vc++ 6.0 or vc++ .net 2003?

[Guest]

After taking 2 semesters of C++ at school, I've decided to get a compiler for my personal use when not at school, and one that can do Windows programming. I've pretty much come down to either vc++ .net 2003 standard or vc++ 6.0 pro. Basically, my main reservations about .net 2003 is that from what I've read it lacks optimizations, but 6.0 seems to be more dated, "less standardized", and the support will expire soon. Any opinions or help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-Aaron

 

[Brandon Bray [MSFT]]

After taking 2 semesters of C++ at school, I've decided to get a compiler
for my personal use when not at school, and one that can do Windows
programming. I've pretty much come down to either vc++ .net 2003
standard or vc++ 6.0 pro. Basically, my main reservations about .net
2003 is that from what I've read it lacks optimizations, but 6.0 seems to
be more dated, "less standardized", and the support will expire soon.
Any opinions or help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

It is actually the case that Visual C++ 2003 has far more optimizations than
any other Visual C++ compiler on the market today. What you may have heard
is that Visual C++ 2003 Standard Edition does not include the optimizing
compiler, which is true. You can get the optimizing compiler by either
buying the professional edition of Visual Studio, or getting the Visual C++
2003 Toolkit (http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/).

Of course, you can also try out the Visual C++ 2005 Express Beta which has
the optimizing compiler
(http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/visualc/default.aspx).

Hope that helps!