I don't know what the deal is exactly, but it used to break down as follows:

* Academic version had major missing components (Borland Turbo C++ 3.0 Academic, for example, had no assembler), and you couldn't distribute your code.
* Standard version had all the compiler components, but lacked full development suite components like MSDN, and you couldn't distribute your code.
* Professional had a full single-user development suite, and you could distribute MOST of everything (some 3rd party .ocx's and crap couldn't be distributed).
* Enterprise had it all, plus all the team-based stuff like VSS, and you could do whatever you wanted with it.

That line has blurred lately, Microsoft is now selling the Professional version to students at academic pricing. I don't know if it's a "free and clear" pro version or if the license is restricted or not.

Caveat Programmor: Read the licensing agreement very, very carefully before you open the package.

Good luck,

-dB

--
David Brady
dbrady_at_acclaim.com
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