[Elepsis]

You know, no one took away the check boxes that let you choose which Windows Live programs you want to install when you're trying to run the installer. The installer doesn't even download any of those apps if you leave them unchecked. If you don't want Messenger, Photo Gallery, or even to sign up for a Windows Live ID, you don't have to get/do those things.

Most people find that this is actually helpful, though, because signing up for (or using, since the vast majority of folks already have one) a Live ID enables a bunch of convenient features like easily uploading your photos and videos (either to Microsoft's services or to Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, etc.) And most users who use Movie Maker also want to, for instance, organize their photos. Let's not forget that iLife also comes as a suite for a reason.

On the other hand, signing up for a new throwaway account just to trash Microsoft... yeah, that's classy.

(Usual disclosure: I work at Microsoft.)

[pkaler]

I'd suggest downloading the iWork demo and installing it. http://www.apple.com/iwork/download-trial/

It's a magnitude easier than installing anything on Windows: Click Link. DMG gets mounted on desktop. Click continue a couple times.

But really that's quaint, too. Install iMovie on the iPhone or iPad: Search App Store. Click Install. Enter Password.

Expecting users to do anything else at install time is expecting too much.

[jodrellblank]

I wouldn't say installing anything on windows - somethings are nice. http://germanysfinest.posterous.com/hooray-software-policypa...

Also, no-install / portable apps are ever such a pleasant trend - just copy the files and run them.

[oihuyjfrgtdfghj]

The problem is that it doesn't tell me it's going to let me have that option.

Windows too often decides to do an update that will give me X extra stuff that I don't trust signing up for something like windows live just to get an included free movie player

[alexdias]

Windows also lets you review whatever it is going to download in an update, so you can just disable the download of the X extra stuff that you don't trust signing up for.