XP with Framework 3 will give you most of the GUI and backend magic, so it
is a possible way to start. You will not get 100% of the experience, so you
will have to determine how far you need to go. I would say XP with 3.0
should be fine for most applications, however. Others may not concur.

Hello Brent,

It depends on what are u going to develop. If it's back-end app there is
no significant difference, if only u not use Vista API
For the front-end app I recomend Vista, because only there u can see how
you app looks with AERO

B> I have a very basic question. If your going to start out with vista
B> development is it a lot better to try to develop with Vista RC1 or is
B> it almost or just as good to use XP with Framework 3 installed?
B>
B> Vista is slugish at this point and i want to do most of my
B> development in a virtual machine (i don't install Non-Release
B> software on my main machine as a rule). I would like to use XP if i
B> can but if i cant i can't and since i haven't delved into it yet then
B> i don't know.
B>
B> thanks,
B> Brent
---
WBR,
Michael  Nemtsev :: blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour

"At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not
cease to be insipid." (c) Friedrich Nietzsche