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Brine's Software Reviews

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Program Title - Microsoft Visual Studio 6 Pro
Software type - Boxed Software
Publisher - Visual Studio Home Page
Download - It is 5 CDs all packed I'd get the CDs. About 50 hrs @ 512kbps. Your call!
Cost - was $1200, NET version is $1079, upgrade is $549
Function - Complete suite of languages, Web development, compilers, & Technical manuals (MSDN)
Version - 6
Scores - utility five stars - ease of use three stars - manuals/help four stars
My Review (I am not a reviewer - Its just one personal view)

This is a totally formidable pack of:
  • Languages: Basic, J++, C++, Foxpro, Java
  • Development Tools: Web Developer, Spy, Tracer, Help Workshop, Package wizard, etc.
  • Reference: MSDN with over 100,000 pages of System Information, and user manuals
I have nothing to compare it with but it really is a 'must have' if you intend to do any serious computer work. The reference manual is basically an enormous help file, and although I like to print my manuals, this would take 50 foot of shelving and hundreds of reams of paper. Even so I have 5000 pages of C++ manuals and Windows API text books, because you need to know pretty precisely what you are looking for, if you want the remotest chance of finding it.

The learning curve for this package is just a mountain, and after 3 years, I am barely scratching the surface. It needs full time study, and I am a retiree now. But every now and then I need to automate something, and knock out an executable. Once you get into it, its pretty straight-forward. But If you are a beginner, you need to add $250 for books and a couple of thousand hours of study, or your investment is headed for the toilet.
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Reviews - Stuff I bought and what I thought of it IMHO
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Updated: 26 October 2002 . . . Checked: 14 Sept 2002