1. It's a "translator" to made Intermediate Language readable by the computer (0101011101)
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_.NET
2. .NET wasn't ready in 2001, release of WinXP(don't really remember, but I guess it's that)
3. it was the challenge to make a professionnal application with a C# language.
4. YES.
Yes, I understand this!
But, you know, some people don't read FAQs...
But it can be confusing, you don't plan to send a nice email to them?
Let me precise that it's an important IT press company website.