While you're at it, let's talk community. The difference between the OSS and Windows developer community is striking. On one side, you have passionate Rubyists

While you're at it, let's talk community. The difference between the OSS and Windows developer community is striking. On one side, you have passionate Rubyists going on and on about how Ruby, Gems, etc are all so great. The same for Python and Node.js. These guys also code in their spare time and are active on GitHub. On the other side, you have the stereotypical .NET programmer who only codes from 9-5 making boring "enterprise" LOB software and only uses technology from MS. You know them, the programmers who only started using jQuery because it now comes bundled with ASP.NET. Programmers who probably can't even create a .NET project from scratch and build on the command line, but rely on the voodoo magic of File->New->Project and Build->Build Solution (F6) in Visual Studio. Does MS really want to woo these developers? It is not impossible to be creative using the .Net stack: http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/blog http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/blog From this post I gauge that you're approaching .Net from a overly webbish perspective. .Net is more than that. From a computer science perspective, it is so beautiful, Linq is so sweet - I feel like hitting Java with a stick now. Also, here is what you can do with the .Net stack: -> Netduino (using the .Net micro framework) -> Apps on win -> A full-feature ML dialect with a very solid vm. -> Script# is a c# to js compiler so you can create js in vs. -> WP7 -> Robotics studio Also, express editions of VS are free. You don't need to shell out $550 if you want to get started coding - this is a myth that IMO needs a solid myth-busting. Also, the lineup of badass devices that you can code for using this stack is bigger than anything out on the market - Kinect for instance - nobody even in the near future can potentially produce a competing device and if you want to base a startup around ruling the living room, I think the kinect should factor in - everyone I see using it is blown away when they are able to say "xbox pause" and get their netflix to pause. Edit : formatting