Perhaps there is a bigger picture to realize? VFP doesn't run on DR-DOS, Linux, Unix, etc.,... It only runs on Microsoft Windows 32-bit OS's. That means that all one hundred of those users have already paid into the Microsoft coffers for their OS. Furthermore it means that it's likely that all those or most of those one hundred employees will also buy MS Office Suite. So you're $500 of revenue is more realistically $40,500.00+

So think about that? You're VFP application that your customer couldn't not live without... simply wouldn't run if they didn't have MS Windows.

I believe grocery stores call this a "loss leader"...

There are plenty of reasons why MS should continue foster growth in the VFP product.

Just my thoughts...

-Don

>>>For me the essence of the discussions about the future is that VFP doesn't fully integrate with MS future developments. This can't be a time constraint MS have owned Foxpro for years. It must be by design so why is that ?
>>>
>>>Nick Mason
>>
>>I can give you a personal anecdote. Approximately three years ago I built a multi user Foxpro database system for a mail order company with one hundred and twenty five employees. At any one time up to one hundred and twenty five people could be connected to the database at one time. I bought one $500 copy of VFP to make this system. I used this $500 copy of VFP to also make other database systems for other companies. This does not make enough money for MS. Any company can easily afford far more than $500 when it has over one hundred employees. Had we used SQL Server 7.0 and Windows 2000 Server MS would have generated over $10,000 in revenue due to a per connection license fee.
>
>You should get your clients to buy a license also! Great for remote access or phone reviews of the system issues!
>
>>
>>
>>
>>VFP does not fit their revenue generating model. Seven years ago when I saw that SQL Server and Windows NT Server 3.51 had a per connection license fee I knew VFP `didnt fit`. It just doenst make sense that anyone can build a giant database system with hundreds of concurrent users and millions of records in the data tables and MS gets $500 for one copy of VFP.
>>
>>Its great for me and my customers....
>>its not so great for MS.