Web-style navigation in a stand-alone application. Why?
.NETTers,
I just started digging into WPF. I am intrigued that a stand-alone application can have a web-like navigation UI. Essentially, you work on a single page and browse back and forth to other pages. I am trying to understand what kind of desktop application, other than the browser itself, can benefit from this paradigm.
I am running Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, MS Project, Visual Studio, SQL Server Management, etc. on my desktop. I am trying to understand the advantage of moving any of these common applications to web-nagivation based UI. In my view, the ease of menu-driven modal dialog boxes is not a replacement for browsing to a new page.
I would imagine Microsoft has done enough computer-human interaction research, not only to make this a functionality within .NET, but also to promote it. I am just intrigued if there are folks out there thinking about developing stand-alone applications that can merit from this paradigm.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Pradeep
