Purchasing Cheap Copies of Visual C++

Visual C++ 6.0 for under $40 (as of 11/99).

I have been told that the following books come with versions of Visual C++.

Learn Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Now (Learn Now) by Sphar, Chuck

, ISBN # 1-57231-965-8. Available at bookstores and http://www.varsitybooks.com/Detail.asp?intBookId=157231965 and http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572319658/002-1559201-6117032

Visual C++ 5.0 for $50

I have been told that you can get Microsoft VC++ 5.0 learning edition(normally $100) for $50 and the professional edition(normally $300) for only $100 from the Rowan University bookstore.

Visual C++ 4.0 for about $40

Possibility 1:

A student in my CSP class has said that you can buy a cheap version of Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 by going to Best Buy and buying the "Game Programming Starter Kit 2.0 from Macmillan Digital Publishing. Cost: about $45. Here's a picture of the box:

It appears that you can also order this direct from Macmillan Publishing though I don't know anyone who has done it. The important thing to do before you buy it is to ensure that it says Includes Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 somewhere on the box.

Possibility 2:

Several students have reported that you can buy a cheap version of Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 by going to one of the standard mall computer stores (e.g. Software Etc., Electronics Boutique, CompUSA, & Best Buy) and buying the "Visual C++ Programming Starter Kit" by MacMillan Publishing. It is often found in the "remainders" bins, and average price seems to be around $40.

Before you buy it, make sure it says (near the top of the box) something like "Includes Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0" (I think that they have sold it with earlier versions as well.

Here's a picture of what the box looks like:

(If you click on the picture, it will send you to the amazon.com website ... you could buy it from them, but they say it takes 4-6 weeks to get in, and I don't know how you could verify that this is the version that has Visual C++ 4.0 included with it, and not an older version.) If anyone has ordered it from amazon.com, please let me know.