>>Would you like to see more, or should we call it a day and say that VFP marketing is now completed? A single point doesn't establish a trend, so it would be nice to see a bit more regularity to these sorts of brief references in the appropriate places before we dub this a "marketing process", as opposed to an isolated marketing event.
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>IHMO, I take it that it will be a long time before MS actually mentions VFP again somewhere. Now, again IHMO, if you look at the inclusion of MSDE in the VFP package; I see it as a big step in the right direction (consider it a test if you will) in making VFP more visible. Imagine VFP apps running against an MSDE database (which is basically SQL Server) instead of using its native DBCs. Think of the next most probable step: isn't it upsizing to SQL Server? And isn't SQL Server a 'cash-cow?' for MS. It would do MS a lot of good to take this path.
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>But then, who knows what lurks in the minds of MS. Only BG III knows... ;)

Ramil,

Including MSDE in the VFP7 box is a win-win proposition for both MS and VFP developers.

Mentioning VFP in MS' internal and external publications/propaganda should be viewed in the same light by both too. And we can all surely hope that this first mention in a long time is the start of many more to come.

Many of us feel that we have suffered because countless of MS' marketing/other staff, in public and private, have been heard to say things along the line of 'geez, I didn't know we still sold that product'. A statement along those lines does not inspire confidence for the future of VFP in those who hear it.
Obviously, *IF* MS continues to mention VFP all over the place in its own literature then there will be far fewer MS staffers making such uninformed statements. If fact we can expect them to mention it specifically in certain circumstances.