I realize this might not be the appropriate place to post this message but I think it needs to be heard.

Why do software companies like Mozilla think that it is okay to release so many updates? Being a usability expert I think you can respect the fact the frequency of updates play a huge role into usability.

Lately it seems that between Firefox, Apple (Safari, iTunes, etc.), Micorsoft and Adobe in that order, we (users) are being bombarded with updates. Firefox is the worst because it is not so much that the browser is being updated, now all the extensions to the browser need to be updated.

I have a lap top at home that I don’t use as frequently, yesterday I opened it up for the first time in two weeks. From Start up to the point I could actually use my laptop was over two hours of updates, again Firefox being the most obtrusive.

TOO MUCH < TOO MUCH < TOO MUCH.

I am a power user and generally like to have the latest of everything but even I have gotten to the point that I am not having a good time with my computer when I have to deal with so many issues. I much rather have less frequent more featured updates, or even better yet, if the updates could take place without me noticing or having to pay attention. Example if Firefox down loaded the latest version while I had my browser open and installed itself behind the scene, then completed the installation when I decided (rather than being prompted) to end a session.

The sad thing about this constant hassle by big companies like Mozilla, Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe is that the smaller companies follow your lead. Now in addition to all these other updaters I now have updates from every other software that is loaded on my machine, thus rendering a substantial portion of my day as non productive. This amount of time times the number of computers that I have adds up.

Like I said I am a power user that doesn’t care as much,,, think of people like my mom or my sister that has no clue what benefits these updates offer, to them the updates are equivalent to viruses. McAfee (espeically on a Dell) after the experiation is on the top of the user list as the most annoying experience in computing.

AZA please take note, you are a smart influential person in this industry, I think you can lead the effort to make a difference.

Seriously, we need to drop this GMail-only bullsh*t with Ubiquity- I’m going to be so very disappointed if there isn’t some Yahoo! Mail support soon.

Like, remember when PS2 came out and everyone said “SWEET I can still play PlayStation games on this rad new system!”?

I kid. I realize it’s different, but seriously, there has to be a way to introduce 0.5 without completely trashing most of the commands from earlier versions. On top of everything else, it seems like a pretty sizable waste of time to have to recode all preexisting commands to work with the new version instead of just being able to update the code to make it work with the new, better features supposedly included in 0.5!

So yeah, I’m gonna wait a while to upgrade. It just doesn’t seem worth the hassle and especially the loss of functionality.

PS- What’s with the Flash video? Surely there’s a way for us up-to-date Firefox users to view it in an open video format instead, since the newest FF version includes open video support.