To: Roy Mcneill

 BL> I'm only kidding about using VB. Delphi works too well, and it
 BL> has the whole API to play with.

 RM> What version? Noble Systems are selling versions with different
 RM> capabilities from $129 to $999. Is the cheapie worth getting?

  Definitely! That's the one I use... Delphi DeskTop 2 for Win95/NT,
with Delphi 1 for Win311 on the CD.

  Basically, what the others add to that is more "components" that
enable you to do more things without so much stuffing around... better
editors, comms, database, etc. but the el cheapo Desktop lets you do
most things, including full access to the two API's (win31 and
win95/NT). The include a good database but you diy comms and the
editor in like Windows' notepad. 

  There's a C++ version now too.

  Delphi is like VB on hormones. It creates standalone code that runs
a little faster than VB (in practice) but loads about as fast (a small
EXE starts at 150K and most of them are 300K). On a 486/100 speed is
not an issue.

  It's not exactly Pascal, either. You end up using pointers and
objects, just like C++. It's more like C than Pascal, although the
language is Pacal. If you're used to VB and C it's easy to change the
mindset, but if it's your first try at the "Visual" approach (or
"RAD"
as Borland calls it), you'll be lost for a while. Once you get the
idea it's very easy.

  I'm fluent in various languages now. For DOS: VB/DOS, Pascal, C++...
and for Windows: VB or Delphi with a fair grasp of the API, and I find
that if I want to write a quickie for DOS I use Pascal (C is a pain in
the arse and isn't much faster or adaptable anyway), and for Windows I
use Delphi. My DOS packages are top-of-the-line because I expect they
will be the last, but I've only got the cheapie Windows stuff (I
expect they will be replaced).

Regards,
Bob
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