should I buy C++ Builder 3.0 ?

["Lestaw K. Bieniasz" <lestaw.k.bieniasz@uni-tuebingen.de>]

					Tuebingen, 13.03.98

Hello,

I am new to this list, so please excuse me if this message duplicates
some earlier similar messages. 

I have BC++ Development Suite 5.02, and I would like to purchase
a next version, or C++ Builder 3.0 (I guess this is the latest version?).
What a choice I have? If possible, I would like to get an
upgrade, to minimize expenses. Or maybe this is not recommended?
I want to start some moderately serious programming for Windows95, that is
I want to build a more or less standard interface to a program that does
some scientific calculations. I am not a professional programmer, but I
would like to be conscious of what is happening in my program. I think
I don't need database tools nor network stuff at this stage. I want,
however, to have an access to a full variety of now common controls,
graphics, MMX, etc.
There has been some talk recently about the poor shape of Borland, and
some of this has unfortunately come true (for example it seems that OWL
will no longer ve developed). Do you, C++ Builder experts, would recommend 
switching to C++ Builder rather than to Microsoft Visual C++ ?  
I would appreciate your helpful advice (please don't refer me to
Borland advertisements and official web pages...). I just don't want to
make another mistake (the previous was to start learning OWL), but invest
money and time into an environment that will allow me to
consistently create and develop my program over the next years. 

Please send answers directly to my temporary address given below.


						L.

*-------------------------------------------------------------------*
|                        Dr. Leslaw Bieniasz                        |
| temporary address: (3rd March 1998 - 31st July 1998)              |
|       Institut fuer Organische Chemie, Universitaet Tuebingen     |
|          Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.       |
|              E-mail: lestaw.k.bieniasz@uni-tuebingen.de           |
*-------------------------------------------------------------------*
| permanent address:                                                |
| Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences,| 
| Molten Salts Laboratory, ul. Zagrody 13, 30-318 Cracow, Poland.   | 
|                   E-mail:  nbbienia@cyf-kr.edu.pl                 |
|                 Web site:  http://www.cyf-kr.edu.pl/~nbbienia     |
*-------------------------------------------------------------------*