>>Having these kinds of requirements may eliminate some potential customers, >>but to those small headaches, I say good riddance!!

I'm happy for you... unfortunally is a common problem when is necesary a broad deployment ;(. Anyaway, have 512 RAM 2 G procesor 80GB DD NOT NECESARY traslate to good performance: Maybe the computer need other software, or is bloatec (remember that i put this in the context of uncontroled deployment, i don't know if the customer have zillons of games and shareware app and how tell to him that not can use other software that chosee????). So, is not hard find that a computer have half or less of the computer power. That is a problem if the app is intensive....I found this situations and i see that .NET in that environment perform bad (and impossible tell to the customer buy other new computer)

That its, is necesary put in balance the cost/oportunity for the new system.. For my, put .NET cause a problem for a lot of potential/actual customers, that its, maybe is possible sell the value of .NET (but how???) but that value if is bundled with a FORCED upgrade put out a lot of customers.

For other, put .NET have a value, maybe short development, powerfull API or maybe the product ship in 1-3 years so is a safe bet start now.

My whole point is not ignoring the cost factor, and in the context of this thread (about .NET cause concerns?) is important.

-sarcams on-
For me, i dream that all of my customers have installed WinXP PRO (not home) with 2GB of RAm, 2-4 procesors, 128 MB Graphics card and not have problems downloading 2-3 hours from Windows Update when necesary (a lot of complains about Windows Update: For install .NET you need install other things...) with broadband connection and that... And please, not need reinstall OS and go this route again!

I want that system too !!!
-off-