InfoWorld: Microsoft .Net report card: February 27, 2004: By Jon Udell: Application Development:
Another setback was self-inflicted. When Microsoft removed the .Net label from its enterprise servers in 2003 and reasserted the Windows brand over that of .Net, the move raised questions about .Net's near-term longevity. Nobody should have expected that a sweeping transition to .Net could be achieved in just a few years, nor should it be surprising that much of the consolidation around managed code promised for 2003 is now scheduled for Longhorn in 2006 or later.
I would think that the common person does not realize or understand the significance of the word .Net. They do realize however the significance of Microsoft Windows. Hence, Microsofts backpedaling away from .Net and towards established brand names. .Net on the other hand was left for the developers. And it is very much alive and kicking. From what I have seen and read it seems .Net is becoming an integral part of the Windows operating system. The normal user just needs to know that Windows is the Microsoft Operating system. But the developers who dont know, will soon find out that most of the code in the new operating system will be running under .Net as managed code. It makes sense, because the code will be a lot more cleaner, safer and secure. It will be managed code.
