>>> If you knew me at all you would know that I am a gambling man (thanks
>>> charles hankey) and I'll take a bet on this one.
>
>And some gambling man you are! <s>
>
>Honestly, this is a pretty lame bet. At this point, this is not a question that needs to be answered anymore. A year ago it was questionable whether .NET will catch on or not. Now, this is a done deal.
>
>I am always surprised how so many people seem to still think of .NET as the latest there is. Wake up people! .NET has been available for almost 1 1/2 years. In fact, most developers that now work with .NET in serious projects have had the product a year or sometimes even 2 years longer than that. So looking for a .NET developer with three years of experience is not nonsense anymore. You have never taken a look at .NET? Well, you are now at least 3 years behind the industry...
>
>I always find it pecilar how people like to state that "their" product is better than another product by making another product look bad. The fact of the matter is that .NET is a great tool that has been accepted by developers, and it is here to stay!
>
>This doesn't have anything to do with whether or not VFP is a good product. VFP still is great for a lot of uses, and it certainly isn't dead. It simply is going through the same cycle all good products go through: The product grows, the product matures, the product dies. VFP is currently in the mature state. Meaning that I would not expect any quantum leaps in technology, and I would not expect the product (or its market) to grow. But there are still a number of good years left in this product.
>
>On the other hand, .NET is already important, and it is up and coming. My good friend Andy Kramek always likes to say he is not interested in .NET because the few good years that are left in VFP are enough to carry him through to retirement. I can accept that point of view. But unless you plan to retire in the forseeable future, you better learn this "new .NET stuff" in addition to your VFP skills...
>
>So: That's MHPO. <s>
>
>Markus

Markus;

Next year I will be 62 and take early retirement. However I have to work until about age 66 to collect full social security. Learning .NET is a great insurance policy that I will have useable skills which should be useful for several years. The way the economy is and with the present administration in mind I can see working until I have had the course. When I am no longer able to get up in the morning that will be enough for me.

If only I could win big in the Lotto! To heck with the economy, work and all that! I would just go to Spain with my flamenco guitar and have a Juerga. :)

Tom