As I posted a glowing comment on Silverlight the other day, I took the time to try and learn more about it. And from what I have seen, it is holding up to its promise.
As such, I began to consider the strategic effect of this technology.
Silverlight, currently, from what I have seen, will be the best Rich Internet Application Platform available by a long way.
I consider “Flash/Flex” to “Silverlight” is like comparing, in older development terms, “VB to C++”
VB does a good job, but if your serious you do it in C++.
If you consider Microsoft will have the best Rich Internet Application platform in thw world, with the next competitor a very distent second. What does this technology give Microsoft…
The answer to this is, in my opinion, the next phase of the development of the Internet. True Internet based Applications.. That run just as fast and effective as client side applications.
For example. Imagine a new EXCHANGE client that can run on the web that has just as much speed and functionality as the full blown Outlook2007 client. Silverlight makes this a real possability. However, I cannot see a Flash/Flex application doing this.
Google’s main focus on the future are implementations of such technology.. As Google and Microsoft DNA are comletely incompatible, this puts google at a disatvantage.
However, putting the technology aside, Microsoft and its manopolistic tendancies may sink its own ship. And as seen in many industries. Implementing a new technology that canabalises another is a very difficult line to walk.
This is an interesting show to watch.
