<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: Why Is Desktop Software Hard To Install?</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.symphonious.net/2008/05/20/why-is-desktop-software-hard-to-install/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.symphonious.net/2008/05/20/why-is-desktop-software-hard-to-install/</link>
	<description>Living in a state of accord.</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:28:20 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>By: Adrian Sutton</title>
		<link>http://www.symphonious.net/2008/05/20/why-is-desktop-software-hard-to-install/#comment-158861</link>
		<dc:creator>Adrian Sutton</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 08:17:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.symphonious.net/?p=851#comment-158861</guid>
		<description>Yes, I've ranted about stupid Mac disk images with a picture of the applications folder before: http://www.symphonious.net/2006/06/08/ill-tell-you-where-you-can-drag-your-icon/

It's all very intuitive if you actually put a symlink to the applications folder and include some text rather than trying to do everything via images.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yes, I&#8217;ve ranted about stupid Mac disk images with a picture of the applications folder before: <a href="http://www.symphonious.net/2006/06/08/ill-tell-you-where-you-can-drag-your-icon/" rel="nofollow">http://www.symphonious.net/2006/06/08/ill-tell-you-where-you-can-drag-your-icon/</a></p>
<p>It&#8217;s all very intuitive if you actually put a symlink to the applications folder and include some text rather than trying to do everything via images.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: ddoctor</title>
		<link>http://www.symphonious.net/2008/05/20/why-is-desktop-software-hard-to-install/#comment-158853</link>
		<dc:creator>ddoctor</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 23:15:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.symphonious.net/?p=851#comment-158853</guid>
		<description>Man, I could not agree more. User wants to install the software - that's all the installer needs to know. 

If it needs any other components, just deal with it. 

Let's walk through a typical windows install:
- Welcome to the installer, click next (well, duh. oh really, was I installing something?)
- Choose installation location (does this matter? This is basically preset on most platforms - figure it out. If I change it, its more work for me, and something's probably going to break, anyway)
- Choose components (fair enough, I guess... save space for bloatware on small hard drives... but seriously, just add a higher hdd space requirement)
- Do some other product configuration (can't I do this in Tools-&#62;Options after install?)
- Wait for actual install to happen (why didn't it just skip to this step in the first place).
- Installation complete, click finish

Its just ridiculous. 

I have to say Mac is much easier... but the drag-drop to applications is a bit unintuitive the first time. Instead of the program icon with a picture of an arrow pointing to applications, why not have a button saying "Install this application"... or make the picture of ths applications folder an actual shortcut to it. Still, this is a better user experience than a typical windows installer.

Linux apps are quite nice when package management is available... but when you have to compile... I'm sorry - what? Compile? And the ./install or ./configure, make crap is stupid - why can't I run it from an icon? Whenever I have to install a linux app this way, my success rate is about 1 in 10. This is an INSTALLER, people... i'm not trying to do anything difficult. I shouldn't really need to know anything about how to install the software - that's the installer's job!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Man, I could not agree more. User wants to install the software - that&#8217;s all the installer needs to know. </p>
<p>If it needs any other components, just deal with it. </p>
<p>Let&#8217;s walk through a typical windows install:<br />
- Welcome to the installer, click next (well, duh. oh really, was I installing something?)<br />
- Choose installation location (does this matter? This is basically preset on most platforms - figure it out. If I change it, its more work for me, and something&#8217;s probably going to break, anyway)<br />
- Choose components (fair enough, I guess&#8230; save space for bloatware on small hard drives&#8230; but seriously, just add a higher hdd space requirement)<br />
- Do some other product configuration (can&#8217;t I do this in Tools-&gt;Options after install?)<br />
- Wait for actual install to happen (why didn&#8217;t it just skip to this step in the first place).<br />
- Installation complete, click finish</p>
<p>Its just ridiculous. </p>
<p>I have to say Mac is much easier&#8230; but the drag-drop to applications is a bit unintuitive the first time. Instead of the program icon with a picture of an arrow pointing to applications, why not have a button saying &#8220;Install this application&#8221;&#8230; or make the picture of ths applications folder an actual shortcut to it. Still, this is a better user experience than a typical windows installer.</p>
<p>Linux apps are quite nice when package management is available&#8230; but when you have to compile&#8230; I&#8217;m sorry - what? Compile? And the ./install or ./configure, make crap is stupid - why can&#8217;t I run it from an icon? Whenever I have to install a linux app this way, my success rate is about 1 in 10. This is an INSTALLER, people&#8230; i&#8217;m not trying to do anything difficult. I shouldn&#8217;t really need to know anything about how to install the software - that&#8217;s the installer&#8217;s job!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>
