Learning .NET (expensive software)

[kneejerkreaction]

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle databases.
My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but am at the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in the books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET costs over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such as SQL Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology without bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully functioning websites that I can use as examples for prospective employers.

[Cowboy \(Gregory A. Beamer\) [MVP]]

Download SharpDevelop from SourceForge.com. You can do a search to find it.
It is not Visual Studio, but it is a good editor to get started with. Then,
download the Framework SDK 1.1 and start developing.

If you want to get ahead of the curve, you can download the new beta Express
products (both SQL Server 2005 Express and web developer, et al) from:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
************************************************
"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B0**********************************@microsof t.com...

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle databases. My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to
learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but am at
the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in the
books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET costs
over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such as SQL
Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology without
bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully functioning websites
that I can use as examples for prospective employers.

[Marina]

There is webmatrix, which is a free IDE for web development, I think you can
get it from www.asp.net.

Also, you can get MSDE for free, which is the basic version of SQL Server
with some limitations, but should be good enough for your purpose.

And I think IIS is a free web server.

"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B0**********************************@microsof t.com...

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle databases. My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to
learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but am at
the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in the
books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET costs
over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such as SQL
Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology without
bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully functioning websites
that I can use as examples for prospective employers.

[Jared]

You can by the Standard edition of either vb or c# for around $99.00, MSDE
can be used as your SQL server, and any professional edition of your desktop
OS can host a web server, XP Pro, 2000 Pro. So out of pocket cost $99.00.
This is what I use to "teach myself" .NET.
Jared
"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B0**********************************@microsof t.com...

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to
learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle
databases.
My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am
incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to
learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but am
at the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in
the books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET
costs over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such
as SQL Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology
without bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully
functioning websites that I can use as examples for prospective employers.

[Cor Ligthert]

Hi,

You can take this to learn,
http://samples.gotdotnet.com/quickstart/

You can downsload this beneath which include as well learning stuff and also
VBC.exe what is an Visual basic commandline compiler (There is as well the
same for C# in it)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

I hope this helps a little bit?

[clintonG]

Make sure you scour Microsoft's SQL Server site as last
August Microsoft started selling SQL Server 2000 Developer
Edition for only $49.00. That price may still be available.

Finally, I would sit nice and quiet accepting that employer's
paychecks while I was learning .NET quietly on the side
(meaning never let anybody at work know).

After I was sufficiently convinced of my capabilities I would
walk out on the dummy employer reminding them you
would like to work for somebody who has faith in you.

<%= Clinton Gallagher

"Cowboy (Gregory A. Beamer) [MVP]" <No************@comcast.netNoSpamM> wrote
in message news:Oy**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Download SharpDevelop from SourceForge.com. You can do a search to find it. It is not Visual Studio, but it is a good editor to get started with. Then, download the Framework SDK 1.1 and start developing.

If you want to get ahead of the curve, you can download the new beta Express products (both SQL Server 2005 Express and web developer, et al) from:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
************************************************
"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B0**********************************@microsof t.com...

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle

databases.

My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am

incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to
learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but am

at the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in the books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET costs over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such as SQL
Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology without
bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully functioning websites that I can use as examples for prospective employers.

[Steve McLellan]

Hi,

Yeah, there's an educational version which is really cheap. Also, MS run
their Academic lliance scheme which colleges / schools etc can be a part of,
and (I believe) if you're a student at a place participating, you can get a
license for free. Definitely worth asking about.

Have a look at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ho....aspx#academic

Steve

"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:45**********************************@microsof t.com...

Thanks for all the great advice.
One problem I have is that eventually I want to get the MCSD certification in .NET and one of the core exams is 'developing with visual studio .net'.
so presumably I will need to buy it. Is there an academic version, do you
know?
"Cowboy (Gregory A. Beamer) [MVP]" wrote:

Download SharpDevelop from SourceForge.com. You can do a search to find it. It is not Visual Studio, but it is a good editor to get started with. Then, download the Framework SDK 1.1 and start developing.

If you want to get ahead of the curve, you can download the new beta Express products (both SQL Server 2005 Express and web developer, et al) from:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

************************************************
Think Outside the Box!
************************************************
"kneejerkreaction" <kn**************@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:B0**********************************@microsof t.com...

I'm seeking advice on learning .NET

I have experience in ASP, HTML, Vb, Vbscript and Javascript but want to

learn .NET I also have some experience with SQL Server and Oracle databases. My employer thinks even with the previous experience noted above, I am

incapable of picking up .NET (they are hiring from outside) so I want to
learn it independently. I have several books on .NET and XML etc. but

am at the point where I need to be able work thru the programming examples in the books. The problem is the software is so expensive. Visual Studio.NET costs over $1000 and I also need to buy a web server and a database such as SQL Server. Does anyone have any tips on how to learn this technology without bankrupting myself? I'd like to be able to create fully functioning websites that I can use as examples for prospective employers.