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Even Mark Shuttleworth agrees that 8.04 was a work in progress. There were lots of bugs in the release and there were lots of bug fixes released. It's kind of a "Wait for SP1" thing. I was sickened by it.

But the number of updates is really meaningless when compared to MS Windows. Ubuntu (and many other distributions) not only support many applications for update, which has been mentioned already, but they break every application down into separate packages so that the system is more modular. A security update to the graphic subsystem may affect twenty packages, but it's all just the graphics subsystem (There are actually 50 Xorg packages on my default Debian desktop system). I don't know how many updates MS would count for the same problem, but I think it would be one, maybe two max in order to keep from hurting their image. It really is one bug, though, so they're not deceiving anyone.

Another fallacy tossed about is that Linux-based systems never require a reboot. Officially, the only time you need to do a full reboot is when you change the kernel, but many updates require restarting important subsystems. Ubuntu takes the more MS-like strategy on its desktop of requesting a reboot whenever a major subsystem is updated. It's often not strictly necessary, and Ubuntu won't force you to do it at any particular time. It just leaves an unobtrusive icon in the notification area.
Posted by: daengbo   Posted on: 07/16/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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They'll find some reason why Windows is worse.  ye | 07/15/08
You have to concede...  TripleII | 07/15/08
No, I do not.  ye | 07/16/08
Then who is the comment directed at?  storm14k | 07/16/08
It's aimed at those who will spin a difference between the two even...  ye | 07/16/08
Re: Then who is the comment directed at?  none none | 07/16/08
Ye looking for red herrings where they don't exist...  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
You mean like this?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
October 31st, 2007??  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
Nine months after release of Vista  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
Well you're about due, Ed...  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
But Microsoft doesn't bother with patches  jorjitop | 07/17/08
And that sums it up.  storm14k | 07/16/08
Oh they're real alright.  ye | 07/16/08
The update process with Ubuntu is far more  yschoo1@... | 07/16/08
No, WU does not go to a black screen. (nt)  ye | 07/16/08
Update Processwith Ubuntu...  windozefreak | 07/24/08
Look at the framework, not just the repository  Michael Kelly | 07/16/08
Microsoft has a framework too.  ye | 07/16/08
They can, but they don't  Michael Kelly | 07/16/08
MS offers ISVs and OEMs lots of ...  mwagner@... | 07/16/08
ISVs have no access to WU  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
I don't care if they don't. Having a centralized repository is not as...  ye | 07/16/08
But...  cashaww | 07/16/08
"where every application has their own update mechanism "  billfranke@... | 07/16/08
Hate to say it,  alaniane@... | 07/17/08
Here is a good one...  waltmaine | 07/16/08
The blog was not intended to be a numbers comparison.  ye | 07/16/08
And windows isn't?  waltmaine | 07/16/08
Did you even actually read the post?  fairportfan | 07/16/08
Somehow you seem to think that I think Windows is done.  ye | 07/16/08
agree  egashi@... | 07/24/08
Actually ...  daengbo | 07/16/08
Actually- daengbo  elderlybloke | 07/16/08
re: The blog was not intended to be a numbers comparison.  none none | 07/16/08
What's the point? I think Ed made that clear when he wrote:  ye | 07/16/08
Define..  cashaww | 07/16/08
Hey Bill..  bobd08 | 07/18/08
Lets see where to begin  bobd08 | 07/18/08
And you will find some reason why Linux is worse.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  shrimphead | 07/15/08
Ed's observation was surprising.  TripleII | 07/15/08
Me neither  balaknair | 07/16/08
I don't remember I had to enter the password twice to  yschoo1@... | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
Not a five-part UAC series  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
grin  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
Oh for chrissakes...  dprozzo | 07/16/08
Laughs?  Jhaks | 07/17/08
That's right...  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/17/08
what is "sudo?"  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
sudo is not a word per se  alaniane@... | 07/17/08
Acronym  ivanotter | 07/25/08
UAC  ibook4113 | 08/11/08
Sort of a meaningless metric...  sethloco | 07/15/08
True enough  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Re: True enough  sethloco | 07/15/08
You PAY lot to M$ to release half baked OS  Web Smart | 07/24/08
wow....  ivanotter | 07/25/08
That Was the Point? Then you Missed...  northernwolf | 07/29/08
One may always compare apples to oranges, but when making orange juice..  DannyO_0x98 | 07/15/08
Gee, you suppose?  fairportfan | 07/16/08
Updates are good.  Mac Hosehead | 07/15/08
Good article, shame about the upcoming comments.  Big_Giff | 07/15/08
Right, the standard other operating systems have problems so NO criticism  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Donnie, Donnie, Donnie  tonymcs@... | 07/15/08
