Microsoft .NET

Here's the long story. http://www.itwriting.com/dotnet1.php

 

Here's a quote from that article.

 

"What is .NET?

Even within the computer industry, there is confusion over what Microsoft .Net really is. Depending on who you talk to, it seems to be mainly to do with Microsoft storing your personal data online, or else a new language called C Sharp, or else the next version of Windows, or maybe some other new thing. The answer is pretty simple. Microsoft .Net is a brand name, a badge. Like all badges, it can be stuck onto numerous different things. So, we have Windows CE .Net, which is the newest version of Microsoft’s embedded operating system for devices, and Windows .Net Server, which is the next version of the server operating system, still in beta, and the .Net Framework, which is the virtual machine and class library that will replace COM. And there was .Net My Services, the brand name for personalised online services, which is now pretty much dead, or at least awaiting reinvention. In a nutshell, the word ".Net" doesn’t in itself convey any technical information, it merely tells you that it is something new or recent from Microsoft."

 

My impression is that this is a collection of programming technology advancements that may offer some improvements and will likely be incorporated in the next version of Windows, but is currently required only by some optional Microsoft products including MSN Messenger, Hotmail, and others.

Page ten of the article offers a summary of current Microsoft weaknesses addressed by .NET and competition with open-source technology.

 

GM

This is the biggest piece of techno-babble I have ever tried to read.  Although I am still not completely sure what .NET, even though I have used parts of it at various times.  The C# programming language can access it features, but it is actually language neutral, which means its features can be accessed by any language, except stqandard Java.  The .NET framework is also part of it.  One goal of the .NET Framework is replaces the standard run-time libraries,  which high securities ones, thereby increasing overall system protection.    

http://www.microsoft.com/Net/Basics.aspx

 

There was talk of .NET being incorporated into the next version of Windows, however with the recent scaling back of planned components, it's hard to say what will and will not be included.  As far as I'm aware, installation is completely optional (and completely unnecessary, unless you're a developer working in a related field) with one notable exception, as applies to Dell systems: In the case of the Dimension 4550 (and possibly other similar models) and Windows XP, it's required in order to properly install Dell Support 2.0.  Given the relative worthlessness of that particular item, I generally just skip both .NET and Dell Support 2.0, and so far, I don't feel I've been missing anything.

 

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1072161