>Don't forget, VB.NET and C# are what merchants call a "loss leader".
>
>A "loss leader" is something a merchant "gives away" so you will come to their store and buy the other "expensive" accessories that are require for the same circumstance the "loss leader" product is.
>
>For example, stores discount disposable diapers with the hope that when you come to purchase the "diapers", you will also buy the high marging products like baby formula and baby food.
>
>VB and C# are MS "loss leaders". The intent is to "almost" give them away and relying on the "unreliability" or "awkwardness" of an MDB or text files (free file systems) so that the customer will by expensive windows servers and SQL Server licenses.
>
>With VFP, the customer does not need to buy a SQL/Server license and all the "lifetime" expenses associated with those products.
>
>MS's subliminal marketing against VFP attempts to lure those on fringes of objectivity to buy into MS "vision" of falsly perpetuated image issues with VFP. The 90% of the market that does not need SQL / Server products that buy into this "vision" propaganda (fear sells!) from MS would be called "suckers" in "older" times.
>
>I also note that Graig called VB and C# RAD tools. That seems strange of the face of it noting problems that Quay is having converting an existing (and usable) VFP application to MS's "vision" product line. If they are RAD, the project should have been completetd by now. I also know of other projects in similar "trouble".
>
>JavaScript will do all that you can do with VB.NET or C# - and that is what most of the world is using. It's free and it works on LINUX and MAC and WIN systems.


JavaScript??? Are you sure you do not mean Java? There is a big difference between JavaScrip and Java. If you still mean JavaScript, then I can very easily find one thing that you cant do with JavaScript: build an EXE :)

.NET is free!!!! you can download the SDK and start developing apps using notepad and compiling your code through the command window. What isn't free is VS.NET (although M$ is giving out a free version for one year).

Maybe 90% of the market does not need the full and expensive version of M$SQL Server, but for that 90% of the market M$ is giving away MSDE/SSE. There are also a dozen (or more) other database servers available for free.

Einar