plain rude - Donnie is right  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
Tinfoil too tight  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/18/08
Not for everyone dude, speak for yourself  marks055@... | 07/15/08
Sure and pigs fly !  timiteh | 07/16/08
Re; And i should look for flying pigs.  hkommedal | 07/16/08
The part made it all look like the usual fanboy stuff  KimTjik | 07/16/08
Re: I've ever worked on an OS that has not crashed.  yschoo1@... | 07/16/08
Please compare apples to apples  kymnyth | 07/15/08
and there is more  emromero@... | 07/15/08
Microsoft allows  soonerproud | 07/15/08
Not so sure about that  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Sounds right to me  notsofast | 07/16/08
Completely disagree  notsofast | 07/16/08
Already addressed in the following paragraph:  ye | 07/15/08
addressed and passed over...  sethloco | 07/15/08
Why what is not valid? (nt)  ye | 07/15/08
Re: Why what is not valid?  sethloco | 07/15/08
I'm still unclear as to what you're referencing.  ye | 07/15/08
I beg to differ  sethloco | 07/15/08
@sethloco: The number of updates is only...  ye | 07/15/08
@ye...what article are you reading?  sethloco | 07/15/08
@sethloco: Once again we see someone lose sight of...  ye | 07/16/08
@ye...hopeless  sethloco | 07/16/08
@sethloco: Wise idea.  ye | 07/16/08
@ye the philosophizer  sethloco | 07/16/08
Wrong  soonerproud | 07/15/08
You are wrong  luch3 | 07/16/08
re: You are wrong  M.R. Kennedy | 07/16/08
re: You are wrong  alresave@... | 07/16/08
@ alresave  M.R. Kennedy | 07/16/08
Yes  luch3 | 07/16/08
Yes there's a big difference  tombalablomba | 07/16/08
Bull...  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
More than you know....  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
Look again  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
re: Look again  none none | 07/16/08
If that's the case ...  daengbo | 07/16/08
RE: Look again  Shadowbelly | 07/16/08
Re: Uninstall it  notsofast | 07/16/08
It was in the default distro  notsofast | 07/16/08
You are right, plus....  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
Forgot. to say - also....  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
Conjecture  ivanotter | 07/25/08
Good article - thanks  Don Collins | 07/15/08
In logic this is known as a tu quoque fallacy  frgough | 07/15/08
Where did I say that?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Please  frgough | 07/15/08
The point of the article  LiquidLearner | 07/15/08
The real point...  storm14k | 07/15/08
Windows Updates everything that ships with windows  notsofast | 07/16/08
Exactly right  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
re: Windows Updates everything that ships with windows  none none | 07/16/08
Re: None None's response  notsofast | 07/16/08
none's none?  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
MSDN & TechNet as user support sites?  devlin_X | 07/15/08
Wrong on support terms  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
I bet the "average joe"....  storm14k | 07/15/08
re: I bet the "average joe"....  notsofast | 07/16/08
Misread? I don't think he did. I think he's doing what he typically does...  ye | 07/15/08
Right, he spends the whole article subtly bashing Linux, then  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
He wasn't bashing Linux. He put the part you refer to in there because...  ye | 07/15/08
Still, that is the oldest trick in the book. Do it all very subtly, then  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
I saw nothing negative about Linux.  ye | 07/15/08
Super subtle  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Donnie...  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
That word?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Man take your biased glasses off - there wasn't  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
With all due rspect......  rogerbro@... | 07/16/08
The oldest trick..  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
If something is pointed out that's bad about linux, it's bashing!  LiquidLearner | 07/15/08
Critical thinking  frgough | 07/15/08
Or, as I said to Donnie Boy, he anticipated the whining...  ye | 07/15/08
Again, the oldest trick in the book. Pretend you are above the fray.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
No, not all people are that stupid. Only you and a few...  ye | 07/15/08
Ed knew exactly what he was doing. Otherwise, why even bother with the  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
@DonnieBoy: It was very clear to me that Ed was not...  ye | 07/15/08
If that is the case, no denial would have been necessary.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
With some people you can expect, no matter, what...  ye | 07/15/08
Again, no denials in advance would be needed if that were the case.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
It isn't that Vista sucks....  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
Offer a tinfoil hat  ivanotter | 07/25/08
In reality this is known as somebody didn't read  marks055@... | 07/15/08
He obviously read it very carefully, he was spot on.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Oh My gosh - grow up. Taking criticism is hard  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
UAC prompts are less frequent in Vista than Ubuntu  qmlscycrajg | 07/15/08
And the point is???  storm14k | 07/15/08
Line of demarcation ...  MisterMiester | 07/15/08
