IS VB .NET worth it?

[AlexL]

I am a happy user of VB6, and I am wondering whether I should switch over. (Note: I am not interested at all in doing internet programming). I know there are a few things in VB .NET that make it "Better", but are there enough that I should pay $110 for it, when I like using VB6 fine?

[Hinder]

All I have to say is I was very reluctant at first to switch over... And even after I switched, I kept telling myself I'm going back to VB6 because of the learning curve (never using a OOP language), but after sticking with it for a few weeks, I fell completely and utterly in love with it been well over a year and I would never consider going back.. Even without the new awesome upgrades, the OOP aspect of it (everything is an object) , I would have a hard time going back now...

[AlexL]

Thanks! If I do go into VB .NET, could you reccomend any sites for the VB .NET beginner?

[taxes]

Hi,

Have a look at the the Chit-Chat section and you will find an intense discussion on this subject.

If you will be looking at producing programs on a commercial basis, or if you are looking to obtain employment as a programmer, you will be well advised to learn a Studio.NET language, and VB.NET is probably the most marketable.

If you are programming for your own pleasure and are not concerned about internet programming, then all I can say is that I am trying to keep my customers on VB6 as long as possible. My main reason is the appalling printing routines required in .NET. (They are bad enough in VB6 but far worse in .NET).

Repetitive coding is easier in .NET but VB6 is perfectly adequate.

Hopefully, the new version of .NET will reverse my opinion, when it comes out.

I am sorely tempted to investigate Borlands Delphi 8, but I have no personal nowledge of it, whereas Borlands did make a mess of moving from dBase III Plus to visual dBase - so much so it put me right off visual programming for about 8 years until VB6.

[mendhak]

I really don't think a website tutorial would be very helpful when learning VB.NET. It has concepts which can be covered properly and in detail in books only.

Else you'll have a patched-together knowledge of it. Any misconceptions or doubts you have though, can be cleared with VBForums.

[taxes]

Originally posted by mendhak
Else you'll have a patched-together knowledge of it. Any misconceptions or doubts you have though, can be cleared with VBForums.

My experience is that the learning curve goes downwards before it starts up.

[mendhak]

Then the learning curve becomes a learning donut that covers the three-dimensional surface area of an orangutan's rectum.

[pax]

Originally posted by taxes
My experience is that the learning curve goes downwards before it starts up.

Very true...In the beginning you might wonder why some operations are so much harder to do in NET than it was in VB6. But shortly after you will realize that there's a point to it all, and that it's actually much easier if you just do it right.

I think the biggest hurdle to overcome is all the namespaces.
It's annoying knowing that a function exists but not being able to find it because it's hidden in some strange namespace.
But even that begins to make sense after a while and you will probably start putting your own functions into your own namespaces for clarity.

All-In-All...NET Rules