It's pretty straightforward to build Python and the Win32all extensions 
with the newer VC++.NET compiler, so for people who need to build 
additional modules there's no real need to use the Active State binary 
distro.

As far as waiting for a PyPPM replacement, ActiveState's Trent Mick said 
last May that "a PyPPM-like tool is not tractable without high ongoing 
maintenance costs," which makes it "difficult to make a
business case for a PyPPM-like tool."

--On Friday, October 01, 2004 8:10 AM -0400 Bob Kline 
<bkline@[...].com>  wrote:

>  How much longer does ActiveState plan on using the old Microsoft
>  compiler (from VS6) for building Python for win32?  Makes it a little
>  bit of a pain for building extensions.  Especially during this limbo
>  period while we're waiting for PyPPM's replacement (any word on progress
>  for that?)