I think the .NET Framework is common standard - or at least should be. Many small and tasty freeware progs use it, and more and more classy payware stuff requires it too.

This thingy makes life so much easier for programmers, especially in the game community where games require lots of freeware tools to addon the games (e.g. like FSX, Civ4 or IL2).

But well, it also should be common standard to NOT use Internet Explorer, but nevertheless people keep using the viral explorer, though every once in a while there is another report on a giant security hole discovered...while alternatives like FF or Opera offer more in a more comfortable way with FAR less security problems, but understanding mankind is impossible :D

I highly suggest you use .NET . If people don't have it, they just should download it. Earlier or later everyone more active on computers needs it anyway. Just include some nice links and directives to the microsoft page where to get them