Best way to learn C#

I want to learn C#. There is a one week training class offered at my job, but I have other meetings/training classes the week it is offered. So, I'll give it a shot on my own.

Let me start by saying, I've never used Java, and my training course in that language isn't for another month or so.

I'm mostly a VB programmer (little Cobol here and there). Will I be able to pick up on C# relatively quickly? I'm not under the gun here or anyting, but it's just I want to expand my knowledge of programming languages.

I think I learn best when I just dive head first into something. I know both 2005 and the new 2008 versions of C#.Net are out there, which one should I download? At work, we're currently using 2005, and I don't see us upgrading any time in the near future. That is, unless someone within the org can convince the suits that it's necessary (read: make $$$). So, with that in mind, would it be of great benefit to me to download the 2008 version, when I will probably end up using 2005 (and that is considering I ever get to use C# at all)?

Also, I need a book to get me started. All suggestions are welcome. The first thing, obviously, is I need a book that will give me a good, thorough introduction to C#. The next book should discuss advanced topics only.

I didn't know whether to put this in General or in here. I decided to put it in here since it's directly about C# programming. However, mods feel free to move it if necessary.

The best way to learn anything is to do it.

Have a look here to get you started.

Once you have gone through that, do a Google on: c# tutorial

That is how I found the one posted above. There are others out there for intermediate to advanced.

Download VS 2008 Express, it will let you target the various frameworks.

It will be easy for you to learn C# as long as you understand the .NET framework/CLR well enough; you'll see that the transition from VB.NET to C# is an intuitive one as almost all of the concepts are just about the same.

I am not good with books unless they're popsci,scifi or fantasy but I've seen this at my workplace. Personally, I prefer tutorials to get me started on whatever concept I want to learn. I work my way from there.

I recommend not buying a book. Books on programming are pointless. I learned programming from knowing math and reading well commented source codes. Since you already know vb.net 2005 it should be easy to learn C#.net. You just need to learn the differences and the syntax(google is your friend). because they are both .net languages the transition should be easy.

As everyone else is pointing out, both VB and C# are .net languages. In essence, this means they are the same language, with different syntax. Get used to putting curly brackets around indented code, putting normal brackets around conditions and adding a semicolon to the end of every line and you're 80% of the way there.

And this will help when you get stuck with syntax:
http://labs.developerfusion.co.uk/co...to-csharp.aspx