.NET vs. DirectX?

Question

What is the difference between using .NET to create some GUI versus using DirectX? Which one is preferred when it comes to creating some simple windows with tabs, text fields, drop down menus and button?

Answer 1

Use DirectX when you want to use graphics, and .NET when you don't. For the GUI items you're mentioning, it's easiest to use .NET.

Answer 2

Why not use WPF, it is .Net 3.0 wrapper around graphics, it has directX calls under the hood when they are faster, or it uses GUI+ for some thing, if it makes more sense. No longer do you have to determine which is going to be better yourself.

If this is not an option, then DirectX provides direct access to the video buffers, and uses other hardware rendering, so I'd guess that would be faster to add effects to your project...for simple graphics simple double buffing should be all you need to do.

Answer 3

.NET