>> The extent that a software product stays alive can be measured by whether it profits exceed cost in a timely manner. The development cost of 7.0 is funded by the number of people who upgrade to 7.0. If MS cannot adaquately recoup its development costs, there may very well be no 8. To think otherwise means one does not have a grasp of even the simplest for-profit business concepts. <<

This is an incorrect summary, you do not know Microsoft's plans and strategy for VFP, so please do not speak as if you do. The next version of VFP is being developed and will be released, and nobody should think that will be the last version either, so don't even imply that it is or it might, you will just be stating baseless rumors that serve no purpose. If you aren't sure about Microsoft's plans or strategy, feel free to contact me directly to verify, or just read my comments here on the UT as I try to be as direct and specific as possible.

>> Make no mistake... if sales of 7 are not where they need to be, there will be NO 8. I don't think MS can refute that statement. i.e., I don't think you are going to hear "Regardless of what the 7.0 sales are, there WILL be a VFP 8" That would be a derilection of duty to the stockholders of MS.... <<

John, this is incorrect and a mistake. Let me state clearly: Regardless of what the 7.0 sales are, there will be a new version of VFP released. That is not to say Microsoft does not care about the sales of VFP. Microsoft does care about sales and usage of VFP, otherwise they would not have expanded/extended the marketing efforts for VFP significantly recently including hiring me to be product manager. If every developer decided to upgrade to MSDN subcriptions instead of just VFP7 (MSDN includes VFP7), that would be better for Microsoft.