>Hi, Jim;
>
>I'm not sure if this is a blunder (after all, it's all an effort to bring everyone into the Internet Age). Microsoft clearly sees it's future in terms of Internet Application Development, and not in desktop application Development.
>
>If there's too much clamoring from the VB developer population, they'll just provide one more release of VB 'Classic' - like they did with WindowsME when folks resisted Win2K. That'll be the Bread and Circus thrown to the masses.
>
>Personally, I think it would increase the status of Visual Fred developers to get rid of the "Basic" word. As someone said not too long ago: "Why do you think it's not called 'Visual ADVANCED'?
>
>Gosh, this soapbox seems pretty high from up here. How about I step off?
>>
SNIP

Well way back IBM was also only trying to bring everyone to a next level, and one with a hugely bigger future.
No doubt MS is similarly disposed, but they have a few MILLION existing adherents who are being hurt badly.

We'll just have to wait to see what develops. I'm betting that VB will find a satisfactory future in the end.

Cheers,

JimN