Are you serious?  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
I thought Linux doesn't need restart  LBiege | 07/15/08
The only time you NEED a restart  Michael Kelly | 07/15/08
Ubuntu asked me to reboot my machine 4 times this month  qmlscycrajg | 07/15/08
I run Ubuntu and do not recall 4 reboots required. At times, there are  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Sounds to me  Michael Kelly | 07/15/08
I don't recall any...  storm14k | 07/15/08
I am sure there have not been 4 reboots in the last month. Maybe in the  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
I do the same.  storm14k | 07/15/08
but didn't require it.  TripleII | 07/15/08
Depends on package maintainer ...  MisterMiester | 07/15/08
being worked on  daengbo | 07/16/08
A reboot is also required  softwareFlunky | 07/16/08
RE:...Linux doesn't need restart  n0neXn0ne | 07/15/08
meanwhile, as you continue to use the old unpatched kernel  code_Warrior | 07/15/08
You can just reboot at the end of the day. And it is not always because  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
In this case, no it wasn't fine  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
something doesn't sound right...  n0neXn0ne | 07/16/08
Did you actually look at the screen shot?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
That is strange  rhomp2002@... | 07/16/08
Ubuntu reboot  M.R. Kennedy | 07/16/08
I recompile my own kernel (nt)  n0neXn0ne | 07/16/08
re: I recompile my own kernel  M.R. Kennedy | 07/16/08
Re:..my own...  n0neXn0ne | 07/16/08
Only for kernel updates.  soonerproud | 07/15/08
.....  Linux User 147560 | 07/15/08
You tell me  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
.....  Linux User 147560 | 07/16/08
Re. "required restarts"...  techboy_z | 07/16/08
With Ubuntu, you do not have to reboot right away if you do not want to.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Windows reboot  beoz | 07/15/08
You have the option to wait - at least I have  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
If you have automatic updates turned on...  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
From what i've seen  deaf_e_kate | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  emromero@... | 07/15/08
UAC is configurable  soonerproud | 07/15/08
In all fairness...  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
I agree  soonerproud | 07/15/08
I agree with your final three paragraphs  Michael Kelly | 07/15/08
I would agree too. So, the only thing that Vista has going for it is better  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
FUD  ivanotter | 07/25/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  sethloco | 07/15/08
One more comparison you forgot to do ....  n0neXn0ne | 07/15/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  sethloco | 07/15/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  Loverock Davidson | 07/15/08
Channling Mike Cox, are you?  NetArch. | 07/15/08
No, just stating the facts  Loverock Davidson | 07/15/08
The only facts here are the ones you made up  Hemlock Stones | 07/15/08
Apparently you ovestimated the abilities of Loverock Davidson.  B.O.F.H. | 07/15/08
and FUD-tastical  ivanotter | 07/25/08
About TalkBack moderation  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
What this says *to me*..  supercharlie | 07/15/08
That is the great thing about Ubuntu and the wealth of applications.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Haa...  BFD | 07/15/08
That's not what it says *to me*  bmonster | 07/15/08
Then where is my magic button?  supercharlie | 07/15/08
Additional repositories ...  MisterMiester | 07/15/08
It's no different with Ubuntu  bmonster | 07/16/08
Actually there is a "Magic Button" ...  MisterMiester | 07/16/08
Ummm - No clicks and no password?  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
Microsoft and antitrust and not updating 3rd party software  beoz | 07/16/08
Ed, you are spot on.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/15/08
An analogy I left out...  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
But, you forget that this is exactly the argument that MS uses to say that  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
Man there is a real chicken little...nt  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
not like with like  stevey_d | 07/16/08
UAC is still far far worse than gksu  stevey_d | 07/16/08
I think it???s reasonable to call Leopard a ???work in progress.???  Jeremy W | 07/15/08
Very true, the swipe that Ed took at OSX was not called for.  DonnieBoy | 07/15/08
I wouldn't consider it swipe as more of a fact...  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
We are happy for you...  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
I did!  mwagner@... | 07/16/08
Me too - but I don't think he wanted to hear that...nt  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
@ Jeremy W  M.R. Kennedy | 07/16/08
Comparing apples and pears  martin23 | 07/15/08
They do  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Linux Apt-get vs. Microsoft Update  n0neXn0ne | 07/15/08
Partially true  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
This mechanism comes at a certain cost  tombalablomba | 07/16/08
Microsoft update, updates more than just Windows...  rs_jr | 07/15/08
The actual policy  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/15/08
Thanks for the clarification...  rs_jr | 07/15/08
