Automating Software Updates

Question

Is there a way to automate Software Updates?
I've finally switched my immediate relatives to Macs. But every time I visit, the operating system and other applications require several updates. Training them to manually run Software Updates is not an option.
KB HT1338 states that "Mac OS X 10.5 and later allows you set Software Update to download important updates automatically. You will be notified when the updates are ready to be installed." I have this option checked on their iMac ("Download important updates automatically -- you will be notified when the updates are ready to be installed"), but have never seen any type of notification when I'm visiting their homes.
The only time their iMacs get updated is during my occasional visits. Because I set up their primary user accounts to not log in as administrator, I am prompted several times to enter the administrator username and password. I cannot simply start Software Updates and leave. By the time I'm doing this for them, it often takes an hour to download and install all of the updates.
Whatever the numerous flaws of Windows, the automatic updates feature is not one of them. It is intuitive and easy to configure (at least for me), and has worked on every Windows PC I have set up.
Thanks.
PS - re KB HT1338, I have never received any notification about downloads being ready to install on my MacBook, either. Looking at it now, Software Updates --> Scheduled Check says that the last check was on August 25, 2008 -- over two months ago. This may be because I often apply updates when I read about them, and don't wait to be notified by Software Updates.
Message was edited by: Robert Racansky

Answer 1

nerowolfe wrote:
One simple solution, but not the one you are asking about directly, is to update their computers remotely using desktop sharing or if you are all subscribed to MobileMe, through Back to My Mac.
None of us are subscribed to MobileMe.
I've considered Remote Desktop, but can't really justify spending several hundred dollars
nerowolfe wrote:
Automatic software updates will install in a non-admin account, but it requires the user to enter the admin name and password.
That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I can't depend on the end users to do this.
What I want is something that I have to configure once, and then doesn't require any user (or administrator) intervention after that.