>, but as the focus passes from data intensive to communication intensive
>>applications,
>
>Business is both data intensive and communication intensive, as it has always been. Focus will not change. Without data, there is nothing to communicate.
>
I meant communication in the sense of what happens and is going to happen on the Internet. This is new, also the extensive use of computers in the communication within and without companies. The focus changes in the sense that business will innovate more in the communication area than in the data area, where most of the work is already done.

>>> Please let me know exactly what you mean. Has business really changed so much because computers have changed? In other words, what can't VFP do for a typical business application?
>>
>>Yes. Business changes as a consequence of technological evolution.
>>Database technology did change business, and so does (will) the
>>Internet. The problem with VFP is that it will not evolve as fast as
>>VB.
>
>Well, I haven't look at VB since version 3...so I can't comment...I can tell you that it was way behind VFP version 3...
>
Maybe you should look again. As long as there is no data crunching to do, VB is nice.

>>I'm old enough to have seen main frame programmers laugh at PC's, Cobol
>>programmers laugh at Pascal, Pascal programmers laugh at Clipper,
>>Clipper programmers laugh at Foxpro, Foxpro programmers ... I've seen this RPG programmer a few years ago, who at 50 had to start programming in Paradox.
>>If you asked him, RPG _was_ much more powerful than Paradox :).
>
>Clipper laugh at Foxpro? Hmmm...who had the last laugh?
>
Sure, but that is my point! One can be mistaken by not looking far enough (The Clipper programmer who things that he does not need SQL ...). You have those who say that "in the long run, we are all dead", the problem with this business is that you survive the long run, since it lasts a few months :).

>Isn't RPG the base language for the IBM AS400?

and S/34. Believe Paradox is more powerful.

And there is nothing wrong with being an optimist. On the contrary, I am grateful to all that expressed the optimistic views.

Regards,

Marc