>You're probably right - however I do like the idea of a truly compiled app and I assume Delphi is more OO than VB so presumably that should help ?

I don't think you will see any speed advantage in an OO systems as opposed to a non-OO system. And VB does support inheritance (interface), but it is different than VFPs (implementation). This is going to change though in the next version of each product, where VFP adds interface inheritance and VB add implementation inheritance. But really, OO main benefit is reuse of code and, not speed.

>Is VB substantially faster at form instantiation than VFP ? How does VB compare with Delphi ?

I believe so VB forms are faster than VFPs, due to the fact that VFP does not support native controls, such as command buttons, text boxes, etc. In VFP, those objects are implemented as bitmaps, slowing down VFP forms. I have not used VB, but that has been one of the arguments in the VB vs. VFP debate. I do not know how Delphi compares to VB.

>>Also, there are some things you can do to speed VFP from instantiation: use >views with the NODATA option, don't load object on other pages of the page >frame until they are activated, etc.
>
>Unfortunately I'm not using views or page frames.

From what I have read, you (or your client) is concerned with how fast the application comes up. Is that correct?