Saturday, March 29, 2008
(3:19 PM) | Adam Kotsko:
An Upgrade Revolution
Programs that check for updates on start-up -- that is, virtually all programs nowadays -- are a pain in the ass. When you start a program, you do so generally because you want to use the program more or less immediately. The upgrade process completely frustrates this desire. Not only do you have to go through the hassle of downloading the software, but you actually have to close out the program shortly after starting -- as though your whole purpose in starting it that particular time was to upgrade it. But people start programs to use them, not to upgrade them!In light of this disconnect, a paradigm shift is necessary. Instead of demanding that the user upgrade when she simply wants to use the program, wait until the user signals that she doesn't want to use the program for the time being: that is, when the user exits the program.
