The free Express edition is better for beginners because it doesn't cost anything except download time. Use it for awhile and if you like it you can always buy the Standard or Pro edition. The Express edition does not include some whissles-and-bells that the standard edition includes, but beginners don't need those anyway. The most important thing right now is to learn the C and C++ languages, and the Express edition will allow you to do that quite adequately.
Also, the Express editon contains the same basic compiler that all the other editions contain. The difference between the editions is not the compiler but the add-ons, such as Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC). You don't need all that just to learn the language.
Last edited by Ancient Dragon; Sep 18th, 2006 at 11:25 pm.
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