Time to Learn Visual Studio 2005 (Whidbey) and its Free

Probably the single largest challenge I've experienced in my professional career as a developer is staying current with new technologies. I know that I am not alone, that many of you feel the same way.

I work with Microsoft on a lot of new technologies often 2 to 3 years before they are ready for the public. This is great as it gives me insight on where things are going, but it’s also a double edged sword. Often times customers cannot adopt new technologies until they have been available for a while. I see more and more customers who are "we upgrade at SP1 of the product."

I usually begin recommending to customers to start serious evaluation of a product around beta 2. Usually this means the product is close to being released and that they will get a return on their early look at a product. Often times, a use of a beta will help a new project to make good architectural decisions in preparation for long-term upgrades to existing solutions.

If you’ve been putting off the “looking at Whidbey” or Visual Studio 2005, maybe it’s time to make that investment. Recently VS 2005 went into beta 2 and is awesome.

If you want some assistance, Microsoft Learning is offering FREE online courses. Check it out at: https://www.microsoftelearning.com/visualstudio2005/

Also, keep an eye on the VSTO zone at OfficeZealot for more news: http://www.officezealot.com/vsto/