Hi,
It could be cross platform, much like java apps are today. You simply
download the runtime. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that
if we had a KIOSK style EXE, it would be so much more powerful and
faster than todays internet. Assemblies would be downloaded to the
client (Windows, Linux, CellPhone, PocketPC, Car). Instead of having
a GET POST HTTP, you would have a direct connection to the central
server. Most of the processing and rendering could be distributed to
the client.
Download the runtime? There is no supported runtime for other operating
systems -- only mono and whatever the other one is called. They don't
support winforms and never will completely (unless winforms is reorganised
so we don't need p/invoke quite so often).
Also.. you say it would be faster, but your original post implied we would
be downloading an app for each companies "website". This would take quite a
bit longer than just loading html text into a browser (not to mention the
time taken for a winforms app to start). Unless you meant downloading one
app for all companies.. in which case I fail to see the difference from a
browser.
Web sites wouldn't even have to graphical, or text based, they would
become services. Going to checkmycar.com from your car console would
again download assemblies, and run a diagnotic for a fee. I'm sure
this is quite far down the line, but it seems, having an EXE run on
cross platform devices would be the next logical step in harnessing
the power of the net.
Checkmycar sounds like something I'd rather own and be able to run whenever
I'd like.. i.e. a normal app. I see no need for this to be distributed over
the web. All you would be doing is increasing my costs by forcing me to pay
each time I need something (lets not give microsoft too many ideas, okay?).
-- Pete