Microsoft is offering a "free copy" of Visual Studio 2005 Standard, an estimated retail value of $299.00.  Well, it's almost free, you have to register and watch two FREE VB.NET Lab Cast.  Not a bad deal: You can learn something and get a free copy of Visual Studio at the same time.

Here are some of the lab cast subjects:

Learn how to

• Modernize and simplify installation of Visual Basic 6.0 applications
• Add new data-bound forms to Visual Basic 6.0 applications
• Introduce simple background threading to Visual Basic 6.0 applications
• View and edit SQL Server™ data
• Create data-centric Web applications with your Visual Basic desktop development skill
• Keep Microsoft Word documents in sync with your database

Oh, and don't forget to submit your evaluation form.  That's how they count the # that you've seen.

It's a limited time offer, so get it while you can.

Here's the link: http://www.microsoft.com/business/vb2005upgrade/default.mspx

Have fun,

Robert Shelton