107 ms·

> no worries about viruses or software updates ?

by apl 16y ago

cryptoz 16y ago
Fair point. But that's the way it's supposed to be. I guess my comment might seem humorously ignorant given the current Android situation, but it'd be tough to argue that it's not directly in Google's interest to get all that fixed up. On the other hand, it's not in Microsoft's interest to make software updates easy or viruses to go away. They're side problems that other companies deal with. HP's webOS should be more like Android than Windows, at least in the user experience philosophy.
- recoiledsnake 16y ago
  >On the other hand, it's not in Microsoft's interest to make software updates easy or viruses to go away. Huh, why not? How easier updates should get? If set to automatic, they're almost done Chrome style (except for the reboots GRR). And what about MSE? >HP's webOS should be more like Android than Windows With Windows, it gets updated instantly whichever OEM built your PC. With Android. it can take upto a year after getting released, or never come out at all.
  - cryptoz 16y ago
    > Huh, why not? Business. Look at IE6. Microsoft can't force system-wide updates for all their customers, so nearly 0 customers get dramatic software improvements. Of course, everyone gets security updates. > With Windows, it gets updated instantly whichever OEM built your PC. With Android. it can take upto a year after getting released, or never come out at all. This isn't really relevant to the point I'm trying to make. I understand that right now, OEMs aren't updating Android frequently. I meant more user software updates; my Android apps seem to get updates every week that add features, fix bugs, etc. This process is streamlined and automatic. This is not true with traditional desktop operating systems (aside from most Linux distros).
    - wvenable 16y ago
      Microsoft could simply add an automatic update service right into the operating system, similar to how they have MSI for installations, and then apps would be updated similarly. It's quite possible they're actually working on something like that -- updates seem to get better and better all the time.
      - cryptoz 16y ago
        For at least the last 15 years, there has been no central way to upgrade user software on Microsoft Windows. Today, in 2011, there is no way to do this. Maybe it's coming eventually, sure. But again, these points are seriously minor issues compared to what I'm trying to suggest: The "mobile" OS space is consistently more user-friendly than the desktop space. Maybe desktops can catch up. Maybe MS is working magic behind the scenes. Forgive me if I'm pessimistic here. I find it far more likely that there's a slow, worldwide shift to "mobile" OSs on all computers. It'll probably resemble some sort of iOS/Android/webOS future spawn, or something. I don't know. The automatic software updates was merely an example to show where "mobile" excels and "desktop" fails. There are many others, and even those this example may change I feel my point is still made.
        wvenable 16y ago
        > For at least the last 15 years, there has been no central way to upgrade user software on Microsoft Windows. For most of the last 15 years, most people installed their software by sliding shiny round things into their computer. > The "mobile" OS space is consistently more user-friendly than the desktop space. Unless you want to print something. Mobile OS's are considerably more limited, which with very little effort makes them much more user-friendly. A pocket calculator is also consistently more user-friendly than a smartphone. > The automatic software updates was merely an example to show where "mobile" excels and "desktop" fails. But that's actually such an easy problem to solve. Mobile operating systems (and, in my cases Linux in general) are very bad at solving the hard yet common problems -- like seamlessly printing documents or working with arbitrary hardware and software. I agree that there will be a shift to "mobile" OS style on computers -- it's already happening with Mac OS X and the Mac App store. No doubt Microsoft is already planning a UI for Windows that is also much more limited and they are certainly working on an app store. Taking a mobile OS and making it work on a PC is much more difficult than taking an existing desktop OS and making it function more like a mobile OS.

> no worries about viruses or software updates ?

by apl 16y ago

> no worries about viruses or software updates ?

Fair point. But that's the way it's supposed to be. I guess my comment might seem humorously ignorant given the current Android situation, but it'd be tough to argue that it's not directly in Google's interest to get all that fixed up. On the other hand, it's not in Microsoft's interest to make software updates easy or viruses to go away. They're side problems that other companies deal with. HP's webOS should be more like Android than Windows, at least in the user experience philosophy.

recoiledsnake 16y ago
>On the other hand, it's not in Microsoft's interest to make software updates easy or viruses to go away. Huh, why not? How easier updates should get? If set to automatic, they're almost done Chrome style (except for the reboots GRR). And what about MSE? >HP's webOS should be more like Android than Windows With Windows, it gets updated instantly whichever OEM built your PC. With Android. it can take upto a year after getting released, or never come out at all.
- cryptoz 16y ago
  > Huh, why not? Business. Look at IE6. Microsoft can't force system-wide updates for all their customers, so nearly 0 customers get dramatic software improvements. Of course, everyone gets security updates. > With Windows, it gets updated instantly whichever OEM built your PC. With Android. it can take upto a year after getting released, or never come out at all. This isn't really relevant to the point I'm trying to make. I understand that right now, OEMs aren't updating Android frequently. I meant more user software updates; my Android apps seem to get updates every week that add features, fix bugs, etc. This process is streamlined and automatic. This is not true with traditional desktop operating systems (aside from most Linux distros).
  - wvenable 16y ago
    Microsoft could simply add an automatic update service right into the operating system, similar to how they have MSI for installations, and then apps would be updated similarly. It's quite possible they're actually working on something like that -- updates seem to get better and better all the time.
    - cryptoz 16y ago
      For at least the last 15 years, there has been no central way to upgrade user software on Microsoft Windows. Today, in 2011, there is no way to do this. Maybe it's coming eventually, sure. But again, these points are seriously minor issues compared to what I'm trying to suggest: The "mobile" OS space is consistently more user-friendly than the desktop space. Maybe desktops can catch up. Maybe MS is working magic behind the scenes. Forgive me if I'm pessimistic here. I find it far more likely that there's a slow, worldwide shift to "mobile" OSs on all computers. It'll probably resemble some sort of iOS/Android/webOS future spawn, or something. I don't know. The automatic software updates was merely an example to show where "mobile" excels and "desktop" fails. There are many others, and even those this example may change I feel my point is still made.
      - wvenable 16y ago
        > For at least the last 15 years, there has been no central way to upgrade user software on Microsoft Windows. For most of the last 15 years, most people installed their software by sliding shiny round things into their computer. > The "mobile" OS space is consistently more user-friendly than the desktop space. Unless you want to print something. Mobile OS's are considerably more limited, which with very little effort makes them much more user-friendly. A pocket calculator is also consistently more user-friendly than a smartphone. > The automatic software updates was merely an example to show where "mobile" excels and "desktop" fails. But that's actually such an easy problem to solve. Mobile operating systems (and, in my cases Linux in general) are very bad at solving the hard yet common problems -- like seamlessly printing documents or working with arbitrary hardware and software. I agree that there will be a shift to "mobile" OS style on computers -- it's already happening with Mac OS X and the Mac App store. No doubt Microsoft is already planning a UI for Windows that is also much more limited and they are certainly working on an app store. Taking a mobile OS and making it work on a PC is much more difficult than taking an existing desktop OS and making it function more like a mobile OS.