Following a KISS principle approach, I find it's simpler to just apply all the updates applicable my system so that there is nothing to worry about, especially as 'strictly speaking' you don't know if they are also tweaking, say, some of the networking libraries while updating Safari. You want to always apply the 'system-level' updates at the very least. That ITunes uses QuickTime is an overly simple example.
I would be a little cautious, in that there are some interrelationships/dependencies that may not be immediately obvious unless you know a little about the applications.
The more complex something is the more likely it'll have bugs, etc., so keep the updater simpler, etc.Ībout choosing not to update some things. I suspect this will ultimately be due a variation on the KISS principle. I personally prefer this myself, but that's my call!)Īs others say, the size is apparently due to using full applications. (You are probably best not to do this unless you are the sort of person who monitors the downloads page, etc: part of the point of the update program of course is it does that for you. If you switch it off entirely, the files are easy enough to get from Apple's 'downloads' website: ttp://and you can then install them when you want to. You can schedule the update time, or even switch off the software updates and do it manually if you want to using the 'Software Update' System Preference panel.
