1. I posted a couple days ago that non-MSDN subscribers can get Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 for FREE from http://msdn.microsoft.com/getthebetas/.
2. The MSDN Events Resource DVD that will be given out at the Spring MSDN Events will have Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 on it.
3. Of course, I can't forget, all MSDN Subscribers can download or order Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2.
4. And finally if you live in Wisconsin; I heard a couple days ago that the WI-INETA Executive Commitee is working with Microsoft to give out Beta 2 to all the attendees of the May 10th meeting. And they are planning on having a Code Fest for Beta 2 later in May. It's not set in stone yet, but the Code Fest may be 3-4 hours either on a weeknight or possibly a Saturday.
</OL> I think it's awesome that Microsoft has been giving away Beta's of Visual Studio (Whidbey) 2005. If you haven't migrated from VC++, VB6 or any other language to <A title=.NET href="http://www.microsoft.com/net/" target=_blank>.NET</A> then you must check out the new features <A title=.NET href="http://www.microsoft.com/net/" target=_blank>.NET</A> 2.0 will be adding on top of what was in <A title=.NET href="http://www.microsoft.com/net/" target=_blank>.NET</A> 1.x. As I have been saying for two years, since I first dove deep into <A title=.NET href="http://www.microsoft.com/net/" target=_blank>.NET</A>, I think this is the greatest development platform to come.