Coverage of .net amongst home users

[Matt]

Hi,

I'm looking to put a CD together with a small application that runs
straight from the disk without a separate install. I would like to use
C#.

How many Windows users can be expected to have .net these days? Was it
included mandatorily in any service packs or updates? Which version
should I target if any?

The posts I can find on this are quite old so I thought it was best to
ask the question again.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Michael Nemtsev]

Hello Matt,

M> I'm looking to put a CD together with a small application that runs
M> straight from the disk without a separate install. I would like to
M> use C#.
M>
M> How many Windows users can be expected to have .net these days? Was
M> it included mandatorily in any service packs or updates?

It's hard to tell exactly, it can vary depending on the target group. Win
Developers for example in general have the latest updates and tools, but
home users may have no .net at all.

BTW, .net started with windows shipping (Server R2) only a year ago, and
for other windows .NET is distributed as update (which not always can be
installed)


M> Which version should I target if any?

Which suites you the best

M> The posts I can find on this are quite old so I thought it was best
M> to ask the question again.
---
WBR,
Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP] :: blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour

"At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not
cease to be insipid." (c) Friedrich Nietzsch

 

[PS]

Hi,

I'm looking to put a CD together with a small application that runs
straight from the disk without a separate install. I would like to use
C#.

How many Windows users can be expected to have .net these days? Was it
included mandatorily in any service packs or updates? Which version
should I target if any?

The posts I can find on this are quite old so I thought it was best to
ask the question again.

This is a common question and the best answer is "not 100%". So this means
that if you have an application that requires the .Net framework then you
will definitely have users where the framework will need to be installed.
It's pretty much going to be luck of the draw because any figure like "67%
of Windows XP machines have .Net 1.1 framework installed" means nothing when
by chance 98% of the people installing your application happen to be in the
33% that don't have the framework installed. So without sounding harsh
either 1) handle the installation when the .Net framework is not installed
or 2) use another development environment.

PS