ASP.NET is the programming technology for the networked world.
Programming today is starting to assume that you are connected with another computer, usually over the Internet. Understanding of programming without understanding how to work with servers over a network is, well ... less than half of what you really need.
ASP.NET is a new door into a new world of software development. If you're someone who has been working on their own and programming from a "standalone" point of view, it's you and your computer, pure and simple. But networking makes literally anyone in the world your partner in computing. And the world has become networked.
Unfortunately, programming for a network based system is inherently filled with new, more difficult technology problems. At a minimum, you have to write two interacting programs - not just one - even if both run on the same computer. And you usually have to understand several interacting technologies too. HTML, DHTML and web forms, ADO or JET with SQL Server, MSDE, or Access, IIS, and others - in addition to a great programming language like Visual Basic. For this reason, most books and tutorials assume at least a foundation of programming skill, and this one does too.
