Fat client nirvana
Microsoft's key message, as articulated by one of the developer tool product managers, who did a demo during Gates' presentation, stated succinctly Microsoft's high-level view: The best possible user experience will occur when using a rich client.
"We're at a very key transition point," Gates told the Comdex audience. "There will be lots of different devices, but a new software model based on XML."
This software model, which Gates called software-to-software, representing a departure from client-server, centralized, and point-to-point computing models, is Microsoft's latest attempt to explain its .Net computing initiative.
"For the first time, the browser model is really showing its age," Gates claimed. "We need development tools and standards to take it to another level."
Gates revealed that Microsoft released beta one of Visual Studio .Net development suite on Friday, and began shipping discs to 10,000 developers. Gates also put Office 10 beta 2 through its paces for the Comdex audience. Visual Studio .Net and Office 10 are both due to ship next year.
