From: doug@cc.ysu.edu (Doug Sewell)
Subject: Re: VB for DOS (and maybe Mac?)
Originator: doug@AmeriCast.com
Organization: Youngstown State University
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 03:14:37 GMT

Here's the article (used without permission):  (Note to Mac users: the
article doesn't say, but I get the impression that VB for Mac may not
be far behind.)

PC Week, 7/20/92, first page:  _Microsoft Beta Testing Visual Basic for
DOS_, by Cara A. Cunningham:

Microsoft Corp. is preparing to extend its Visual Basic product line to
DOS as part of its strategy of making BASIC a cross-platform development
tool for its major PC operating systems.

Last month, Microsoft began beta testing a DOS version of Visual Basic,
its successful Windows-based development environment, according to
sources vamiliar with the product.  Code-named Escher, it will be shipped
by the end of the year, sources said.

Like its Windows counterpart, Visual Basic for DOS will be a graphical,
forms-based development environment available in both standard and pro-
fessional versions, said sources.  Although the new version will create
primarily DOS applications, the code can also be ported to Windows, they
said.  The sources said Visual Basic is expected to replace QuickBASIC,
which Microsoft has not upgraded in over two years.

By developing a DOS-based tool, Microsoft is acknowledging that DOS will
be an important platform for years to come despite the advent of Windows
and NT, said one industry analyst.

"[Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill] Gates knows better than anyne how
many DOS licenses are out there, and those corporate PCs won't change
overnight," said Peter Kastner, senior analyst at Aberdeen Group, a
Boston-based research firm.  Microsoft will position Visual Basic as an
important tool for developing applications on multiple platforms, he
said.

The Redmond, Wash., software giant was founded in the mid-1970s primarily
to develop BASIC-language tools for early microcomputers, and Gates said
he remains an ardent supporter of BASIC as a professional programming
tool.

Microsoft officials would not confirm or deny that versions of Visual Basic
for other platforms are in the works.  However, there are other platforms
besides Windows and Windows NT that it considers strategic, said Tom Button,
group product manager of the Application Programmability Group.

"DOS, Windows and Mac are the three biggest PC platforms, and we plan to
continue to support all three," he said.  "Supporting DOS, NT and Mac com-
plements our Windows strategy and makes it easy for developers who need
support across the major platforms."

Button would not specify a time frame for releasing Visual Basic on
other platforms.

However, Button acknowledged that Visual Basic is one piece of Microsoft's
core application-programming technology that also includes the Common
Macro Language, Macro Manager and Object Linking and Embedding.

What Microsoft has in store in the next quarter is an upgrade to the Windows
version of Visual Basic.  With version 2.0, Microsoft will attempt to
incorporate developers' top feature requests, said Mike Risse, a product
manager with Microsoft's Application Programmability Group, such as greater
performance and capacity, required variable declaration and support for
arrays and user-defined types.

Future versions of Visual Basic will include a 32-bit version for Windows
NT and a compiled version that will provide faster performance, Button
said.
<end of article>
-- 
Doug Sewell, Tech Support, Computer Center, Youngstown State University
doug@cc.ysu.edu	   doug@ysub.bitnet	<internet>!cc.ysu.edu!doug
"Recession: your friend loses his job.  Depression: you lose your job.
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