Better to Install from Windows Store than EXE?

By Sir Topham Hatt
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Sir Topham Hatt

Posted
Posted

Is it better to install a Windows Store version of an app compared with the full exe from the website?

VLC for example.

 

Just not sure of the point in the Windows Store at the moment but wonder if this is now the tipping point from exe installers to apps.

  • 1 month later...
Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted
  On 15/11/2021 at 07:58, Sir Topham Hatt said:

Is it better to install a Windows Store version of an app compared with the full exe from the website?

VLC for example.

 

Just not sure of the point in the Windows Store at the moment but wonder if this is now the tipping point from exe installers to apps.

Expand  

Irrelevant - I've installed applications both ways.  The difference is that it typically takes fewer steps to install from the Store than from an executable.  The ONLY case where it will take less is an already-downloaded executable (I have a few of those) - otherwise, the Store will beat it.  (This applies to ANY application store - it's not unique to the Microsoft Store - it applies to the Amazon AppStore (or the Google Play Store, for that matter) - I'm not being diasingenuous in the least.)

Grand Master

devHead

Posted
Posted
  On 15/11/2021 at 07:58, Sir Topham Hatt said:

Is it better to install a Windows Store version of an app compared with the full exe from the website?

VLC for example.

 

Just not sure of the point in the Windows Store at the moment but wonder if this is now the tipping point from exe installers to apps.

Expand  

I think the one advantage of installing from the Windows Store is that you will get updates for the app automatically.

  • +primortal, Astral and Xenon
  • Like 3
Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted
  On 17/12/2021 at 02:35, devHead said:

I think the one advantage of installing from the Windows Store is that you will get updates for the app automatically.

Expand  

Some applications (Firefox, for example) have internal updating mechanisms - making it a wash - and Firefox is in the Microsoft Store.

Grand Master

goretsky Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

Hello,

 

If you are using a universal Windows app (what were previously called modern or metro apps), it will have the advantage of running in the sandbox for those applications, which means it will be more tightly secured by the operating system than a Win32 app that you download and install manually. 

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

Posted
  • Administrators
Posted
  On 17/12/2021 at 02:35, devHead said:

I think the one advantage of installing from the Windows Store is that you will get updates for the app automatically.

Expand  

This is definitely a reason for me, apps no longer prompt to be updated.. it's done automatically via Microsoft Store.

Grand Master

+InsaneNutter MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

The main advantage is apps auto update as others have mentioned.

 

A potential disadvantage is the Windows Store is also full of junk, which is a lot easier to find compared to app stores on Android / iOS.

 

Search "Audacity" for example, pretty sure none of those are the legit program people might be searching for. Certainly with open source stuff it can be harder to identify if you are downloading the genuine version / vs a fork someone is trying to profit from.

 

I mainly use the store for apps not available elsewhere such as Netflix for example.

Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

Posted
  • Administrators
Posted
  On 17/12/2021 at 08:45, InsaneNutter said:

The main advantage is apps auto update as others have mentioned.

 

A potential disadvantage is the Windows Store is also full of junk, which is a lot easier to find compared to app stores on Android / iOS.

 

Search "Audacity" for example, pretty sure none of those are the legit program people might be searching for. Certainly with open source stuff it can be harder to identify if you are downloading the genuine version / vs a fork someone is trying to profit from.

 

I mainly use the store for apps not available elsewhere such as Netflix for example.

Expand  

You can get around that by following the store link from the official Audacity website, just like with VLC :) 

  • +InsaneNutter
  • Like 1
  • 1 month later...
Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

There's a couple big advantages to installing through the store when available.

 

1. it installs as a completely sandboxed package so if you do decide to uninstall later nothing gets left behind unlike traditional installer/uninstaller processes. iTunes is a great example of this.

2. If the dev chooses to then the app can update through the store as well.

3. great for non-technical users so they don't have to navigate to individual sites.

Grand Master

cork1958

Posted
Posted
  On 03/02/2022 at 18:55, OldGuru said:

It is not cause it will keep updating your software and more than often I do not my software to get updated, there is a good reason why I am running certain version. Windows Store is terrible idea for PC.

Expand  

Totally agree. I simply hate things updating without me knowing about it, especially when first turning computer on and waiting for hard drive to quit thrashing around while everything gets checked for updates and installing.

Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

Posted
  • Administrators
Posted
  On 03/02/2022 at 18:55, OldGuru said:

It is not cause it will keep updating your software and more than often I do not my software to get updated, there is a good reason why I am running certain version. Windows Store is terrible idea for PC.

Expand  

I somewhat agree with this now.. Paint.NET (paint dotnet) has been crashing when I open the program from an image right click context menu (Open with...) I even contacted the developer but he can't reproduce it and I suppose no-one else is having that trouble.

 

I've used Paint.NET for years from the Windows 7 days and this is the first time it has been randomly doing this behavior :/ 

Grand Master

Sir Topham Hatt

Posted
  • Author
Posted

But then I also won't get VLC Player telling me there's an update.

