> Browsers these days install updates without even asking the user, and complaints about that are rare.
Until the browser decide to break something you used (see firefox and alsa support on linux, or firefox and australis, or firefox the upcoming drop of non web extension extensions, ...). Automatic update should be limited to critical security and not significantly alter or break user experience.
> Meanwhile, every time I update my Linux installations, it's painless.
You're lucky you did not have to deal with upgrading ubuntu, or linux mint update packs, or used a distro like sidux, or have been hit by a systemd bug preventing the system from booting making evident that systemd also broke the emergency shell used to fix things.
Updating a linux system is usually less painful than a windows one, but it is not as flawless as your experience paints it. With the advent of systemd it is now more windows like requiring reboot and tightly coupled versions.
I jumped on that train when they moved to GTK3, but said train seems to be running out of track.
As of late, Mozilla have done a whole lot to alienate long time _nix users in their attempt at catching Chrome's tail.
And you bring up a good point about tightly coupled versions.
_nix was in part adopted because things were loosely coupled. But in the pursuit of attention the DEs and various other big projects have steadily pushed for more tight coupling so that they can deliver a certain "commercial" UX.
Until the browser decide to break something you used (see firefox and alsa support on linux, or firefox and australis, or firefox the upcoming drop of non web extension extensions, ...). Automatic update should be limited to critical security and not significantly alter or break user experience.
> Meanwhile, every time I update my Linux installations, it's painless.
You're lucky you did not have to deal with upgrading ubuntu, or linux mint update packs, or used a distro like sidux, or have been hit by a systemd bug preventing the system from booting making evident that systemd also broke the emergency shell used to fix things. Updating a linux system is usually less painful than a windows one, but it is not as flawless as your experience paints it. With the advent of systemd it is now more windows like requiring reboot and tightly coupled versions.