>>It sure is beginning to look like we are the only ones being marketed TO.
>
>How about you describe to me what you have expected or what you do expect from VFP marketing efforts, I'd like to clarify any confusion and make sure expectations are realistic. Michael or anyone is free to respond and comment here.


Ken,

Let me start with your statement: "These should not exists since VFP is not part of the VS .NET product, and we have other active VFP newsgroups already, so while not confirmed yet, these newsgroups below will likely be removed from existence soon.".
While this could have been a mistake by someone in .NET, why in the world wouldn't you praise them for it in hopes of making the 'mistake' a positive and lasting thing???? How can it possibly hurt to have some mention of VFP in some .NET areas, especially when exploitation of some .NET functionality is built-in to VFP7???

I had expected to see more cross-fertilization of VFP with other MS offerings, not a ghettoization of VFP.

I had expected to see VFP advertised in more than VFP-related magazines/venues. I've said before that any development conference should provide some VFP exposure, even if no one attends. It *IS* important to keep VFP's name out there in the open. Don't tell me that there is no return for such ventures, because the costs can be contained. Yes, it might actually cost, but the amount would be piddly. Does .NET already make money for MS? - No? - then how do THEY justify spending any money????
How do you possibly expect to attract developers to VFP if you are going to preach only to the converted???????

I had expected that "telling our own story" would include:
a) telling it to new ears, not the same old ears who don't need to hear it...
b) showing some other differences from standard Microsoft "fare", such as opening the kimona a bit on bugs and wishes. The handling of bug reports remains atrocious and is now worse than it has been in the past. Why are we restriced to the good ol standard MS way of doing these things now that we're out of the box????? Fox Software had the proper way and there should be some latitude to get back to SOME of that older but far better way of doing this!!!
c) allow us to 'market' independently of the .NET push. It sure looks to me like .NET rules all marketing, at least where a MS product that might appear to offer a small bit of competition in a small area is concerned.

Getting the word out inside of MS was a needed first step in my opinion. But that now appears to be the ONLY step.

Jim Nelson