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What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

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Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#181
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

InDesign is the industry standard. There may be loads of OS alternatives, but unfortunately for people who can only just use a mouse and have invested years into learning that one package they just aren't going to be willing to invest a lot of time into exploring the alternatives.

I think the point was, most people like the OPs parents just use their computers for web browsing. And all of today's best web browsers run on linux. I helped my parents switch to linux mint, and it's been fairly successful.

[deleted]

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#182
With so many Windows users and developers how come there is nothing like Debian's apt? With zip-like packages instead of executable files, signed by the maintainers and with a uniform installation ui. The closest thing I know is Chocolatey and it doesn't even comes close.

Even if only open source applications used it, it would be so useful.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#183
post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with you partially. But Apple has taken its own interests into consideration. Apple is not doing this out of the kindness of their hearts - They take a fat cut out of each sale. Have you seen the Debian repositories or the Ubuntu Software center. They have a great selection of software, are easy to use, while at the same time not taking away your freedom or resorting to Orwellian tyranny.

> They have a great selection of software The Debian repositories are great, but don't kid yourself: unless you're a developer, it's very likely that there are at least a handful of mission-critical apps missing from the Linux ecosystem.

You Missed my point. I wasn't comparing the Linux ecosystem to Apple ecosystem. The Debian repo and Ubuntu software center is a fairly good source for 90% of the popular great apps available within the linux ecosystem. It is as or almost as secure, easily accessible and user-friendly as the Apple App Store, while at the same time giving the user full freedom to do what he wants. The Apple system takes away the user's freedom to achieve the same(the 'Orwellian tyranny' part)

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

fixubuntu.com ?

...Piping wget into bash? Really? NO. (I mean, at least it's HTTPS, but still.)

Funny how people complain about piping wget into bash, but will happily install and run random node/ruby/whatever packages downloaded from a random github repository.[1]

The truth is that program isolation sucks terribly on all operating systems that one might reasonably use for a development machine. Fixing that would be so great, but a lot of work.

[1] Perhaps you're the lone wolfling who doesn't do that, but I have seen this kind of behaviour from people on the don't-pipe-wget-into-shell bandwagon.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#185
post #51

And this is why Apple created Gatekeeper and made the Mac OS X App Store so ridiculously onerous for developers[1]. The software world is, for all intents and purposes, a thin sheen of gold flecks and diamonds atop a veritable cesspool of shit. You can just imagine the conversation at 1 Infinite Loop: Marketer: The Panic guys are considering pulling out of the App Store. Maybe we should reconsider our App Store strat…

Ironic, considering that Apple did exactly the same, when you installed QuickTime on Windows. They tried to trick you into installing iTunes and Safari and set them as default apps. Also, it stinks that Apple has nailed iOS that shut that even as a knowledgeable user you are not able to bypass it. They did not yet dare to do the same on Mac OS, but who knows when that comes.

Apple tricked quite a few Windows users into installing Safari and setting it as the default. Then Apple discontinued Safari for Windows without making an announcement or notifying uses (same as they do with older OS X versions... they just stop updating them). So there are quite a few people out there using Safari on Windows with no clue about the fact that they're using a completely insecure browser.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#186
post #14

Instead of dowloading from Sourceforge (loaded with ads and its own devious 'installer'), CNET, Download, etc, there are no-crapware alternatives that offer more management tools as well (remembering your list of apps across machines, automated updates, discoverability): Ninite: nice, simple, installer: just select apps and let the installer do it all for you. AllMyApps: all the apps, no crapware (at least for now).…

We have much the same functionality at http://PortableApps.com/ You get an app store, an automatic app updater, an app manager, and hundreds of freeware and open source apps. All free of malware and bundleware.

As a bonus, all the apps run from a single directory each, making it easy as pie to uninstall and remove all the apps settings at the same time (as opposed to bits left behind in AppData, Local AppData, the Registry, your Profile directory, etc). And they're portable, so you can run them from a cloud drive (DropBox, Google Drive, etc) that's backed up and synced between machines or from a USB drive.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#187
post #65
post #39

I really wonder why people prefer some other websites to download the product instead of its own website. When you type "ccleaner", "kmplayer" etc on google, the first one is always the product website. The second and third ones are the websites distributing product with adware/spywares.

Maybe they're looking for a trusted curator or the "user" reviews give them a sense of reassurance. As an exercise, try to find the right download button on Imgburn's own website: http://www.imgburn.com/ Even during installation, you still have to navigate the "Uncheck spyware" minefield.[1] [1] http://www.jdhodges.com/blog/safe-version-imgburn-without-op...

I installed imgburn, I was careful to uncheck everything, yet I still ended up with OpenCandy. I -probably- fucked up, but I don't see why someone who is shady enough to bundle OpenCandy wouldn't also be shady enough to ignore what people choose during installation as they will usually only blame themselves.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#188
post #147
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironic, considering that Apple did exactly the same, when you installed QuickTime on Windows. They tried to trick you into installing iTunes and Safari and set them as default apps. Also, it stinks that Apple has nailed iOS that shut that even as a knowledgeable user you are not able to bypass it. They did not yet dare to do the same on Mac OS, but who knows when that comes.

iTunes for Windows is a monster that drains the life out of the PC. Microsoft Office for Mac OSX was coded with the same evil spirit. This behavior is unethical but pervasive, and should be outlawed somehow, it hurts everyone. Specially when it comes from the two biggest players in the market.

I've been pretty happy with MS Office for Mac over the past few years.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#189
post #14

Instead of dowloading from Sourceforge (loaded with ads and its own devious 'installer'), CNET, Download, etc, there are no-crapware alternatives that offer more management tools as well (remembering your list of apps across machines, automated updates, discoverability): Ninite: nice, simple, installer: just select apps and let the installer do it all for you. AllMyApps: all the apps, no crapware (at least for now).…

We have much the same functionality at http://PortableApps.com/ You get an app store, an automatic app updater, an app manager, and hundreds of freeware and open source apps. All free of malware and bundleware. As a bonus, all the apps run from a single directory each, making it easy as pie to uninstall and remove all the apps settings at the same time (as opposed to bits left behind in AppData, Local AppData, the Re…

PortableApps is great!

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#190
post #11

I regularly get called by people complaining that their computer no longer works. Pretty much every time it turns out that their machine is loaded with crapware. It amazes me how people just put up with random browser windows popping up and having to search via some random search engine that has been imposed on them. At the minute I just have to put up with spending a few hours removing the worst offenders and then r…

It amazes me how people just put up with random browser windows popping up and having to search via some random search engine that has been imposed on them. I believe they just feel helpless, they don't know to do - but they are annoyed, because from my experience they'll ask for help the first computer-savvy person they see, even if they don't know them well. Funnily, situation is actually a perfect dating opportuni…

It's always wise to begin all relationships with an open and honest conversation about any viruses each person may have.
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