[sf-lug] Most constructive Windows -> Linux conversion article I have ever seen...

[Bill Kendrick]

On Mon, Oct 01, 2007 at 03:02:38AM -0700, Kristian Erik Hermansen wrote:
> "APT was introduced in 1998 and original test builds were circulated
> on IRC. The first Debian version that included it was Debian 2.1,
> released on 9 March 1999."
> 
> When did Windows Update appear?

Wikipedia tells _me_:

  "The Windows Update site was first introduced with the launch of Windows 98."

This is on the "Microsoft Update" article ("Microsoft Update is a
web-based software update service for Microsoft Windows operating
systems. It offers a location for downloading critical system
component updates, service packs, security fixes, patches and free
upgrades to selected Windows components.")...

That's different from _Windows_ update, though ("Windows Update is a
Control Panel applet found in recent versions of Microsoft Windows
that provides updates for the operating system and related
components...")

The former article also states:

  "In 2005, Microsoft introduced the first beta of the optional
  Microsoft Update, delivering updates for supported operating systems,
  plus Microsoft Office [...]  in response to customer requests for an
  easier way to check for and obtain all the applicable Microsoft
  product updates for a particular system."


So it sounds like they had a website that people had to go to, as long ago
as the Windows98 days (wow, which was actually even released _in_ 1998!).
However, it may be that the automated tool (more similar to the way
Debian systems can update) didn't happen until a bit later...?


I'd be curious for some more solid info on this.  It _is_ annoying when
people say: "oh wow, Linux is just like Windows because it does X", when
Linux[*] did X years before.

[*] The kernel, various distros, desktop software, whatever...
    I'm comparing "Linux" as a user experience to "Windows" as that behemoth
    thing they call an "OS" :)

-- 
-bill!
bill at newbreedsoftware.com
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/