Which C compiler: TC or MS?

[Alvin E. Sylvain]

In article <4641 at feldspar30.UUCP> nellis at motcid.UUCP (Michael R. Nellis) writes:
>I am looking to purchase a 'C' compiler.         [...]
>the Microsoft 5.0 C compiler with QuickC and     [...]
>a factor?  Money is not an issue here, support,
>and functionality is.                            [...]
[[[ muchly deleted, of course ]]]

(Please excuse first-time contributor if he happens to F Up Beyond All Repair)

In all the fuss over C compilers for the PC, not much mention is made
of a small, inexpensive C compiler from a company called MIX, called
Power C.  Someone besides me must have tried it, and have an opinion!

It has gotten favorable media reviews, costs relatively nothing,
($19.95, use your own editor) is very, *very* fast, very, *very*
comprehensive, and 99% ANSI compliant (according to reviews).  It out-
performs Turbo C (very fast reputation, well deserved) in some
independent speed benchmarks, including compilation and execution times.

Even without the compiler, the included manual is _well_worth_ the price.

I find it *quite* satisfactory.  A couple of reviews mentioned a lack
of large memory model, which is *not* correct; the latest versions *do*
support the large memory model, which I have used successfully.

If you are willing to shell out a few hundred bucks for a C compiler,
another 20 won't hurt much.  You might as well try out the cheap one
before you shell out the BIG bucks.  If you don't like it, consider
yourself to have bought an *excellent* manual and C tutorial.

SUPPORT: I reported a bug in an earlier version; they sent me a library
source code patch for it, since I had purchased the library source code.
I can't vouch for their support otherwise, having had no other problems.

DISCLAIMER: I'm *not* an employee of MIX ... no relation whatsoever,
no advertising royalties (too bad) ... I don't like their debugger,
(sold separately).  I also don't like their integrated 'Project'
('make') utility (can't handle include file changes), but it does work.
Instead, I use a UNIX@ look-alike 'make' from shareware.

MIX also sells UNIX@ look-alike tools for MS-DOS, which I can't vouch
for (haven't tried).  But it's attractively priced (read: CHEAP), and
does include a 'make' utility.

@ lest we forget, UNIX is (or was) a registered trademark of AT&T :-)
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"I got protection for my    |               Alvin "the Chipmunk" Sylvain
affections, so swing your   |   Natch, nobody'd be *fool* enough to have
bootie in my direction!"    |   *my* opinions, 'ceptin' *me*, of course!
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