"Why is Ajax getting so much attention when there are so many alternative technologies? Something about Ajax raises it above the rest?"

Esta es la pregunta que mucha gente se hace… y la respuesta podría estar en este articulo donde se valoran las actuales alternativas a ajax. Y porqué AJAX destroza por A o por B a cualquiera de ellos.

XUL: Only compatible with Mozilla browsers.
XALM:Microsoft-only technology. Not implementable on other platforms. Will not be available until Windows Vista is on shelves.
Java Applets:Requires the Sun Java plugin, which many organizations will not allow to be installed on workstations due to security concerns. Applets take a while to load when you first encounter one.
Flash: General distrust from enterprise software developers.Rare skillset required to do development with these components that most corporations do not have.
SVG: Requires proprietary plugins that many firms will not allow users to install. Rare skillset required to do development with these components that most corporations do not have. This language is still somewhat immature and developing.
AJAX: Somewhat complex and can be quirky to do sophisticated development with, although the basic skillset necessary for interacting with components is quite common.

Si estais interesados en descubrir, y sobre todo reflexionar un poco sobre el futuro de la web y las alternativas a ajax, no os lo perdais.