I know, I should've asked here first before I installed it, but a new app I'm using needed .NET to be fully functional, it said.

I usually avoid anything but Express (formerly Critical) Updates, but .NET was only available from the Custom (formerly ?) Updates area. After installing and then having to add the latest security patch just for .NET, things seem OK, but I have a nagging feeling that the computer might be slower. I didn't see any unusual performance hit on Task Manager except for extra memory usage, but there is a conflict with Spybot S&D that I'm working on resolving now.

Any thoughts on .NET? The new app I'm using might not be what I'd hoped, so it could be deleted soon, so no need for .NET after that, I think. Should I keep it around, or is it more trouble than it's worth? Semi-related, at boot and with basic security apps running (Spybot, Spyware Blaster, AVG,) plus a few little utilities, I'm using 280 Mb memory out of 1Gb on board. Does that seem normal? Thanks in advance...