JL> programmers" as an excuse for not entering the market.  If IBM had a
 JL> complete compiler and tool kit good enough to produce decent
 JL> freeware/shareware apps and sold it for less than $100,

They did -- it was called "FirstStep", and it didn't sell -- the
"pro" version (then priced around $350) sold more.

The "don't want to pay for software" (DWTPFS) crowd has a large
presence in this forum (and similar forums,  like the internet newsgroups),
 but since they don't vote with their checkbooks they go mostly unheard
--which is not such a bad thing,  I guess,  if we want these compainies to
stay in business.


Oddly,  the DWTPFS'ers have no qualms about buying hardcopy books -- so
they can get a fine (but difficult to setup) free compiler (EMX),  and can
pay for the documentation (OS/2 Programming books) to use it.


--- Maximus/2 3.00