Re:new? (Score 1)

Its a common language runtime instead of Java lanaguage runtime. (Yes, I know anything can compile to Java byte-code, but that doesn't mean it was intended or is best suited for it). That's A Big Deal. It's a well rounded runtime that is well designed and effective and its language neutral-ish (not perfect, but pretty good). That's what .NET does that Java doesn't. Java = Syntax, Runtime, Library. .NET = runtime.

I have to disagree with you in a few things
The syntax is not completely unified in .net, take managed c++ for example, it really different from vb.net syntax, what is neutral is the objects provided by the runtime but there is a lot of language specific things
On the other hand, you refer to libary for java if you mean external libraries .net has them too, they're called assemblies and in the end c#,vb.net,etc are just a layer on top of the real language wich is msil (Microsoft Intermediate Language), i could write a few laguanjes that could be interpreted and converted into java source and then compiled into a runnable format and i will have a cross language cross platform software developing platform

Well at least that's my opinion, i use C# everyday somethings are good, some don't it's not as innovative as i would have expected considering is almost a clone of java in some aspects.