>I was just giving a little background about why Microsoft was so interested in establishing its new Internet strategy. Microsoft's war to acquire the Internet will be waged on many fronts and will take many forms, only one of which is its support of new Dot Net communities. Whether Dot Net wins the war to acquire the interne will be determined by a number of smaller battles, on of which can be seen as the turning point of the war historically speaking.
I think they're big enough. I don't see why going so hard about specific points is really necessary. They will obtain whatever they will at long turn. It's just that the way they are doing it now is about to kill some user groups.
>In the mean time Dot Net is casting a giant shadow over any development language that is not part of Dot Net push. For example, if you were a CEO of a small company, would you consider buying a VB6 application, even if it exactly met your needs and was developed by some of the best minds in the computer business?
In that particular example, no, because VB6 is no longer there. It is supported but it's evolution has ceased. As for VFP, it's different. It's still an official product at Microsoft since they purchased it.
>There is not doubt in my mind that Microsoft is treating VB6 and VFP7 user groups unfairly as compared to the preferential treatment if affords Dot Net User Groups; however, I feel a broader approach to the problems Dot Net presents to VB6 and VFP7 programs/programmer is needed. Is there some way outside of the justice system or fundamental economic in a free economy to protect those who have invested their time, energy and money in what was only yesterday considered state of the art technology?
We all agree on that. "unfairly treatement" is also an important topic in all this. As for the justice system, this is another ball game. It works somewhat up to a certain level with what we've seen in the US but we are extremely far from what is going on presently. As a corporation, they are entitled to do it that way or any other way. It's just sad that user groups and related organizations are the ones being penalized.
