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Jon Rauschenberger's blog
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Hate is a Strong Word

Some people have the opinion that I don't like Web apps.  I'm not sure where they got that idea, but it might have something to do with this.

The truth is I do like Web apps.  I use them all the time...sometimes even by choice.  For example, I use SQL Server Reporting Services quite a bit and it does exactly what I need.  I love the broad reach that solutions built with Reporting Services provide and in all honesty the User Experience the tool provides is actually quite good for what it is (i.e. a reporting engine).  There are plenty of other examples where Web apps are the right fit and the technologies that are being branded as 'Web 2.0' are expanding that category of apps quite a bit.

Interestingly, there seem to be a lot of people that think technologies like AJAX are a threat to Microsoft.  Their argument is typically focused on two points:
  • AJAX apps are SO good that they make desktop apps obsolete.
  • Microsoft doesn't GET Web development
The first point is...well...just kind of silly.  Yes, AJAX apps are better than non-AJAX apps, but they still can't do things that a desktop app can and they never will (in my opinion).  The second point is more interesting to me.  Personally, I think that Microsoft has delivered the best Web application development and deployment platform since the day ASP.NET was released.  With ASP.NET Microsoft leapfrogged the competition and no one has been able to catch them since.

So, what's the point of this post?  Well, I am going to attend the MIX conference next month to learn more about where Microsoft is going with their Web development tools.  I've seen bits and pieces of what they have planned for the next gen of their tools, but it should be interesting to see where they are going with the tools. 

I also wanted to dispel the rumors that I hate Web apps...that's simply not the case...I just don't love them as much as I love desktop apps.


Posted: Feb 09 2006, 11:22 PM by jrausch | with no comments
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