I think you know I am about to agree with Walter, no really I do still use Delphi 5 a lot.

There is a serious point having done a lot of scientific programming myself (Mainly in Biology) There is the need for small efficient and preferably native apps. And they are preferably written with an IDE a long standing delphi and Cbuilder user is used to, without all the hassles of activation (I don’t find the D6 and D7 activation too intrusive but I can see the argument against it).

Do more with the Turbo editions,, I think there market is healthy there. Very healthy.

you wrote:

"Beyond product enhancements we have to double (quadruple?) our efforts to improve the installation experience for Delphi, C++Builder and RAD Studio. We have to continue to bash the bugs from our products. We have to simplify the eShopping and reseller experience where you purchase our products. We must enhance our product registration, customer service, and developer support capabilities. And, we have to continually enhance our documentation and help files."

Yes, that is it exactly!

I am physicist and solve my problems by developing applications in aerodynamics and thermodynamics. And Delphi is an excellent tool for these jobs. I bought many years ago Delphi5, then later Delphi7, and in the middle of 2007 Delphi 2007 for Win32. From these 3 versions I use until today only Delphi5. Why? The answers:

- Delphi 5 is the last version without activation necessity. This is very important because on average once a year a new installation of the development pc is necessary. I can’t rely on a development tool, which can’t be installed again if the support by the producer could be discontinued in the future.
- Delphi 5 and Delphi7 are the last RAD tools, which allow to see the whole GUI during development at the same time. For many purposes this feature is a great help. Delphi2007 doesn’t provide this.
- Delphi2007 provides a lot of problems during the installation process. there is no support or help by the producer. Problems plus activation necessity plus no view on the whole GUI (plus the other items you mentioned in your blog) are an overkill.
- And last but not least: Most of my customers don’t like to install .NET on their computers. Therefore I have to provide Win32 applications at present.

If you can see, Delphi5 is the last Delphi I can use.

I’m thinking CodeGear should not try to provide more and more products and more and more gimmicks in these small products. It would be better to improve the quality of the ancestral products like Delphi.

Yes, that’s it: Improvement of the quality for the serious professional user/developer instead of more and more gimmicks, which inspire just IT freaks.

In such a way I understand what you wrote to CodeGears intentions for 2008.

Kind regards
Walter

DI Walter Pokorny
Ziv.Ing.f.techn.Physik
Bertholdgasse 2/1/6
3400 Klosterneuburg
Austria
walter.pokorny@inode.at

i think with these 2 feature is more than enough to bring up the delphi’s sale!