Why are the Mac OSX updates so big in size?

i just bought a MBP and i have to download a 700mb update for OSX..that's not counting the software that came with the computer that i am not updating..?? Can anyone tell me if the updates are always this big?

Depends when the last update was done, was it second hand or new? Updates arn't usually that big really, Apple is quite good because unlike windows and the like, they don't list every update available they put it all into one category update to keep your computer happy and healty (i.e security update)

- Simon

Brand Spankin New my friend lol...i ran the software update, and there was a huge one.....

Updates from 10.6.0 - 10.6.1, .2, .3, .4 etc. are all going to be large, as too are iLife, iWork, and programs of like. Most other updates are going to be relatively small. If you go to Apple and look at the updates, you can see what is in the package.
iTunes 10.0.1 is about 80 MB, where as OS X 10.6.4 combo update is 887 MB.
Just depends on what you are updating

well i am on limited bandwidth here at my location, so i am trying to do as little as possible...i do not use the other software hardly at all anyways!!

System updates (usually the big ones file-size-wise) can easily be big depending on what they are trying to fix, support plug etc etc

- Simon