>>I completely agree. One thing we must do is send a strong message to Microsoft's upper management that we put our money where our mouth is. I still know a lot of developers that are working in VFP5 (and a lot in 2.x too). If we want Microsoft to continue investing the money it costs to develop a new version (and it ain't cheap believe me), we have to show some commitment.

>Whoa, there, let's not take this *too* far. Last I checked, selling product goes something like this:
>
>- Company X makes the best product it can afford to make, in the hope of attracting customers
>
>- Customers decide that the product is, to them, worth at least what they pay for it.
>
>If there's one company on this planet that does not need charity, it's Microsoft. They already get clear customer feedback and direction, free & for nothing; most other companies have to spend big bucks on "focus groups" to glean these nuggets from their apathetic and complacent customers.
>
>Why, exactly, does Microsoft deserve any more commitment than you give to your Stanley hammer, your Ford automobile, or your Coca-Cola beverage??

Al:

I think you misunderstood me. I am not talking about charity here.

>- Company X makes the best product it can afford to make, in the hope of attracting customers

If you don't believe VFP7 is not the best VFP version, then don't buy and don't use it. Unfortunately there are many people in the world that use copies without purchasing or legally licensing them.

>Why, exactly, does Microsoft deserve any more commitment than you give to your Stanley hammer, your Ford automobile, or your Coca-Cola beverage??

They don't. But you buy your Stanley hammer if you are a professional carpenter. I know of some professional VFP "carpenters" that did not buy their tools (see above). Another issue is that Stanley will stop improving their hammers if the old models served your purpose indefinitely.

The message to upper management I was talking about is a help to the dedicated VFP development team within Microsoft. They now hace a separate product (from .Net) and a separate budget. Individual sales are now more measurable. What do you think management will say about budgeting for new versions if only a few people upgraded? Ricardo, Ken and company can only do so much. We, the community, have to stand behind them and show that we like the product and buy it. Unfortunaltely that is not what happenned with the certification exams. After years of complaining we didn't have them, they came about and not enough people went for them. Let's not repeat that mistake.