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by cubicle67 6237 days ago
May I suggest packaging it as a dmg instead of a zip? Doesn't make much difference other than that's what's usually expected
1 comments

I hate DMGs. I know it seems to be the most common way of installing stuff, but, really, what's the point? I have to mount, drag, unmount. Zip's automatically get extracted by Safari, and you just drag it where you want it (or launch it from Downloads). One step, vs 3 steps.

A short example: my uncle's been using a mac for 5 years and still has absolutely no idea how to install programs on mac because of this convoluted process. DMGs need to die.

You make an interesting point although our target market for Evom is people who aren't necessarily the most competent at using their Macs. We may consider switching to DMGs in this instance... may being the key word. :)

Thanks for your feedback though!

Please continue using ZIP.
I don't have a Mac in front of me to check, but isn't mount-after-download default behaviour for Safari?
Not only that, but if the app's the only thing in the DMG, it copies the app to the download folder then unmounts automatically.
That's your opinion. But as another Mac user - dmg please.
Why use a dmg instead of a Zip? See Apple's docs, http://developer.apple.com/documentation/developertools/Conc...

Also, you could have taken 30 seconds in the past 5 years to explain to your uncle how to install Mac apps. Instead of, you know, ranting about how its convoluted the entire time. All you have to do is say "Double click it and drag and drop the file to /Applications." — Though thats irrelevant now, since Safari now handles dmg's with a .app the same as if it would when extracting a zip.

Gee, what a great idea. I've explained a hundred times. It doesn't stick.

An icon comes up, and people click on it. It's natural and there is no indication of what you've done wrong. Then later, they have no idea where the app went.

DMGs serve no practical purpose. They are confusing to new users, and wasted clicks for power users.

Btw, that apple link you pasted shows no such reason to use a DMG over a zip.

If I missed it, please explain.

Also funny how so many developers provide zipped dmgs.