win32api Learn it or Ditch it???

I am a newbie to C++ and am reading a great book on it. I am continueing to learn more and will soon require the ability to program GUIs. What I want to know is if I should bother learning the win32api. I have seen the code for it and its absolutely horrid in how it works and even the most simple gui tasks seem like a headful of coding.

Also I would like to know of any good free APIs for windows that you would recomend. Cross-platform would be nice but not required, though I would like a free one. I am hopeful that I can find one thats easy enough to use and works with the Dev-C++ or Borland C++ compilers. I was having trouble with getting the Borland one to work at all with GUIs but Dev seems to accept GUIs without complaining at everything like Borland's been.

Thanks again.

off topic - this is my first post here and I hope to be a welcomed member of the devarticles community!

If you plan on programming applications for windows you will need to learn the win32 API. If you are not concerned with performance of your application you may want to learn MFC instead. MFC is an object orientated version of the win32 API. MFC is some what easier to learn but has a performance cost. If you want to learn the good stuff though I would suggest learning the nitty gritty of win32 API. It looks pretty ugly when you jump from console to win32 programming but don't fret you will get the hang of it. One thing I like about win32 prgramming is the use of callback functions. If you want the most power you should learn DirectX it is even closer to the hardware then win32 API. But you will need to learn win32 programming first. I have never tried the Borland compiler but I suggest getting a copy of Visual Studio .NET if you plan on programming for windows. They have a built in resource editor and of course the msdn which you will need on a daily bases for win32 programming. The win32 API and DirectX SDK are free from microsoft developers network.

I know I am biased toward DirectX programming so this may not have been the answer you looking for. I have been looking for other DirectX programmers so we can help eachother out, but I guess they are all to busy getting payed big dollars to make games. I am currently building a DirectX engine so I know the power it is capable of, and also the grievances. If you decide to learn DirectX I could try to help you out.

I looked at some other APIs but most of them didn't work correctly. Besides, I guess learning the win32api will be good for me. Can any of you guys recomend a good book on it? I found a couple of tutorial sites but I usually like books better because they are better written usually which is one reason why they are published in the first place.

If you can't recomend any books then some websites would help, Thanks for all your help!