The equivalente to setup.exe exists. Did You yet forget how StarOffice installs ? All the bin files Yu download for program installation just requires that : writing the file in a console or clicking on it in a file manager and the result is exactly the same as with setup or install. exe. Neither You will pretend that clicking on a rpm file in a file manager withoin XWindows is more complicated that doing it on an .exe file in Windows. Just take those two kinds of install (in fact sd add the Bourne Shell sh XXXX.sh or ./XXXX.sh to the list) and IN YOUR DISTRO You meet 100% of the cases. Y're comparing the not comparable : the cases when You have to compile are just the cases when You want to implement a more advanced version of a determined program that the current one on the ftp site of Yr distro. Since when can Yu do that with M$$$ ? Every two weeks going to the M$ web and getting the stuff for free ? FOR FREE ????????? The real updates from M$ Yu have to pay for it, and they don't come bringing progress every two weeks or so. If, nevertheless, You just want to be more or less up-to-date, Yu just have to visit the ftp of Yr distro and download the updated files (no the last, very last version, but neither old) : those EVER YET come in the rpm form. Is really clicking on a rpm file within KDE or GNOME more difficult than installing a file within Window$$$$$$ ?