Is the desktop .Net's secret weapon?
ZDNet | at | by Mike
People don't think of Windows Server as an application server, even though that's what it is: It provides a platform for application development, where programmers can build, deploy, and share the functionality of reusable software components. And like BEA WebLogic, IBM WebSphere, Oracle 9iAS, Sun iPlanet, and so on, Microsoft's application server is complemented by an integration server (BizTalk), a portal server (SharePoint), and an integrated application development environment (Visual Studio). In particular, I think, Microsoft covets the central position that J2EE app server vendors also seek: the de facto platform for application integration in the enterprise.
The most obvious difference from the rest of the pack is that Microsoft's application server is an inseparable part of the operating system. But there's something else that distinguishes Redmond's offering: a productivity suite on every enterprise desktop. And that, I think, puts .Net in a unique position to create a fully connected enterprise.