I can understand this.  Not to knock on either product, I bought C++
Builder Professional the Day it was release at Frye's, March 1st.  First
thing that disappointed me was, I could not do very much with it.  I
went
back a couple of days later to grab the Learn C++ Builder Package just
so I could get the ... in 14 Days book, but it was not in stock.  My
...Delphi 2 in 21 Days book was a little helpful with my full-on Hack
sessions.  The guys in #Delphi on the undernet were a bit helpful as
well.
About a week later, my local Frye's received some of the Learn packages
and I bought one.  After reading "Learn C++ Builder in 14 HOURS" I found
there was still much more to learn than there was in the scope of the
book and the documentation that comes with Professional version.  I went
to the Forums on Borland.Com and found that alot of people were doing
very advanced stuff with Builder.  Where did they get their info?  Well,
after participating, Team Borland in there are doing a superb job of
support and I congradulate them!  Also, Delphi gurus seem to have
an upper hand in this as well...  BTW, Team Borland seems to be well
versed in Delphi as well.   Hummm...
So, my point:
A) Being a C++ programmer, ONLY, by choice or by nature, having to deal
with PASCAL is a negative... -1 for Builder
B) The whole point of Builder is RAD, otherwise, BC++ 5.01 is still
the champ in my book, and the ENTIRE RAD FRAMEWORK of Builder is
PASCAL!  A few more negatives!
C) As you mentioned, no Mutiple Inheritance, another Negative.
D) As well as no Overloaded functions with VCL, and no Default
Parameters for Functions, a coupe of more Negatives...
E) Totally non-standard Keyword additions to make VCL work, a
couple of negatives each, since this completely goes against the
grain of ANSI C++ Standard Compliance.
F) Using Property Access is very non C++, ie. Edit1->Text = "Am I C++?";
where you are manipulating the property of Edit1, rather than a
data member.  Sure, it works, but is not the C++ way, it is the Delphi
way.  Another Negative...
Note: C++ Builder does a beautiful job at what it does, all my negatives
are marked against it from what I believe is the PURE C++ perspective.
When I bought Optima++ 1.0, there were no Third Party books for months.
I was left with the Documentation and the environment itself.
A) I could do professional development using only the Printed
documentation, Drag & Drop Programming, Reference Cards, and Parameter
Wizards,  a few pluses... (++)
B) The Optima++ Component Library is JUST AS POWERFUL as VCL, but is
PURE C++, meaning the ENTIRE FRAMEWORK is C++, a few more pluses.
C) DataWindow technology...  Add SEVERAL pluses if you are a Database
Application developer.
D) Adding OCX (ActiveX, OLE2) controls to Optima++ automatically
add their entries into the Reference Cards and Parameter Wizards,
so you don't have to look at the help (F1 the contols), you can
just use the tools described...  A few pluses in my book.
E) You don't have to access data via Properties, you access via member
functions, the C++ way, ie.   Edit1->SetText("Optima++ is PURE C++!");
Like I said, I am not knocking either, just giving you the C++
perspective
which I have.  In taking this message seriously, you must consider:
A) I am a C++ Developer
B) I have no interest in, or want to deal with PASCAL (why should we, as
C++ developers have to?).
C) I only deal with Microsoft 95/NT applications.
D) I have no need whatsoever to deal with any legacy code (MFC or OWL).
E) I do Database development as a home/side business.
        Dave - zanti@pacbell.net
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