Foo - OS updates...

Some one please tell me that Vista is the only PITA, system resource hogging, processing bogging OS on the market right now. Win7 going to have the same update 'jams' that I'm experiencing right now? Do you Apple advocates and Ubuntu users have to do updates (on apparently such a frakin' grand scale) as Vista?

No, yes and yes. XP too.

As far as update frequency, ymmv. But you can't escape it and keep your system current.

Some one please tell me that Vista is the only PITA, system resource hogging, processing bogging OS on the market right now.

No


Win7 going to have the same update 'jams' that I'm experiencing right now?

No


Do you Apple advocates and Ubuntu users have to do updates (on apparently such a frakin' grand scale) as Vista?


Depends, but there are updates practically every other day in Ubuntu

Depends, but there are updates practically every other day in Ubuntu

linux is far more modular, tons of small little apps that do one thing and one thing only, the actual apps the end user uses are usually made from those often with scripts as wrappers

that is part of the philosophy of how unix and linux is made and windows does it to an extent as well just not as much

Linux is getting to the point where it is huge, tons and tons of libraries, a full boat install of slackware 13 is more than 3GB but it includes several GUI's and an app for just about everything. Plus the pace of bug fixing has hit the frenetic fanatic stage, many many little tweaks and changes constantly.

oh god...it hasn't changed...

/slams head against wall...

oh wait..I saw the light...I see it...Good to see you two online still :)

yes there will be updates. Yes they will likely be fairly often...jamups?...sorry I work professionally with hundreds of desktops/servers and I don't know what you mean. I haven't run into major issues with XP in ages...vista, since I am in charge, I made an exec decision to NOT allow it in the company I admin. I tested and tested, and yes...it works...but I didn't prefer it...so I didn't choose to use it.

Linux/unix updates...to clarify are you talking OS, application, script or kernel? These aren't apples you are talking about. Also some os's (openBSD) allow VERY few updates. Once a change is made, if its proven secure, they will not allow a change until the next one is proven. Other *nixs don't retain that control.

Windows in the same breath tends to release their os a touch early (as proven by...well every version since...well...all of them)...so yes, for the first few years there will be lots of updates...lets guess...3 sp's. (maybe 2...but with an extra "patch" thats huge that they won't call an sp) It happens...updates happen, they will always happen. As long as there are hackers, pathetic 3rd party software developers and 3rd party companies trying to develop SUPER user friendly pieces of equipment with 0 security there will always be updates, security updates and driver updates...lots of them :)

I *was* using Vista perfectly fine on my Dell m1330 until I decided to SP1 it. Then I had problems. So much so that Ideceided to just sell the laptop and move to Apple.

I tend to select 'no' to updates whenever Mac says 'update me' because I find a reboot is always necessary and i'm not sure why I need to reboot if the kernel isn't getting patched. With Microsoft, I felt the need to update to keep security at bay, with Apple, I dont feel the need. Notice I use the word 'feel'... so I'm not sure if I need the updates or not, I just dont bother with them.

Ubuntu, I'm too much of a new user to know about it's updates. To fellow Linux users: when applying updates on Linux, is a reboot always required?

No



No




Depends, but there are updates practically every other day in Ubuntu


Correct.

Ubuntu, I'm too much of a new user to know about it's updates. To fellow Linux users: when applying updates on Linux, is a reboot always required?

nope, usually no reboot needed at all

with linux kernel modules (drivers for windows) can be inserted or removed without a reboot and pretty much everything else can be shut down and restarted without a reboot so the only time a reboot is needed is if the kernel has been changed

ubuntu typically will try to update anything that gets changed whether you really need to update it or not so its basically a daily occurrence

My take:

OS X, you often have to reboot on updates like Safari that are not OS critical.
RedHat, Solaris and AIX, you virtually never have to reboot unless there is a core kernel module. This is good because RedHat and Fedora updates come out on a daily basis, not monthly or bi monthly like OS X or Windows.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 need a reboot after Patch Tuesday usually. However there is usually some low level thing patched that would need a reboot anyway.

All and all, the best OS updater I know of is RedHat/Fedora's because it does a cryptographic check of stuff before it gets installed.

My take:

OS X, you often have to reboot on updates like Safari that are not OS critical.

Really? I've never had to do that except for OS updates. OS X updates are relatively painless compared to XP force updates.