On Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:30:17 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Well, see, I never get them. ;-)  Come to think, I didn't get them
>> while updating the Vista OS on this box, but that's because I turned
>> them off.
> 
> I did too, while I was installing stuff. Then I turned it back on.
> 
> Come to think of it, I have to wonder how much of the griping about "too
> many UAC prompts" comes from vocal reporters whose job it is to do stuff
> like install and remove software and then write about it publicly.

Maybe.  But they probably are supposed to install it like people who 
don't know computers use computers.

> The traditional "read email/surf web/write documents/balance checkbook"
> grandmothers that the Linux folks generally use as "typical home desktop
> user model" are unlikely to ever run across a UAC on Windows, except
> maybe during a software upgrade.

Possibly.

>> That's kinda like the ActiveX control that gets installed in FF to
>> allow software to be installed without the prompts.  Though it sounds
>> like there's more to it than that.
> 
> I never heard of such an ActiveX, so I can't comment.

I thought it was the one that started this thread (come to think, it was 
another) - a silently installed control in FF on Windows that comes with 
the .net framework update.

>> There's a reason I also don't do automatic updates on Linux as well.  I
>> like to know what's being done to my system.
> 
> Me too. :-)  But you have to admit, there are groups of people who trust
> the Linux distributors (or Microsoft or Apple) more than they trust
> their own ability to make such decisions.

Yes, but I think that comes down to poor education on computers in 
general. :-)

>> I think we both do that, and that we both do it causes the confusion
>> and violent agreements. ;-)
> 
> Heh. I'll keep an eye out.

Jim

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