(I have a horrible ffeling this question may have been asked eight
zillion times, but Deja isn't working at the mo...)

I installed the "apps not deployable" version of Delphi 3 Professional
that was on the cover of PC Plus magazine here in the UK, and have been
pleasantly surprised at how nice it is to use. It's the only language
since BBC BASIC that I've ever been able to do anything useful with!

But, of course, "applications created with this product may not be
deployed" as it says. So I've been looking out for a second-hand
version of the full product.

The only one I've found is v2.0 Standard. What limitations are there on
this versus v3.0 Professional?

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: +2.68)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

David, all things considered I strongly urge you to find a way to
purchase a copy of Delphi-3 Professional.  You may be approached
directly by people say on this newsgroup who have copies they no longer
require.  If you can swing it, buy the current Delphi-5 Professional
instead.

"Then, you will be done."  You'll have what you truly need to get going
with Delphi.

I do not recommend the "Standard" versions, which do not have (among
other things) VCL source-code.  D5Pro, or failing that D3Pro, would be
the choices I'd recommend.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundial Services :: Scottsdale, AZ (USA) :: (480) 946-8259
mailto:i...@sundialservices.com  (PGP public key available.)

On Sat 22 Jul 2000 04:49:11pm, Sundial Services wrote:

<snipped the rest>

Thank you. Most useful, though I should point out that I'm in no way a
professional myself - I just want to write little freeware utilities
for myself and a smallish group of fellow users, so don't need all the
features I would if I were writing commercial applications.

And yes, if anyone here has a (cheapish!) copy of D3Pro or suchlike
that they'd be willing to sell to me (in the UK), go ahead and e-mail
me direct.

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -1.01)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

David,

 I purchased Borland C++ Builder 3.0 for 42 dollars at egghead.com in the
surplus direct section. Give the auctions a try.

PS:Yes guys, I know Delphi is superior :)

C++Builder is basically "Delphi for C++" and it's pretty much based on
the same compiler-base.  But I prefer the Pascal language also myself.

My recommendations to you, in terms of getting "what you really need and
will ultimately be most satisfied in having purchased," is Delphi 5.0
Professional or, failing that, the Professional (middle-tier...) version
of a preceding edition, either 3 or 4.

My recommendation also is that, if at all possible, you should choose 5.

You might be only "dabbling with freeware utilities" now, but then again
you will own this copy of software for many many years to come.  It's
really crud ( :-) ) to buy something only to realize that you got much
less than needed, "only you didn't realize it at the time."  This kind
of buying does keep home-supply companies like Home Depot (here in the
states) quite happy and content ... but when buying a compiler you
really do want to make the most effective use of your funds especially
when they are a bit limited.

All things considered carefully, I recommend, "Delphi 5.0
Professional."  Even if the purchase "bites" a bit at the moment -- a
year-and-a-half from now see if I wasn't on the mark.  :-)

--
------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundial Services :: Scottsdale, AZ (USA) :: (480) 946-8259
mailto:i...@sundialservices.com  (PGP public key available.)

On Sun 23 Jul 2000 12:47:04am, Jason McClain wrote:

Thanks - I didn't know about egghead.com. The usual suspects here in
the UK - eBay, QXL, microcomputermart.co.uk - are utterly hopeless:
lots and lots of Delphi *books*, but very little *software*. And what
there is, is generally a complete package with (heavy!) manuals, that
would cost a fortune to send from the US. And of course the vendor
won't just sell me the CD and dump the rest...

As for C++ Builder... tried it. Ugh. Delphi all the way for me :-)

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -1.01)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

On Sun 23 Jul 2000 04:56:53am, Sundial Services wrote:

<snip>

Same here. I did both Pascal and C at college, and preferred Pascal by
a factor too high to compute. I absolutely *hate* all dialects of C,
C++ included. Pascal is far easier to work out.

Ah, but if I wan't D5Pro, I'll have to save up for a year and a half...
in any case, I've now sorted myself out with D3Pro, so that will have
to do for now. :-)

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -1.01)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)