>>>>So. I've been checkin' some things out.
>>>>
>>>>Am I correct in understanding that there will be no more VFP versions?
>>>>
>>>>Accepting this, here's what I've found out.
>>>>
>>>>The whole VFP thing, will probably never happen again. What this unassuming little product can do beats the socks off of anything you can throw at me. Java with Neatbeans or Eclipse? VS.NET?
>>>>
>>>>Doesn't matter. What VFP can do for the price you pay will never be beat.
>>>>
>>>>Even the free stuff.
>>>>
>>>>Raise your hand if you've used Open Source software and had a better experience than what you've paid for. I'd be surprised if that's not everybody.
>>>>
>>>>But here's the thing. There is going to be no more VFP versions (unless I'm wrong). So what's up?
>>>>
>>>>The answer, as far as I can tell, is PHP and MySql.
>>>>
>>>>If you have some thoughts on this subject, I encourage you to share them.
>>>
>>>Your key words: better experience than what you've paid for. :o) If you don't pay anything for the tool, that's not difficult to accomplish :o)
>>
>>It depends. Linux has cost me well over 100 hours of my time fighting with it. My results - Each box I fought with Linux on now runs a Windows server version because it is so much easier to deal with and is documented far, far better.
>
>It's worth pointing out, though, that companies are increasingly using open source servers like Apache rather than Windows Server. Same with MySql. A whole new generation has come into our business in the last 10 years or so that is not nearly as brand name driven as ours, for lack of a better phrase. For a long time is was IBM. Then it became, and to an extent still is, Microsoft. Some are wondering if Google may be ready to take that role. I get the sense these new guys (and gals) don't look at it that way, are more willing to jump around. That is the kind of world they have grown up in, everything fast paced and constantly changing.

Sure. If they are large enough to absorb the implementation and training costs or offset them against Microsoft client license costs (if thay can legally) then they can benefit from Open Source, or if there is some function that Open source can fulfill that Microsoft or some other brick and mortar vendor can not do better then they can benefit.

For me, spending 100+ hours + $$ on books just trying to get an Ubuntu server to handle print and filesharing (and failing) was ludicrous. My time is valuable. A few clicks on a Windows server and this is done.