.net?

[Theinfamousone]

Anyone know if it's a good idea to install .NET? I've *heard* people say it's Microsoft's way of taking over the Internet.

[overdo]

from what i remember reading i don't think there is any point installing .net unless u r thinking of programming something. best bet is to go read about it on the MS site.

[zaphodiv]

Some programs need the dotnet runtime libraries to be installed on the computer. Itas about a 20MB download.

I'v put it on an unimportant machine and nothing horrible happened.

There have been a trickle of reports of the install failing, probably on machine with a ton of other software installed.

From an end user point of view I consider it to be similar to MS outlook, ie old versions have holes which will give up control of your computer and there are guaranteed to be new holes found.

The big picture is that the dotnet language and runtimes are an attempt to replace java with somthing that will only ever work properly on windows.

In theory dotnet programs could be run on other operating systems, in practise there will not be a stable linux VM for years, if ever.

[aqlo]

zaphod's got it right, essentially there's nothing wrong with it but there's nothing right either. Some people have also messed up their java install working with it, making things like freenet and irc stop working for them suddenly in an annoying way.

[nasrules]

its fine............mostly. i installed it for some app that needed it and when i uninstalled my comp went dodgy! so i reinstalled it an its fine now. if u can avoid it, do. its yet another thing to go wrong. otherwise, it should be ok.