Quote: "The whole "code behind page" washes over me too as I've always favoured seperate HTML template files using placeholders for dynamic content & a quick String Replace to add the content in as this works nicely for Perl and ASP. "
It's not a problem, you can have that running as well as code-behind, so you can mix see fit.
Quote: "In the case of ASP.NET, isn't it true it doesn't work without javascript turned on (for the postback function)? I for one make a habit of web browsing without Javascript because of malicious code & pop ups."
Hmmm, kinda, put when you create controls on the page, some of the JavaScript functionality is automatically created anyway.
Quote: "The viewstate variable can get very long indeed. Isn't it rather unoptimal to pass a large string like that just to track a few simple variables?"
Yes, this is true, it can get huge, but having used .net for 3 years now, I've NEVER seen a page that is over 56K in size, which, would download in a second on a 56kbps modem.
Quote: "By using Server Controls you put extra strain on bandwidth, reloading that viewstate again, sometimes to do a trivial task such a highlighting a row in a data grid object. Again this seems unoptimal to me"
Well this is where the JAvaScript would come in that is created automatically. If you were to do things properly, and of course, if optimisation was a priority, you'd simple use...
DataGrid1.Attributes.Add("OnMouseOver","this.background='#FF00FF#")
Simple...!
Quote: "When you say, write once, run anywhere, you do mean anywhere as long as its Windows, right? (server side)"
True, the servers we use at work are simply Win2K servers with the framework installed, NOT, .Net Studio.
But, we've had the 'programs' running on PC's, Macs, even my P800 can view the pages...!
Quote: "As you can probably tell, my current impression of ASP.NET (in particular) is that its kinda bloatware for the web. It might make it easier and faster to write in the first instance but it has to be right, or people will not like it, particularly those not fortunate enough to have broadband."
Very true, but one EXCELLENT thing I've noticed is that no one is saying this is the best, or this is the worst. It's been a very sensible argument/discussion and a lot of people have given feedback on why and won'ts, do's and don'ts.
Like a few have mentioned, it's what you feel comfortable with. For my work, I'd never use anything else, but for my game creation, obviously I'd stick with something that I can have more power over and more dictatorship.
HTH
~ J ~