More about Scoble's Learning Experience
I really don't think learning VB.NET would hamper anyone much, or prevent you from moving on to C# someday. As Joel says: 80% of what you learn is about which method to call in the framework anyways.
[KeithBa's Blog]
Indeed. I totally agree. In fact, you're looking at (actually, you're reading) a past VB6/VB.NETer. But! I saw the light. :) As to Cory Smith's comments sparked from my other post...let's disect this:
C# = VB.NET except UNSAFE. Period.
Sorry, don't buy this. If you read Robert Scoble's blog (which, by the way, this whole thing is about anyway), then you would have seen the link to my post on CodeProject about some of the differences between the two languages. And this will become more and more prevalent in .NET 2 (Whidbey) with the future features of C# being introduced.
"hackjob"... what the h**l are you talking about... it was written from the ground up to be a .NET language. JUST like C#. 'Much more natural'???? It's "hacked up" C++ for crying out loud. Some C++ guys that I know refer to C# as VB with C syntax."
Again, totally untrue. VB.NET is a carry-over from VB6. If I recall correctly, Microsoft was going to make And and Or exclusive (equivalent of && and || in C#) in VB.NET Beta 1, but all the VB6 programmers complained and so it was changed. It was obviously an "upgraded" product. Hey, I was a VB6/VB.NET programmer. VB.NET is, in my opinion, a hackjob and does not encourage OOP. Do you know now many people I see still using the MsgBox() function? Also, the Module keyword still exists. Granted it generates a class with all static members, but still, that doesn't encourage thinking in an object oriented way.
C# on the other hand is a brand new language: a 1.0 product. It isn't supposed to replace C++. C++.NET is supposed to replace C++. The C++ers you know that call C# "hacked up C++" are totally off base. It isn't supposed to be C++ at all!
"If you are going to say such ignorant crap like this... how about trying to back it up with some specific points that support your oppinion... at least this way people could remark about the specific points and allow them to form their own conclusions instead of you pushing your ignorance upon the masses..."
Again, if you had read Scoble's blog, and seen my post to CodeProject, you would have read the specific points I have against VB.NET. But you sir, obviously have not. If you want specific points to respond to, go read it...then come back and respond to them. Otherwise, you are pushing your ignorance upon the masses.
"and you might actually learn something in the process."
I think I've learned a lot here. You're obviously a VB.NET programmer who is bitter that us C#/C++ers call your language a piece of crap. You probably aren't willing to even consider switching to C# because "both languages do the same thing anyway". You know what, why don't you give C# a try. It isn't that hard to switch (I know, I've done it). Go pick up a copy of Inside C# by Tom Archer (MSPress) and start learning C#. I bet that after a few weeks of using it, you'll never want to go back.