Access, SQL or MySQL

[longwolf]

I'm a self taught VB6 programmer (with a whole lota help from sites like this
I'm pretty good with VB6 now.
I've just recently started teaching myself DB's
I have OfficeXP so I've started with Access.
I'm mainly interested in increasing my income potential from programming.

BUT
A friend of mine just gifted me with full, licensable versions of Visual Studio .net Enterprise and .net Enterprise Servers
(he has a son-in-law that works for MS

SO...
Should I stick with Access for a while or jump into SQL and hope I don't drown?
P.S. I've also downloaded MySQL but haven't installed it either.

[mendhak]

Since you're lucky enough to have that software, might as well drop vb6 and go for vb.net + sql 2000. Definitely will help you with the income potential.

It'd especially be helpful if you learn SQL server well. It's a very powerful database server and is very useful in enterprise application scenarios.

[szlamany]

Get a copy of the DEVELOPERS edition of MS SQL SERVER - I hear it's around $50 US...

It's a fully functional copy of MS SQL SERVER - for your use to develop with.

MS also supplies a free version of MS SQL server for your customers to use - called MSDE - as long as the number of concurrent users doesn't exceed around 8 or so...

MS SQL SERVER is definately a marketable addition to your resume. MS bought SQL from SYBASE - it's been around for dozens and dozens of years. They have improved it incredibly in the past 5 or so years - it's a great product.

Learn T-SQL - the programming language - it's very well worth it!

[longwolf]

Get a copy of the DEVELOPERS edition of MS SQL SERVER - I hear it's around $50 US...

My friend believes that MS SQL SERVER is on one of the CDs he gave me.
May take some hunting, there are 14 CDs in all.

Right now I pickup the odd job from RentaCoder.com and am developing a couple of apps I plan to sell myself.

As far as the resume goes, being self taught I don't have any 'credentials' that I can display.
What are my chances of landing a 'Real Job' with a company that uses something as expensive as MS SQL?

I'd love to take classes but I'm out of work, (damned free trade laws) and can't afford them now.

I'm guessing that the apps I'm hoping to market won't need anything more than Access.

I've never been hired as a programmer; it's a career change for me.
But I love programming.