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>VFP, like Visual dBase is an xbase dialect, with OO extensions.... Like it or not, VFP is considered to be in the xBase market. Source - the Gartner Group. I don't necessarily agree that VFP should be catagorized with xBase tools. However, it is not a matter of how I feel, it is a matter of what *is*...

I give absolutely no weight to the Gartner Group. In my experience they are wrong about 60% of the time. I seem to remember they started the entire VFP is dead issue and we're still here. But then again, it is in their interest to put VFP as a dinosaur so that their "dead" prediction can be true and they can say they correctly called another one.

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>Christof, I am not sure what you are trying to say here. I will say that MS does not, nor will it invest in a market that is not growing, or is not perceived to have any potential to grow. FWIW, MS does invest money in VFP. MS however, will not invest money to the degree that would constitute an attempt to grow the market. For you, I, and every other developer, there is an upside. For MS the corporate entity, and more important, for MS stockholders, which I am one, it is not a good business decision.

Good points, and ones I agree with. Wow! That makes 4.

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>I know I am labeled Mr. Negativity here.. Sometimes however, the truth and reality is very hard to take....
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>I don't see the number of Devcon's as an indicator of market health. If anything, too many devcons have the effect of diluting the market place. I am so sorry I missed the German Devcon this year. I had my shot to speak, but had another committment. I am looking forward to next year. From what I have heard, it is the BEST run show on the planet. With Rainer at the helm, I have no doubt of this.

I think the two big US DevCons will split attendees and neither will have good attendance. Personally, I think the New Orleans DevCon will be better attended simply because of the SQL DevCon going on at the same time.