Updates

As in, application updates.

Are you up to date on everything?

Its kinda difficult to be on top of it all. There are helper apps out there you could install to get a handle on it, but a) I don't know for a fact that they aren't spying on you; and b) who needs another resident background process?

I just read an article on TechRepublic regarding the number of Google users who are surfing with out-of-date browsers. (Yes, mac kiddies, that includes Safari.) Its a rather significant number, and it raises a question: Who has time for all this?

Updates apply to productivity programs (think MS- or Open Office), OS, browsers, and plug ins (Flash, etc). That can be a large number of programs, although many of them include their own update modules that go online and query update servers (Adobe, Apple, HP, Microsoft, etc). Of course, that means that you have little applications running around on their own schedules, more or less out of your control, updating themselves on their own initiative.

I like the way Ubuntu handles this. The OS is in charge of keeping all the installed applications up to date, and it will notify when new updates are available, so they can be installed when I'm ready. That, for me, is graceful and respectful of my time.