Last night I just uninstalled a program and was surprised (and extremely glad) to see that the default option was to remove all traces of the program instead of you having to go into some custom removal mode in order to do so. That’s the control I want: if I chose to uninstall a program, I expect it to be gone. If I choose to put Apple Software on cruise control, I expect it to update ONLY the software I already have on my comptuer: end of story.

Heck, even Microsoft asks you if you’d like to install Silverlight, even if you’re running IE. They haven’t pushed it on anyone.

Microsoft has learned from using their control in the market and how it’s screwed things up. They’re no where near perfect, but one would have to admit they’re definitely improving. Apple on the other hand is only starting to get control of a particular market. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself: and let’s also Apple doesn’t get away with it because everyone is so fan boyish and “in love” with them and they wouldn’t want to tarnish a brand.

That’s my 2c.

- Adam

People seem to give Apple a hard time for something that most companies are a lot worse for. I don’t really agree with bundling in software even if there is a box to uncheck to not have the add-on, but most people don’t bother reading that and click OK to everything. Fair play to Apple though. Maybe people who haven’t even heard about Firefox or Safari will download iTunes one day and Safari will pop up and they actually like it and the non geeks have actually found an alternative to IE thanks to Apple. As a Safari user on the Mac I think more people should be made aware. The majority of people won’t need thousands of extensions, they need a lightweight and quick and standards based browser, which Safari offers. As Chris has said with the iPhone, it is not about the features it is about the implementation.

The Apple thing is to be expected, as you said, and I find it to be acceptable, because it’s a user-option. Nothing worse than downloading things like Skype and getting Yahoo! search bar or something included.

Thanks for another great article, Chris.

I believe that should really be something that needs to be said to EVERY organization or business out there because it is important. They have to stop looking at their “research” and really go out and pay attention to what the “community” has to say if they want to get ahead and make friends. Us complaining does mean they are doing something right and something wrong because we care enough to try and point them to the right direction.

Totally agree with this blog post and hope your voice gets heard by Apple, Sony, and many others!

What’s the betting if all you want is Quicktime, you’ll still get Apple nagging you to install iTunes and Safari every time Quicktime gets a new release and for ever?

Apple is just as ignorant of their community as Microsoft – they get away with it, because unlike the MS-Borg, they make excellent products, and the community forgives them. Nowhere else to go :-(

Apple FTW!

I haven’t heard much about the Sony situation with its users, but i can definatly say that these big corperations need to slow down and so back to their “Email” and take a look at what their everyday deticated users are saying what is good and what could be better. After all its the user that they are distributing the product to at the end of the day. I honestly don’t think its that difficult. Take Windows Vista For example. Chris Pirillo didn’t think it was ready to be put on the Market place, along with a handfull of other people. It was still released, and now Windows is facing the largest turnover of users to Apple’s Mac Computers.

In the end its the big companies that are going to feel the wrath of the users. They are going to see a dip in sales, and lower ratings, but HEY!!! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Bradley Bradwell