>>>What's the point of learning the newest version of VFP (or .NET or any new thing
>>>that Microsoft produces for developers) when they are ALSO selling Microsoft
>>>Dynamics (used to be Great Plains Software).
>>>
>>>With one hand they're developing all of these tools that are supposed to be
>>>good for independent software developers and publishers. On the other hand
>>>they're competing with us and selling products that directly undercut what
>>>we do for a living.
>>>
>>>Not to mention the fact that they like to hire cheap 3rd world labor in order
>>>to find new scabs who are willing to take all of our jobs...
>>>
>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>I think they've screwed all of their friends and supporters one too many times.
>>>I don't see any reason to support them.
>>
>>While I don't agree with all their practices, well, their business is to sell software. Sooner or later there is bound to be some conflict. Another conflict is between their sales of OS, and of application software (MS Office).
>>
>>I think their software will never cover the entire market; there will always be room for some application one of us produces.
>
>Especialy if you check the system requrenments of their software :-)

Yes, but that's a temporary thing. In not too many years monster PCs will be cheap cheap cheap.

But I still say that Microsoft has another trick up its sleeve to eliminate "programming" altogether... smart Word/Excel documents internally linked to SQL Server. I thought it would be here by now, but give it no more than 5 years to happen yet.

cheers