The Silverlight Download Marathon

Today Microsoft released Silverlight 1.0 (final version), which isn't that spectacular since the version we need is actually Silverlight 1.1 (coming out later).But, since I am "fiddling" with Silverlight I immediately went to download the latest version - and that turn out to be a bit of a marathon.

I started out on the MSDN page - and clicked on the link "Download the final release of Silverlight 1.0"

I kind of expected then to be taken directly to the download page. I wasn't - instead I ended up on a generic Silverlight download page. So I clicked on the download link "Silverlight 1.0" again assuming that I would now be able to download the product.

I wasn't.

Now I was taken what appeared to be the final download page, where I could choose between a Windows and a Mac version (BTW: Linux is coming later).

With strong anticipation that this would the last click, I clicked on "Download Silverlight 1.0 for Windows"

...and ended up on the public Silverlight site, where I could again choose between either a Windows or a Mac version... At this point a small but annoyed sound came out trough my teeth. I quickly click on the Windows icon - assuming that meant "Download"

...and the page did nothing but refresh itself and display the exact same page - just with a different background color (notice the URL change). WTH?

Out of pure devotion and dedication to Microsoft Silverlight I click the link one more time - instead of just leaving the site while saying "the hell with it!" like everyone else would have done at this stage.

I was immediately awarded with a new download page - taunting me with a button saying "Install Now" - YES DAMMIT!!! - you should have installed "NOW" 6 pages ago.

It worked. Finally after a marathon of pages, clicks, frustrations, anger and a number of other emotions - I now have Silverlight 1.0 on my computer.

There are a number of important lessons to be learned here:

1. Never - EVER - make a link that doesn't take you where it says it will
2. Never create multiple pages that does the same thing
3. Focus on 1-click satisfaction. Give people what they need from the start.

Like this:

• » Download Silverlight 1.0

You do not actually need to choose operating system because the link above auto-detects your OS and downloads the right version automatically.