Lizzie,
I have noticed that you're focusing on Biztalk server as the core of .NET. Because the .NET initiative includes XML based communication and you clearly have a background in workflow applications, I can understand your perspective. In fact, .NET is much broader than Biztalk server. It includes XML-based communications throughout an applications environment from the enterprise to small, network-enabled devices. Biztalk server is part of the initiative, and alone that may look like less than it must be. I'll even assume that your thinking about the recently announced workflow scheduling technology that will be part of BTS.
Together with Visual Studio.NET, the .NET common language runtime, the .NET frameworks, UPnP, automatic XML/SOAP-based object communications, .NET data access, and integration with coming .NET products such as Windows.NET and Office.NET that will make development and use of software simpler, I think .NET is a very compelling initiative backed by a lot of real work and technology.
Of course, we may still disagree. In spite of that, I appreciate the fact that while you clearly express your skepticism, I believe your perspective seems genuine.
Personally, I think that Microsoft finally has a comprehensive strategy. I also believe there is real competition, and they're doing very good work. Some of the companies you mention do use and will likely continue to use Microsoft technologies for some of their solutions. .NET technologies could even make some of them stronger in their own competitive space. Whether or not Microsoft's .NET really has the impact that I believe it can remains to be seen, but we'll all know in a relatively short period of time.
Thanks,
Mike |
