I wanted to grab the latest Acrobat, er I mean "Adobe Reader", so I went to your download site, clicked the "Download Adobe Reader" button... which downloaded a disk image with an installer named "DownloadReader.pkg". What did I just download? Apparently not Adobe Reader.
Ok, I launch that and you begin to install... "Adobe Reader Download Manager". Which is an application that installs in my utilities folder whose sole purpose appears to be to download "AdbeRdr80_en_US_i386.dmg". I kid you not:
I already have a download manager, it's called Safari. But thanks for the extra one. I guess.
Oh joy- another installer to double click on. So I do that, and apparently I'm actually installing the reader this time. And it even launches, finally!
Oh wait, what's this? You want to update yourself already? Ok... I guess that works. Oh look, another updater application! "Adobe Updater". Why not use the fancy new updater you just installed in my utilities folder? Have you already forgotten about it? Oh- that's right, it's a download manager; not an updater.
Fine, whatever. I still haven't viewed a single PDF but hey- might as well make sure I'm running the freshest code. Oh, what's this?
Sigh. What happened to you Adobe? You used to be so good! At one time you were a shining example of how to write mac apps. I love Illustrator- it rocks (and I just ordered the CS3 upgrade!). But... maybe it's time you guys step back and look at more modern / simplified ways of distributing your applications. I say this because I care.
Love,
-gus
PS: Since Adobe Reader appears to be a Cocoa app, you might want to check out Sparkle or Sparkle Plus. I'm using it in VoodooPad 3.2 and it's pretty handy.
PPS: Looks like our friends over at Rogue Amoeba have touched on this, as well as Derek K. Miller. Tough love, tough love.