AJAX -- What's the big deal?

I just don’t get it. People all are all excited about this “new” AJAX style of programming. Whopty-do… This isn’t new, folks. Outlook Web Access has been using this style of programming to enrich client side web expriences since 1998, or so.

Now, if you want to see something inovative, check out what Microsoft is doing with the Atlas Project. Finally, an easier to use system with a platform approach. Previous to this, AJAX is just a metaphor for a style of programming, not a platform itself.