This is a key point! As web applications become more commonplace, good JavaScript performance becomes very important.

Microsoft must be afraid of the shift to web application development, because it threatens the dominance of Windows on the desktop. If business applications can be run on the web, corporations don't need to run Windows; just something that gives users a web browser. Think of Google Apps and its threat to Microsoft Office (especially Microsoft Exchange).

• Google Apps is a danger to Microsoft Office.
• Firefox/Chrome/Opera (fast javascript) is a danger to Microsoft Windows.

You see, it's in Microsoft's best interest to keep IE's JavaScript slow. As a part of this, they need to scare people away from any browser with faster JavaScript performance. If they slip on this and let their customers stray from Microsoft IE, they could loose a lot more than just browser market share.

Well, I graduated last spring with a Science degree in Computer Science with Mathematics. I started my job search in my last year of university (Oct 2004), and when I graduated in June 2005 I still did not have any job leads. I finally got hired in September 2005 at a software company as a tech support person. It is a very difficult job: either it's stressful or completely boring. The shifts are 12-hour rotating shifts (that means you work for a couple days on and get a couple of days off, and your hours are from 8am-8pm or 8pm to 8am).

It was extremely difficult for me to find any entry-level job. There are almost no junior programming jobs out there. Most all job postings require lots of specific technical skills, and they usually require 5+ years of experience in those skills.

Upon graduation, the jobs you'll most likely find are technical support-type jobs. Some might be OK, but other ones are just burn-out jobs. Watch out! My employer has had lots of problems retaining tech support people. The last guy quit after only 5 weeks, and the guy before him lasted 3 months. And I'm told that there have been several people before them who quit early too. They couldn't take the pressure or the night shifts.

And right now, I'm struggling to keep my sanity too. I'm really having to make tough decisions about what to do with my first career.

I went into technology because I really like it. I like learning stuff and applying it, and I like problem-solving. That's what's keeping me going right now. It is definately not the glamorous career field it was when I first entered university.

I never really considered other careers outside of IT. But now I am starting to consider them. Just because I want to enjoy spending time with my family. Maybe do some fun hobbies on the side. I'm starting to realize that it may be difficult for me to do those things if I'm working in high tech.