Didn't think about the effort it takes to go to the website, download, wait, then install.

 

Maybe certain things I will use Windows Sotre, others not so much.

Grand Master

spaceelf

Posted
Posted
  On 03/02/2022 at 19:34, cork1958 said:

Totally agree. I simply hate things updating without me knowing about it, especially when first turning computer on and waiting for hard drive to quit thrashing around while everything gets checked for updates and installing.

Expand  

people still use hard drives for an OS drive?  damn.  I'm sorry.  :/

 

I use the Store for whatever apps are available on it just to limit the number of updaters I have on my system.  It's still somewhat subpar for games of course, but not as bad as it used to be.

 

Seriously hoping MSIX gains traction also.  I've seen it around more than I used to but not really outside of MS.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Secure wipe your Windows 11 device with this Data Shredder Stick, now 25% off

      By TheGhostPhantom · Posted

      This application is a scam. You can accomplish what this application does for free, if it actually even works which I doubt, with free applications. Do not support scams like this.
    • 2025 finally the Year of Linux? LibreOffice explains "real costs" of Windows 11

      By devHead · Posted

      Frankly, I have found my experience to be the complete opposite from yours. For example, I have a nice, high-end ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card installed - I've had it for 15+ years. Not one single Windows installation from Windows 7 through to 11 has ever detected it. Ever. However, every single Linux distribution has had drivers for it automatically in its kernel. I have never had to install them myself. And the Windows driver issues that plague this card (look up ASUS Xonar screeching) have never existed in Linux. As far as graphics and games and whatnot - I have an AMD Radeon card, so everything runs smooth as butter. Folks who complain and whine about Linux not working because they are using Nvidia cards shouldn't really blame Linux, but Nvidia. But frankly, Nvidia drivers for Linux work much better now. Maybe it's been a few years since you tried out a Linux distribution? I find that Windows, which treated me like a 4-year old with ADHD with all its constant nagging and suggestions everywhere in the apps I would run, was just not for me anymore. I know, Windows is very mature. But to say Linux is in its infancy is simply not true.
    • AMD quietly releases a new budget-friendly AM4 processor with 3D cache

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      5000X3D never supported overclocking https://www.neowin.net/news/of...o-the-ryzen-7-5800x3d-soon/ also the X in Ryzen chips was originally meant to indicate chips that had a higher XFR (eXtended Frequency Range) compared to non-X chips. (now XFR is generally referred to as PBO)
    • 2025 finally the Year of Linux? LibreOffice explains "real costs" of Windows 11

      By Geezy · Posted

      I think this advice is aimed at home users not professionals who can expense another PC. Still, there are web versions.
    • AMD 9800X3D, the best gaming CPU, on sale for just $472 with a free 1TB NVMe SSD

      By hellowalkman · Posted

      AMD 9800X3D, the best gaming CPU, on sale for just $472 with a free 1TB NVMe SSD by Sayan Sen AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor is currently the best gaming CPU in the world, and it is currently up for sale for a great price (purchase link under the specs list below). AMD's main rival in the processor market, Intel, is also having discounts at the moment on the Core i5-14600K and 12600K for less than $200 so have a look at those if you don't have the budget for a 9800X3D. Built on the Zen 5 microarchitecture, AMD's 9000X3D desktop processors including the 9800X3D feature 2nd Gen 3D V-cache. The performance of the processor is top-notch. Neowin reviewed the 9950X3D which is also based on the same architecture and found that the 9000X3D part was consistently ahead of the previous gen 7950X3D in almost everything except efficiency, and we already know how good the 7000 series (Zen 4) was, as it was already beating Intel. The technical specifications of the Ryzen 9800X3D are given below: Architecture: Zen 5 with 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-Cache™ technology Process Technology: TSMC 4nm FinFET manufacturing process Core Count: 8 cores Thread Count: 16 threads Base Clock Frequency: 4.7 GHz Max Boost Clock Frequency: 5.2 GHz Total Cache: 8 MB + 96 MB (L2 + L3) Thermal Design Power (TDP): 120W PCI Express Version: PCIe 5.0 28 lanes (usable: 24) Overclocking: Unlocked for overclocking TjMax: 95 C Platform Socket: AM5 Memory capacity support: max 192 GB DDR5 Memory Speed: 2x1R DDR5-5600, 2x2R DDR5-5600, 4x1R DDR5-3600, 4x2R DDR5-3600 Get the AMD Ryzen 9800X3D below: AMD RYZEN 7 9800X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop Processor: $441.94 (Shipped and Sold by Amazon US) || $472.02 (Shipped and Sold Newegg US + free 1TB Kingston NV3 NVMe SSD) This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the Amazon US deals page here. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Explorer
      Case_f went up a rank
      Explorer
    • Conversation Starter
      Jamie Smith earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • First Post
      NeoToad777 earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      JoeV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      VAT Services in UAE earned a badge
      One Month Later

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      537
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      230
    3. 3
      +Edouard
      154
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      149
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      109
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!