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"Microsoft is spinning [.Net] as innovative new platform but what they're really doing is giving developers an updated set of handcuffs." These are the words of Madhu Siddalingaiah.

Considering the architecture to definitely have "a '90s flavor" he considers its role for distributed computing. While conceding that there are improvements for Windows programmers, he adds: "Most of the .NET platform is aimed at improving the productivity of existing Windows-only programmers. Essentially, .NET is an effort to help traditional Visual C++ and Visual Basic programmers catch up with the times."<

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The main thrust of the piece is that the new platform is an attempt to steal Java's thunder. Similarities are drawn between ASP+ and JSP and the new C# language and Java.

There is even a dig at Microsoft's attempts to put C# through an official standardisation process. Those who can recall Sun's recent dealings with the IT standards body ECMA over Java may smile wryly. (Sun put its language forward for independent standardisation, but after more than a year of work, and to the frustration of the language experts involved, Sun changed its mind and pulled out of the process, not wishing to relinquish full control.)

Nonetheless, the piece is an interesting read and refresher on .Net and the Java platform. You can read it for yourself here.