JVP

>>Perhaps the difference is nothing more than semantics - perhaps not.

Accepted. We are both too sensible to argue semantics, after all. < vbg >

I've tried to look at other tools fairly widely. In 1997 I looked at Java closely and ended up shifting to it- dumb move. If I'd delayed by a year or 3 I'd have been a lot better off. Actually if I'd not looked at it at all until now, I'd be a lot better off.

The lesson for me was that VFP was producing apps that my clients liked, and "cool" technology as you put it does not increase bank balances or make most clients happier.

As you say, one must not hold back. Earlier this year I did a full review of PDA's available. I chose the Compaq iPAQ. That I think was a good decision- also an emerging technology overtaking the complacent monopoly incumbent whose innovation has staled.

Crystal ball stuff: IMO The PC itself will start to die in the next year. The PC is a horrible idea for most people who do not sit at a desk all day, which is most of us. In future years our grandchildren will shake their heads in disbelief that we sat immobile peering at cathode tubes using keyboards which were designed to slow down typing so that the key strikers would not catch each other. Sort of like using lead water pipes. Duh. PDA's with bigger screens, speech, inbuilt finances will take over. So, if people want to move tools, perhaps moving platforms is a possibility as well.

If I were to "move" to a new PC tool today, it would be KYLIX. Borland has done a superb job sorting itself out and producing tools for linux. Most of the talk here is about NET; we all need to consider non-MS stuff as well because it is increasingly important. My understanding is that in Silicon Valley, most of the clever stuff focuses on linux. We should expect an explosion of importance starting later this year as this stuff comes online. Kylix and similar, plus collaborations appearing recently between key linux players IMO signals emergence of Linux into mainstream. It will be easier to shine in such a emergence than to brawl with teeming VB and VC gurus over dotNET. I'm getting old and that is one brawl I will not be part of.

Set soapbox off.

Regards

JR