Watcom did best Microsoft C on optimized code. Sad that Microsoft made their life hard on the Windows front. Martin P.

Momeries... Borland Turbo Pascal... (old favorite) IDE was basic but compiler was blazing fast. Runtime was amazing fast for the time. Programs runned fast and could compete with code made from Microsoft C. Had a nice framework called Turbo Vision. Turbo C got it after. Used Turbo Power tools for database and all. Turbo C. IDE and compiler was fast too. But code was less optimized compared to Microsoft C. If I recall, MFC became the Microsoft response to Borland C++ with OWL right? I think Borland did the first Windows 3.x framework. Was quite good. And then came my favorite... Delphi. Felt the power of native code with the ease of rapid window designer of VB inside a excelent IDE. I really hope that www.CodeGear.com bring Delphi back to full force. Didn't tried Delphi 2009 (I'm waiting for a Delphi 32/64bit) but I think they are getting there. IMO, old Borland lost it when they aquired DBase and Word Perfect. They should have stayed with Paradox. They putted alot of their money on acquiring Dbase and to see that the code was a mess. They had to pour alot more money to make something good of DBase. Same for Word Perfect. Would Borland still be the real competitor to Microsoft if they didn't get DBase and Word Perfect? Maybe, maybe not. But at least maybe the progs at Microsoft would still say "Man... did you see what Borland added to their ? How do they do that to add so many good features?" Martin P.