>All due respect to you, Perry.
>
>If you'll notice my member #, I've been here a long time and I doubt that you will recall much if any participation on my part. I don't spend much time here. I mainly like to peruse the postings and then get back to work.
>
>I had some free time on my hands today and decided to play his game for a while, only in reverse.
>
>Sorry if you took me serious. I'm not really such a bad guy when you get to know me.
>
>And, I have no problem getting new customers and keeping same:)
>
>Dale
>
>
>>Dale,
>>
>>All you've proven to me is that you are the poster boy for why many people are reticent to hire someone in their later years. The argument has always been how difficult it is to get older people to change their behavior.
>>
>>Your arguments prove nothing other than you don't like change.
>>
>>PF

Hello Dale,

As a grandfather I identify with your remarks. I'm reluctant to give up actual benefits for promised benefits that are not quite there or exact too high a price in performance. I hope we have the brains to move when the equation changes. When .NET has a built-in database and computer performance is so high that .NET seems speedy, that will be the moment if it comes. Actually, there may be some preferable non MS alternatives by then.

Of course MS will win in the end (by that I mean justifiably abandon VFP). It has money which can buy the needed time and outlast us all. On the other hand, that does not diminish VFP's worth. Like a symphony or a great painting, VFPs brilliant design will be admirable for quite a while. I even envision some of today's great VFP naysayers telling young people in 15 years (perhaps in 2014, actually), what a great language it was. Someday people may wish they could buy VFP licenses, which will be unavailable by then and command good prices, perhaps better than the original. Those that already have licenses will be able to continue producing, of course.

In the mean time, our apps work, and fast. I have only come to speed in VFP in the last year and am very pleased. The only thing missing is the ability to produce web enabled apps easily. This is due, of course, to MS's refusal to extend the language. There are other ways to do things but there is no need to throw out the baby with the bath water. Use VFP plus something else. Perhaps ASP.NET, when I have a machine that does not choke on it.

Good luck, Dale. Don't let obnoxious persons keep you from using your best judgement. But I am not worried that anyone could, atually.

Alex