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> When I download an app (.dmg) and click it, it shows up as a new disk. WTF? So download (or provide for download) a .pkg instead of a, you know, Apple Disk I

> When I download an app (.dmg) and click it, it shows up as a new disk. WTF? So download (or provide for download) a .pkg instead of a, you know, Apple Disk Image file

RivieraKid 6y ago
If I download a popular app and it shows up as a disk image, it's not really my fault. This is a UX fail. Apple has the power to fix this. Normal people don't know and don't want to know what are apple disk images and what's the difference between .pkg and .dmg.
- filleduchaos 6y ago
  I highly doubt "normal people" are losing much sleep over a virtual drive showing up in their Finder sidebars. It's only a "UX fail" if you're of the opinion that all platforms should work exactly the same way, and/or that UX paradigms that aren't what you already know are inherently wrong.
  - kyawzazaw 6y ago
    Yup, normal people just don’t care about it showing up as a virtual drive.
  - RivieraKid 6y ago
    I'm not saying people are losing sleep over it but it's just bad UX. If you download and install an app, it shouldn't have the side-effect of a new disk appearing on your desktop. It's obvious, ask any UX designer if you don't believe me.
    - filleduchaos 6y ago
      Again, UX paradigms aren't inherently bad or wrong simply because they're not what _you_ are used to. macOS users are aware (even though they might not know the technical terms in question) that a .dmg is not "an app". It's a virtual disk format - something reinforced by the literal disk that's its file icon - and using one is reminiscent of inserting a CD or USB stick to get files from. _That's the point_. You insert a disk and copy its contents to your own hard drive (applications aren't the only things stored or distributed via virtual disks). It's like complaining that clicking on a ZIP file has the "side effect" of creating a new file/folder. People who actually use archives understand that they're container formats.
      - RivieraKid 6y ago
        What percentage of Mac OS users know that .dmg is a virtual disk format, what's your guess? I've been using Mac OS for years, so I'm used to it. And good UX works well even for people who're not used to it. See iOS, you just tap "install" in the App Store and the app installs, that's how it should be. Seriously, ask a good UX designer what they think about this - or just ask normal people why they think there's a virtual disk drive on their desktop and whether they know what a virtual disk drive is. I don't have the time or energy to convince you.
    - quantummkv 6y ago
      It's not bad UX. Apple provides three other app installation options that don't create a new disk on your desktop. The fact the the developers don't want to use those 3 methods is not Apple's fault. Blame the developers for that. Now if Apple where to follow you suggestion and lockdown the app installation for better UX, there would be pitchforks everywhere. In fact, the pitchforks where out just last week for this issue.
      - RivieraKid 6y ago
        I blame both. Apple has the power to solve this in a way that doesn't have drawbacks for developers.
- UIZealot 6y ago
  I think this is a case of "that's how it's always been done". My understanding is that it's done this way so that there's a consistent experience installing software from a CD/DVD or from a download online. But I think you're right, Apple should've rethought the software installation process the moment they dropped the optical drive from their computers.

> When I download an app (.dmg) and click it, it shows up as a new disk. WTF? So download (or provide for download) a .pkg instead of a, you know, Apple Disk Image file

RivieraKid 6y ago

If I download a popular app and it shows up as a disk image, it's not really my fault. This is a UX fail. Apple has the power to fix this. Normal people don't know and don't want to know what are apple disk images and what's the difference between .pkg and .dmg.

filleduchaos 6y ago
I highly doubt "normal people" are losing much sleep over a virtual drive showing up in their Finder sidebars. It's only a "UX fail" if you're of the opinion that all platforms should work exactly the same way, and/or that UX paradigms that aren't what you already know are inherently wrong.
- kyawzazaw 6y ago
  Yup, normal people just don’t care about it showing up as a virtual drive.
- RivieraKid 6y ago
  I'm not saying people are losing sleep over it but it's just bad UX. If you download and install an app, it shouldn't have the side-effect of a new disk appearing on your desktop. It's obvious, ask any UX designer if you don't believe me.
  - filleduchaos 6y ago
    Again, UX paradigms aren't inherently bad or wrong simply because they're not what _you_ are used to. macOS users are aware (even though they might not know the technical terms in question) that a .dmg is not "an app". It's a virtual disk format - something reinforced by the literal disk that's its file icon - and using one is reminiscent of inserting a CD or USB stick to get files from. _That's the point_. You insert a disk and copy its contents to your own hard drive (applications aren't the only things stored or distributed via virtual disks). It's like complaining that clicking on a ZIP file has the "side effect" of creating a new file/folder. People who actually use archives understand that they're container formats.
    - RivieraKid 6y ago
      What percentage of Mac OS users know that .dmg is a virtual disk format, what's your guess? I've been using Mac OS for years, so I'm used to it. And good UX works well even for people who're not used to it. See iOS, you just tap "install" in the App Store and the app installs, that's how it should be. Seriously, ask a good UX designer what they think about this - or just ask normal people why they think there's a virtual disk drive on their desktop and whether they know what a virtual disk drive is. I don't have the time or energy to convince you.
  - quantummkv 6y ago
    It's not bad UX. Apple provides three other app installation options that don't create a new disk on your desktop. The fact the the developers don't want to use those 3 methods is not Apple's fault. Blame the developers for that. Now if Apple where to follow you suggestion and lockdown the app installation for better UX, there would be pitchforks everywhere. In fact, the pitchforks where out just last week for this issue.
    - RivieraKid 6y ago
      I blame both. Apple has the power to solve this in a way that doesn't have drawbacks for developers.
UIZealot 6y ago
I think this is a case of "that's how it's always been done". My understanding is that it's done this way so that there's a consistent experience installing software from a CD/DVD or from a download online. But I think you're right, Apple should've rethought the software installation process the moment they dropped the optical drive from their computers.