Delphi or VS.net or what? value for money...

I'm starting of soon with a project but am still deciding on the best developement tool. It's going to be comercial so I will have to do it legally.

I'm thinking of using MySQL as the DB, as SQL server is a way overpriced buggerup, and I will have to access 3m+ records. Delphi costs +-$2500 and VS.net 2003 about the same. But does VS.net connect easily to the free DB servers? Plus, I found out that VB.net is only $100, can it do pretty much the same thing?
In the program I will also be required to scan documents and save it in a space saving format. So wich enviroments will posibly have free components wich I can put on my form to scan?

The program will probably be Windows based but I could maybe get my contracters to go the Linux route...

I can program best in Pascal, VB, Java and C++. But prefer the first 2.

Any suggestions please, it will be greatly appreciated.

From my dad talking to me the impression ive gotten is that unless your in eruope, dont use Delphi, Its not that the product particullarly sucks compared VB, just there's just way too few people using it in the US, and your going to have a hell of a time finding delphi programmers should you need them for whatever.

I'm from South Africa, and here they basicly program in everything. I'll be programming mostly myself though, it's just the cost and DB connectivity that troubles me alot, there's usually some unknown issues when you go cheaper.

You may also want to consider MSDE which is a free version of SQL Server 2000. The database can be up to 2gig which can contain 3 million records, but will vary by record size. Connectivity to any database is easy with ADO or ADO.Net.

I talked to my dad some more on this issue, and he suggested that you go with Delphi, there are some nice communities for delphi, and the .net stuff is relying(sp?) on server technology that has as yet to be released, considering that your in Africa and that area is probably going to be behind the technological curve, delphi wins out.

thanx guys
i think i'm going the MySQL VB.net route(cost), but will surely check out MSDE...

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Originally posted by GPig
thanx guys
i think i'm going the MySQL VB.net route(cost), but will surely check out MSDE...

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Good luck. Where I work, we use SQL Server for our datawarehouse, but I have used MSDE for smaller application which much success. It has all the features of regular SQL Server, but can only grow so far. You may want to look at a MSDN license which would include developement tools and other programs like SQL Server, Windows 2000/XP/2003, and Exhange.