On Oct 16, 2008, at 9:47 PM, Paul wrote: > I want to confirm my impression of how 3 different kinds of update > work: > > 1. Security Update > 2. OS X Update > 3. Java update > > The Security Update seems to be a large file that is only available as > a cumulative update, so all previous versions are superseded. > > The OS X updates seem to come in two flavors - cumulative and > incremental, so you can take your pick when you download, depending on > how much updating you want to do. > > The Java updates are large, but seem to be incremental, with later > updates requiring earlier updates to be installed.
This is all correct I believe, except the OS X update statement "you can take your pick when you download, depending on how much updating you want to do." If you've been updating incrementally, the next increment, and the next Combo should get you to exactly the same place, so they'll both update you identically if you were currently up- to-date beforehand. The need for the Combo (cumulative) update is for skipping one or all previous increments and going directly to the latest version without having to do each incremental update. Since Apple offers all increments and Combo updates continuously, you could "take your pick" by choosing to stop short of the current version, but if you're only updating a single increment, using the Combo would be a waste of time, although I always keep a copy of the latest Combo Update "just in case" I can't connect, and need it in an emergency. > I have other questions about Java: > > 1. What version should I have on an OS 10.4.11 installation. I got the > machine from someone else, and it seems to have Java 1.3, 1.4, and > 1.5. My guess is that I don't need 1.3, but is it worth removing, and > how would I do it, anyway? I don't think you can remove the older versions? I think I tried that once, and then found I need the old version for websites that had java apps built on older versions. I think they coexist and the version needed will run? > 2. If I install 10.4 from scratch, and update to 10.4.11 with one > file, what Java updates should I apply? I've never seen Software Update make an error in terms of offering a wrong update, or forgetting to offer a needed update. Even if you need or prefer to download the updates separately, using Software Update to tell you what is needed is easiest, and error free as far as I know. > With Java, I'm used to the PC world, where you go to a Sun website and > only download the latest updated version you want - for example, the > latest 1.4 or the latest 1.6. I run only the latest release of Java > 1.6. That seems simpler to me, and the downloads are a lot smaller - > 20 MB for each release, rather than Apple's multiple 80 MB update > files. Complaining about 80MB vs 20MB in this era of $99 1 TB HDs (10ยข per GB) seems outdated. I'd be more concerned about functionality and that Mac Java version releases lag so far behind equivalent Windows versions. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
