Comparing Microsoft and IBM Rational UML Tools and Development Frameworks

Should you choose to use Microsoft VEA or IBM Rational XDE? That seems to be the big question for many developers, analysts, architects, and project managers, and the online newsgroups are filled with pros and cons for each product. It’s difficult—if not impossible—to give an objective, bulletproof answer to this question, because as with most IT decisions, it depends. It depends on your usage, knowledge, budget, development language, operating procedures, and so on. It seems as though the choice is also affected by personal preference and emotions.