[RESOLVED] Is Visual Studio 2008 a good investment?

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

Hi everyone, I have been programming in Access and VBA for a while, but since the language is so incredibly limiting, I have decided to make an investment and learn .NET and VB6 or VB9.

As I am relatively new to this, I was wondering whether the new Visual Studio 2008 being launched by microsoft is a worthwhile investment or just an expensive and useless toy? Any observations are welcome.

[Hack]

Moved to General Developer

First, I would say forget about VB6 and go straight for VB.NET - as 2008 is the newest version of this development platform, then the time it takes to become familiar/comforable with it will be well worth it.

Are you a programmer by profession or something that would like to be a programmer by profession?

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

I am a business major in a university, but I enjoy programming as well. My main interest is database development and design and I will most likely be looking to either start my own company or join a company as IT manager or some related field.

And regardless of whether or not I end up being in a job that specifically requires IT knowledge, I personally think that knowledge of basic languages like .NET and MSSQL is invaluable.

That and it's just plain cool.

[Hack]

You wouldn't necessarily have to spend money just yet. You can get the Express version of VB.NET 2005 for free from Microsoft's web site. I would assume the same will be true for VB.NET 2008

And regardless of whether or not I end up being in a job that specifically requires IT knowledge, I personally think that knowledge of basic languages like .NET and MSSQL is invaluable.

That and it's just plain cool.

I would agree with both points.

[RobDog888]

The Express versions are free and I think Hack means Express 2008

It will be tough to start a company straight out of school with no experience. I would suggest getting some professional experience first for a couple of years as real world experience is more valuable then book/school knowledge.

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

So what are the limitations of using, for example, .Net 2008 Express rather than the full studio? I really want to teach myself everything, from the ground up and unlearn all that seductive and misleadingly easy to write vba. Will I be hindered by the limitations of express?

And am I the only one who gets completely confused by the term vb.NET when it doesn't even look like a vb language?? Or am I just even more ill-informed than I thought?

Rob: Thanks for the heads up! I tend to be a bit ambitious.. Haha if I were a dog my hind-legs would constantly be overtaking my fore-legs..

[RobDog888]

About $5,000

Well the Pro version will contain extra bells and whistles but the Express version is a basic core of features that you can suprizingly do allot of project types with.

[RobDog888]

Here is a look at the comparisons between all the 2005 versions so you can get an idea what to expect for 2008 when it comes out later this month.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa700921.aspx

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

VS2008 will cost $5,000?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! That better come bundled with my very own programmer/slave.

[RobDog888]

Well then dont look at the price for Visual Studio 2008 Team Suite or you will have a heart attack ....

Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite is priced at a cool $10,900

So unless you are rich, most members run the Express version. Others may get VB Standard from some promotion for free as MS does have them usually during the beginning phases of a launch. Or members will be running Pro as they get to use it at work or such.

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

Well.. maybe i'll be able to get a discount through my uni. After all, I picked up Office 2007 Ultimate for US$50

I know I sound like a total newbie, but I noticed express only supports access to local databases. Does that mean it won't be able to tie up with a database that's on a local server as compared to a COE drive? What about on other servers? And is MSAccess still a useful backend or should I do a total migration to MSSQL or Oracle as part of my foray into .NET?

[RobDog888]

Its not really true. Its support via the connection wizard etc. You can always do everything with code. Just in this day and age allot of newer coders like to rely upon the wizards to generate things for them but they dont realize how much they are loosing out on.

If you code your connection object via code then it doesnt matter what version you do it in.

Yes, if you are still a student then ask as they have it too for the Educational Discount.

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

Yea, newer coder, haha. But I have been trying to do as much as possible within code up till now. I learned SQL by building queries in Access and then examining the SQL statements that they generated haha.

But anyway, thanks for all your help! I'll be downloading the express version unless there is a very reasonable full studio under the discount. And soon the .NET forum will be flooded with questions like "How do I open a form?" and "What's a dim? Is it the opposite of a bright? Can I bright an object instead, it probably looks nicer."

[RobDog888]

Cool, look forward to your threads

Just remember that the only dumb question is the one that is not asked.

[Hack]

And soon the .NET forum will be flooded with questions like "How do I open a form?"

Either use a key or knock on it until someone answers.

"What's a dim? Is it the opposite of a bright?

No. It is the preface to "wit".

I would like to add my good luck's to RobDog888's and look forward to seeing you around the forum for a long time to come!