Installing in Program Files vs. Appdata

Question

What are the benefits and downsides of installing an application in the user\'s AppData directory?

I assume that installing in AppData will let users in restricted e

Answer 1

Generally appears that the "Appdata" directory equates to the user software directory someone might notice using Linux systems; hadn't paid too much attention to the shift from Program Files directory installations toward the increasingly popular Appdata folder, but it slowly dawns on me.

Thread is a bit old, but relevant considering that Windows is still pretty active; Program Files installations are mostly for your touchy apps --the ones that you will want a bit more access control over like maintenance and security apps. Your Appdata folder is pretty much any other "user" specific soft like media players, text editors; etc. The "administrator" of a Windows installation will also benefit from using appdata for "normal" software along the same lines as not installing software in the root directory while administering a Linux, Mac or BSD system.