Okay, so maybe the title is not perfectly accurate, but I would like to share an experience I've had regarding RIA that goes contrary to what many Adobe fans and evangelists have told me.

I've heard all Adobe evangelists scream about their 90%+ penetration. And yes, Adobe fans, I am not denying that fact. And I've heard Microsoft evangelists state that Silverlight adoption and installation will become just as high, if not higher.

Now my story has nothing to do with predicting the outcome, but rather relaying what someone told me. I was talking to a non-technical person and as far as I could tell he was not biased about Microsoft. But when I told him I was working on WPF and Silverlight projects, he said, "oh yeah, Silverlight is going to kill Flash, right?" [direct quote]

So is it possible that he is telling what he thinks is going to happen? Maybe. Or is it also possible he was listening to propaganda by pro-Microsoft people and blogs? Could be. He was also irrelevant to the RIA world except as a consumer, so his words might not carry as much weight as one would think. But no matter what, it does goes to show Microsoft's reach to the public, and maybe even their willingness to trust Microsoft over Adobe. Maybe people like him are hoping that Microsoft may be delivering something that would help him better than Flash.

Oh well, that's all pure speculation at this point. I'll just have to ask him to know more. But it was a good example of how RIA is something even the common public is becoming aware of. And of course before some zealot(s) start flaming, let me just state for the record that I have been a long term fan and follower of Macromedia and Flash, and I use and love Flash.

Of course, I use (more) and love (more) WPF and Silverlight, but that's beside the point. :)

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