Q: What are your clients/employers saying about .NET?

[T. Hoskins]

Q: What are your clients/employers saying about .NET?
I am curious to know what companies think about the .NET platform. Are they
even talking about the costs involved in converting their existing applications
(C++ and VB)? From what little I have read so far, it seems that conversion
will be a non-trivial and expensive thing to do.

======= Second question =======
I have been studying for the two existing Microsoft VB certification exams
for the last few months. I planned on eventually taking 4 tests for MCSD
certification. However, with Microsoft's change in direction, I am starting
to wonder if this is still a good idea. The speed at which Microsoft tends
to retire their exams is the biggest cause for my confusion and concern.
For example, the VB 5 exam has been retired for awhile now and the Windows
NT exam for MCSEs was only kept alive because a lot people complained. Is
VB 6 (and more importantly MCSD) certification even worh it nowadays?

[Jason Kaczor]

"T. Hoskins" <starter@movemail.com> wrote in message
news:3a6f2fe1$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Q: What are your clients/employers saying about .NET?
> I am curious to know what companies think about the .NET platform. Are
they
> even talking about the costs involved in converting their existing
applications
> (C++ and VB)? From what little I have read so far, it seems that
conversion
> will be a non-trivial and expensive thing to do.

My current large corporate client, and I attended the .NET MSDN session with
one of their senior decision makers,
is investigating it warily. I have made it quite clear to anyone who asks
that simply "moving" code-bases
from VB6 to VB.NET is currently not an option with beta1. We will see how
things proceed in subsequent
beta's & release. However, they have made an active choice to support the
Microsoft platform. This actually meant using
some beta software in "un-supported production" for long periods of time.
They are a large company, and they are not
risk adverse.


> ======= Second question =======
> I have been studying for the two existing Microsoft VB certification exams
> for the last few months. I planned on eventually taking 4 tests for MCSD
> certification. However, with Microsoft's change in direction, I am
starting
> to wonder if this is still a good idea. The speed at which Microsoft tends
> to retire their exams is the biggest cause for my confusion and concern.
> For example, the VB 5 exam has been retired for awhile now and the Windows
> NT exam for MCSEs was only kept alive because a lot people complained. Is
> VB 6 (and more importantly MCSD) certification even worh it nowadays?

I would say, IMO the only cert's currently worth getting from Microsoft are
MCSD, MCDBA, MCT.

The Java certs from Sun look to be pretty worthwhile. I've never met anyone
with certs from Borland.

You CAN dramatically increase your rate, salary with MCSD, MCT
certifications.

Unless Microsoft is "double-heading" and producing the training/testing
materials "on-the-fly" with .NET,
you aren't going to see VB.NET exams for at least a year after release, more
probably 1.5-2. "Double-heading" was possible
with Windows 2000, but I think materials for development tools will be a
greater challenge.

Just jump in, if you are employed, hopefully your employer will cover the
exam fees, if not it's a business expense.

Regards
Jason Kaczor