.NET and downloadable applications

[Mike]

Does anyone know if .NET client apps are a viable solution for mainstream
downloadable (shareware, try&buy, etc.) applications? Basically, I'm
wondering if the download time of the .net re-dist would be a
stumbling-block for modem users. Are there any stats on what percentage of
machines (a) have the proper hw/sw pre-reqs to run the framework, and (b)
have it already installed as part of the os or previously installed apps or
OS updates? Is there a more fine-grained installation approach??

thanks

[Dino Chiesa [MSFT]]

I think there are something like 200MM PCs sold every year. Some large
portion of that number come pre-installed with Windows - and these days that
means Windows XP .

Windows XP, when it originally shipped, did not include the .NET Framework,
because Windows shipped before the .NET Framework. But, later, most large
OEMs began slip-streaming the .NET Framework into their Windows builds. I
believe more than half of OEM Windows installs include the .NET Framework
today. In other words when you buy a machine at your local retailer, and it
is pre-installed with Windows, it likely includes the .NET Framework.

But, that still leaves a large body of machines from 2002 and earlier that
might need the 20mb download.

There is no "fine grained" install approach for the .NET runtime. It's a
20mb install.
Period. There's no way to subset it.

-Dino


"Mike" <vi********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:eM**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Does anyone know if .NET client apps are a viable solution for mainstream
downloadable (shareware, try&buy, etc.) applications? Basically, I'm
wondering if the download time of the .net re-dist would be a
stumbling-block for modem users. Are there any stats on what percentage of machines (a) have the proper hw/sw pre-reqs to run the framework, and (b)
have it already installed as part of the os or previously installed apps or OS updates? Is there a more fine-grained installation approach??

thanks