[cesarb]

> What's the use of "installing" an application these days?

Once I "install" an application, for example libreoffice:

- It works even if I do not have a working Internet connection (or back in the day, even if I had removed the original media from the drive);

- It works even if the original is gone.

That is, by "installing" an application, I gain a permanent, offline, working copy of it.

[flohofwoe]

Most of this isn't a given anymore with software vendors going subscription-only like Adobe's Creative Cloud.

On the other hand, PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) also work in offline mode without a "traditional" installation step.

[TeMPOraL]

Which is a problem that needs to be pushed back against. SaaS is a step backwards in our relationship with our machines.

[feanaro]

> Most of this isn't a given anymore with software vendors going subscription-only like Adobe's Creative Cloud.

Please stop saying this as if it is in any way acceptable. Some parts of the computing world work like this, but this is not, nor should it ever be, the new normal.

You can still definitely use your computer without resorting to such licensed crapware.

[TuringTest]

Progressive Web Apps that work in offline mode are still installed when first accessed through the browser; they just don't need to go through the "traditional" method (installer, app store).

"Traditional" applications that are subscription-only are only partially installed, if their full functionality requires always-on connectivity.

[hombre_fatal]

Not even Steam works like that.

Stay offline for 30 days (iirc) and try to play the games you paid for.

[TeMPOraL]

Well, Steam is a DRMed game lending platform; content is only stored off-line because there's no practical way for them to do otherwise. If they could get away with streaming games from their servers, they'd happily do it.

[BlueTemplar]

There are many things one could blame Steam for, but AFAIK this limitation has been removed years ago.