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Re: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test
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Re: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test


  • Subject: Re: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test
  • From: Pierre-Olivier Latour <email@hidden>
  • Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 10:21:14 +0200

Talking about disk images, can someone explain to me the "real" interest /
benefit of them?

I mean, when I download something now on OS X, 9 times out of 10, I have to:
1) decompress the file (*)
2) mount the disk image (*)
3) open a new browser (*)
4) open the disk image content
5) copy its content to somewhere on my hard drive (this also likely means
opening another browser) (**)
6) go back to the "my computer" area in the browser
7) select the disk image and eject it
8) delete the disk image file from my desktop
9) delete the original compressed file from my desktop (*)

(*) these steps may be done automatically, but they still need to be done.
(**) launching from the disk image is often a bad idea, since either it does
not work or it does, but even when it is quitted, you cannot unmount the
disk image.

I think it's slow, contains many unnecessary steps (especially step 5 which
is a copy for nothing - great when installing programs of 100Mb), and very
complicated for a newbie user: I'm sure many of them do not understand fully
the concept of a "disk image", that they need to "unmount" it, that they
cannot run the program from it, etc... It may be obvious to you, but I
assure you it's a pretty abstract concept (a file that ends up appearing as
a "hardware" disk in the my computer area).

Not even talking about the fact that the developer requires way more time to
create a disk image than a simple compressed archive...


So what you could be the benefits? Settings privileges in a special way that
would not be preserved in a normal .sit or .gz file? Forcing the user to
install all products (because one has to copy them to the appropriate
folder)? Preventing the user to mess with the content of the application or
installer (since the disk image is read-ony)?

I could understand Apple wants this format for system installers (as they
used to for years on Classic), but for basic applications... Come on!


Now, for the record, if the application is provided as a ".sit" or ".gz"
file, only these steps are necessary:
1) decompress the file (*)
2) launch the application (since it's on the desktop, you don't have to look
for it)
3) if you like it, move it the Applications folder
4) otherwise, delete the application
5) delete the original compressed file

Half the steps, that's it :)

_____________________________________________________________

Pierre-Olivier Latour email@hidden
Lausanne, Switzerland http://www.pol-online.net
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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: DMG vs SIT (was: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test)
      • From: Diggory Laycock <email@hidden>
    • Re: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test
      • From: Jasper Touwen <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Re: FTPClient Beta Released - Please test (From: Scott Anguish <email@hidden>)

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