.net - is it good for anything for an average user?

[josephj]

My Win XP install is a bit screwy and I suspect that part of the problem originated in my selecting "optional" .net updates in MS Update.

Is there any reason to accept such optional updates?

What, if anything, does .net do for me as an end user in Windows?  Is it just a developer thing or does it actually impact me?

Can I safely ignore all further optional updates related to .net?

TIA

Joe

[fpirrone]

I believe the .NET libraries are for running applications built with them - remember the MFC stuff, Microsoft Foundation Classes?

[josephj]

Yes.  That's what they are, but what applications are built on them? I.e. what won't work if I don't update them?  I assume some of this stuff is run time libraries, not just development tools.

Joe

[jheart]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/75196-do-i-really-need-ms-net-framework.html

Jerry