Borland C++ and Dev are good, and you can even use them for some resources (Like menus and icons), and depending on what you want to do that might eaisly be enough. But I have been unsuccessful in making much other resources for window programs, without using some visual resource editor (I currently am using Vc++ 6.0).

Don't quote me on it, but to go beyond the basics of window design you will most likely need something more then Borland or Dev. I am still learning too :) so I could be mistaken, but even with the projects I have been unable to do so successfully without Vc++ 6.0 (I actually think it might have something to do with the make file.. but thats neither here nor there).

Note: If you have no intrest in window design, then there is no need to worry, or you can just use Vc++ (Personaly just like Dev) or C# or even VB to make them easier.