Microsoft's new wonder product
Silverlight looks set to take the web by storm - at some point. But when will we be able to start rolling out websites making use of it?
The software is ready for us - with the launch of Silverlight 2 designers and developers on the .NET Framework can work effectively in producing stunning looking websites and applications - but until user's browsers have Silverlight installed we're all going to continue to hold off using it in any significant way.
I spotted a recent optional Microsoft Update included the product which will boost the usage and Silverlight comes with a really nice 'install now' option, which works quickly. But do you want to be the one that does it (potentially scaring off users)?
Flash has always had the same issue and there was no stopping development of websites using flash in part, if not entirely. But we're all much more sophisticated now. As users, we know we don't want to install things. We can't trust websites that need to install plug-ins, can we? It will inevitably be a major part of the web in the future. However for now, I think we have to restrict our use to it playing a bit-part role online and allowing ourselves to use it more widely in more controlled environments (such as Intranets).
Labels: .net framework, asp.net, flash, silverlight