Weblications (Google) or Smart Clients (Microsoft)?
Could Ajax Wash Away Smart Clients? Well... "XMLHttpRequest is an API that belongs to Microsoft and is not part of the JavaScript standard. Given that Microsoft is NOT interested in open web-based standards becoming more powerful, there is a risk that the next version of IE will break XMLHttpRequest in a subtle or perhaps, not-so-subtle way." -Flash RIAs vs. Javascript RIAs