I just browsed through Microsoft’s download pages to find a .NET Framework install needed for FlashDevelop when I came across this page asking me if I would like to try their shiny new Silverlight-boosted download area. Of course I was curious, so I happily OK’ed the installation link for the Silverlight and waited for my first encounter with MS’ answer to Flash.
Now, why in the world MS would like to be a latecomer in this game in the first place is beyond me, but why even bother to turn up at the table with anything less than at least a decent hand. First, *MS* Internet Explorer crashed upon completion of the installer. When I fired it up again and went back to their much proclaimed download site, the first thing I got was this pucker:
Then, after dismissing that dialog I proceeded to click the link that said “Downloads and Trials”, to which the Silverlight application responded with this blank screen:
After a few clicks here and there I managed to land at the correct place to browse for the .NET Framework 2.0 download, but browsing was sluggish and sometimes irresponsive.Come on MS - this is supposed to be a showcase of your great Flash competitor, nothing here is new, nothing here is better and there’s a long way between this and to improve the Download Center experience and make it easier to discover and download Microsoft software a you put it. This is kind of like going up to Ronnie James Dio on stage and saying “Look, I’ve made this song called Holy Diver, and now I want your fame”.
Needless to say Silverlight ain’t scaring me yet.
