With .NET once an API is published it's available to all programming languages at the same time.

Not to go too far, but Microsoft is probably used by most people out there

The software patent problem is not limited to Mono. Software patents affect everyone writing software today.

I was interested in Java the beginning, but the problem with Java is you do have to switch your platform.

Some scientists use TeX or LatEX but for most people Word is the thing that writers use these days.

With .NET once an API is published it's available to all programming languages at the same time.

When it comes to .NET they've done a really outstanding job.