This might be something along the lines of what you are looking for. It is in .net http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dv_vstechart/html/vbtchShapedWindowsFormsControlsInVisualStudioNET.asp[^] andy

I agree with you. It is still possible to do the same amount of work outside of .net as always. However if one is up to speed with the framework it is generally possible to get the same work done with less loc or in a less convoluted way. andy

The benefits to using .net on the business and data tiers are significant. (once a developer is comfortable with using the framework) managed memory/objects .net remoting/web services simplified deployment (depending on level of interaction with enterprise services) Of course anything that can be done in .net can be done the preivous version(s) of C++ but leveraging the .net framework allows for (in many cases) significant reduction of code andy

The directx 9 sdk contains some samples that show how to build a simple im client/server. I think that it is in the directplay namespace. andy

I wonder what would happen if someone wrote a virus that distrubted/spammed licensed materials. Who would be liable the virus writer or the owner of the infected machine? andy