Beginners Question about Academic Software

[cpsp]

I apologize if this is a dumb question, but here goes. I am a second year college student. We recieved a catalog at the computer department at school that has
"academic" versions of software, including Delphi. I am in the process of learning Delphi, so my question is, does the Academic version lack that other versions have? They also list Professional "Academic" versions. What does this mean? If I buy this while in college, can I later sell software as a professional after leaving school?
Do I have to buy the professional version before I can write programs to sell? Can I update to a "Full" Professional version later on from this? Hope these are not dumb questions. I would be thankful for any help.

 

[svanels]

There are several editions of Delphi, to give an idea Delphi 4 and higher came in :

1) Standard Edition $90
2) Proffesional Edition $1000
3) Enterprise (or Client Server Edition) $3000

In the academic versions there is a student price, which is less then the comercial versions. The school purchase more, so they have a discount. There are also trial versions which expire after a period.

You can make programs with all of them but the difference is in the components.

In the standard edition you can make an application which uses an access database or some other small desktop database like paradox or dbase. Also you can not make internet aware applications with this version.

The professional edition comes with drivers for Oracle, Interbase, SQL server so you can make applications which interact with these databases. Also you have more components. For testing your Client Server application you have a Interbase Server with 1 license (1 connection)

In the enterprise edition you have a Interbase Server which allow you 5 connections. So with this version you can develop and test a real network situation, with remote servers.

As long as the program is simple, like the stuff normaly theached in college, the standard application is just fine, you have the full windows capability.

You can use the academic version the make your own small programs and sell them, but if you realy want to enter this bussiness you have to go for at least the professional version.

With the release of Delphi 6, the earlier versions are now available for little money. Last week I bought a Magazine and received a CD with among others Delphi 3 Client Server Edition. For starters this is good enough, allthough do net expect to connect to Office 2000 or Windows XP

Hope this helps


S. van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[sggaunt]

I agree with all that. Can I add a couple of points

You can get add on components from web sites which will replace most of the missing stuff in the standard versions of Delphi.

You probobly won't be concerned with this but the versions, given away with magazines usually have a restricted licence in that you cannot sell the programs that you create with Delphi.
This may also be true of the so called academic versions.

But as mentioned above, it is possible to get full unrestricted versions at a very resonable price, I recently upgraded to Delphi 4 Standard for £45.

Steve..

 

[svanels]

The give away versions I saw are fully functional, by the way, there are restrictions for giving away delphi, but the executables you produce are not covered restrictions. Another thing is including other 3rd applications like Interbase Server with your application S. van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[sggaunt]

Hi Svanels

Maybe the question of distributing executables differs from place to place, here in the UK, I have never seen a free magazine version (of any programming language) that wasnt restriced in this way.

Steve.
PS
Thats why we use the phrase 'Rip off Britan' and why some people have new cars imported from dealers in Holland I suppose.

 

[svanels]

Strange, if seen a lot of CD's from Holland offering Delphi 2 and 3. The magazine is not free, but you have a CD included. Generally it are small computer magazines which come with it. They bundle some freeware and shareware programs, have tips on programming or upgrading pc's etc.
Delphi 3 is given away because Borland is allready in Version 6. The magazine buys a special license for distributing the old version.
The developper doesn't distribute delphi, he sells his program. When you work with database, in most cases you need to include the DBE, but Borland states that this has no restrictions.
There are not much programmers in the world, so giving away a programing language is marketting strategy.

Every body has a refrigerator, but that doesn't mean that you repair it yourself if it is broken.

Regards

S. van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

 

[Vizual]

Hello i am new to using Delphi i wish to learn this software development tool. Can anyone recommend a good book that will start at the beginning assuming no knowledge of delphi and help me develop more better progrms as i go a long. Something that will will devlop as i go along

Thanks

 

[BobbaFet]

Try this book : Basic Coarse Delphi 5, it's written by
some guy from Academic Services, and costs about $20,--
(in Holland where I live).

It's ISBN is : 90-395-1572-7
It's NUGI is : 852

I hope this helps,

BobbaFet Everyone has a right to my opinion.
E-mail me at cwcon@programmer.net

http://cwcon.50megs.com/

Be a nice guy 'n press that little ol' button
VVV---(this one) for me ;-)

 

[svanels]

Vizual if you indicate where you live, we can be more specific about the books. To learn Delphi (in my opinion) you also need to learn pascal.
There are some good books about Delphi from Marco Cantu, Bob Swart etc. but the problem is that the books they write are very thick. They cover most aspects of the visual programming.
I personally like a book geared toward some topic in programming.
Do you have some experience in programming?

A good starter is Sam's teach yourself Delphi in 21 days. I received it when I bought Delphi 3 standard, some years ago.
Check also the local bookstores for some local authors. I recently but a lot from Brazilian writers with topics ranging from remote control to sockets and API.

Regards S. van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr