was more sane, when: 1. The Applications folder lived on the Dock, so users actually knew it was there. 2. Many applications (much more than today) were distributed via DMG's with instructions that an app should be dragged to the Applications folder. Without either of these things, a lot of users end up just running an application from their Downloads folder. Worse, doing it the right way involves on a non-trivial number of steps. You have to (1) open the Finder, (2) navigate to the Applications folder, and (3) then drag the app from Downloads into Applications.
  • samatman 7y ago
    Of all the numerous and growing usability problems with macOS, this isn't one that's ever occurred to me. Applications is, by default, in the Favorites bar of Finder. Which is where a user would find the Download folder, granted that Applications is lower in the list, but... Second, a significant number of programs are installed from the App Store now. Of those that aren't, it's still quite normal to open up a DMG and have two icons: the application, and a link to the Applications folder. Often with a bit of icon magic so the application points at the folder. Some applications still use an installer, in which case the app lands in the Applications folder, again. Is this really a problem? I've been using OSX for far too long to be in a position to tell...