Windows Update is a feature of
Microsoft's desktop
operating environments which allows the hapless user to keep their system up to date. It is a convenient and (most importantly) highly non-technical
conduit for hardware drivers and software patches. However, as it is motivated by
evil, there are some cons as well as pros:
PROS
- Easy to use (relatively speaking)
- A one-stop shop
- At least puts clueless computer illiterates in the running to apply patches
CONS
- Uses Internet Explorer for its UI and therefore...
- Requires all the huge security holes to be opened to operate. (Active Scripting, ActiveX, etc.)
- Tries to peddle loads of gratuitous crap such as IE6 and "Still sucks compared to Winamp" Windows Media Player. Optional, but still a clear and present competition stifler.
- It's really, really, really, really slow.
- Only lets you grab one "major" patch/service pack at a time.
- Do you like rebooting? How about dialogues with 'Do not restart my computer' greyed out so you can't tick them?
- Sometimes puts back all the redundant icons* you have meticulously expunged from the desktop, start menu and toolbar.
- Of course, you have to invoke it manually on each machine.
It claims it doesn't send any data back to
Microsoft.
*Internet Explorer and Outlook Express-Route-To-Propogating-Email-Worms