RE:Thanks for the clarification...  n0neXn0ne | 07/15/08
Nicely said - but some just can't live with the  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
I rest my case with the response you received...nt  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
Vista is for IT Professionals?  martin23 | 07/16/08
"when the OEM specifically requests it" and pays a fortune for WHQL to sign  stevey_d | 07/16/08
$250  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
ok tell me where to get this, and is this the only cost  stevey_d | 07/17/08
Google it  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/17/08
when?  stevey_d | 07/17/08
and I did google it all i find is circular links on Microsoft website  stevey_d | 07/17/08
Here  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/17/08
You're confusing them with facts Ed!  tonymcs@... | 07/15/08
Anacdotes ??  martin23 | 07/16/08
I just can't make myself care...  beoz | 07/16/08
sudo annoys but also protects and serves  barence773 | 07/15/08
Want a root terminal?  MisterMiester | 07/15/08
I still dislike sudo.  TripleII | 07/15/08
I didn't like it either...at first  Chad_z | 07/16/08
You misunderstand UAC  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
I doubt he misunderstands UAC. More likely...  ye | 07/16/08
I think the greatest danger with sudo  hasta la Vista, bah-bie | 07/16/08
Different systems which are not comparable ...  MisterMiester | 07/15/08
might be more applicable to compare it  marks055@... | 07/15/08
UAC far far more annoying than gksu and  stevey_d | 07/15/08
and also, linux updates might be feature upgrades to packages  stevey_d | 07/15/08
It's actually the opposite ...  MisterMiester | 07/16/08
Missing the point: I mean bugs versus features  stevey_d | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  Gis Bun | 07/16/08
Microsoft service packs are cumulative as well  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
How Many Vista APPLICATIONS are Unpatched?  dbm@... | 07/16/08
You don't really have to update....  Narg | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  michael@... | 07/16/08
Reboots and UAC  alf@... | 07/16/08
As usual a good article Ed...and right on the money.  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
Windows updates Windows; Linux updates everything  lefty.crupps | 07/16/08
Two words: Debian Unstable  Rambo Tribble | 07/16/08
Ubuntu updates  none none | 07/16/08
Kernel requires reboot, that's all  scott1329 | 07/16/08
The real fallacy in Ed's post...  heres_johnny | 07/16/08
I very seldom get UAC unless  socialism=nowhere | 07/16/08
What makes UAC pop up a lot  Michael Kelly | 07/16/08
what about programs that need to access the hardware?  stevey_d | 07/16/08
Huh?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
Do you make hardware and drivers for that hardware?  stevey_d | 07/16/08
"My understanding of UAC is that it pops up a LOT."  beoz | 07/16/08
Ubuntu or Fedora vs. Linux  techboy_z | 07/16/08
What's the point of this article.  GOTBO | 07/16/08
I think we're all confused  sethloco | 07/16/08
"Thrown in at the end"  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
Re: Thrown in at the end  sethloco | 07/16/08
Mentioned briefly?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
Re: Mentioned briefly?  sethloco | 07/16/08
Fair enough  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 07/16/08
re: Mentioned briefly?  none none | 07/16/08
re: Mentioned briefly?  GOTBO | 07/17/08
Really ed  TDMBlanchard | 10/06/08
hmmmmm!!!!!  Arist?teles Ben?cio | 07/16/08
re:!!!!mmmh  n0neXn0ne | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  Arist?teles Ben?cio | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  maldain | 07/16/08
main subject  Arist?teles Ben?cio | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  psmsrs@... | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  trenchsol | 07/16/08
OS vs. Application updates  ZDNET_guest666 | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  imapunk4life@... | 07/16/08
fixed a sentence  imapunk4life@... | 07/16/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  0rion | 07/16/08
Agreed,  melekali | 07/16/08
I disable UAC can you do the same with Ulbuntu?  Randalllind | 07/16/08
Yes you can  tombalablomba | 07/16/08
Impressive Comparison  melekali | 07/16/08
Put basically  Richard Flude | 07/16/08
Linux fanboy defending the indefensible...  transposeIT | 07/16/08
Yo, Rich ...  n0neXn0ne | 07/16/08
Just unlucky, I guess  Mitch 74 | 07/17/08
Windows update VS Ubuntu Update  as901 | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  pocongcentil | 07/17/08
The wireless issue  Michael Kelly | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  luch3 | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  john.foggitt@... | 07/17/08
Richard Flude to the rescue...  readwrite | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  maggietoo9 | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  atari8bit@... | 07/17/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  joe@... | 07/20/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  joe@... | 07/20/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  joe@... | 07/20/08
Reboot?  Sagax- | 07/20/08
Another View Point  ElecNinja | 07/25/08
RE: Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update  cruggeld | 08/10/08
sorry...  cruggeld | 08/10/08

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