What do you all think about Microsoft's Free Visual C# 2005 Express Edition? Personally, I'm loving it right now... but that could just be a sign of how noobish I am

A-flat or C-Major is preferable, although Beethoven's Op 131 was written in C#.
Purists will tell you that C++ is superior, and in some ways it is, but MS Visual has it's uses.
Regards,
John

I'm going to quote something my Programming Lecturer said in a Lecture at University.

Microsoft thinks you don't know what you are doing, so therefore, Microsoft fix it for you.

If you do something wrong, Microsoft fix it for you.
If you do something right, Microsoft fix it for you.

hehe my programming lecturers are awesome, so funny.



DR

Sorry if you thought that was irelevant.

C and C++ are "standard" languages. This means that if you learn C++ you will be able to write and port your programs to any operating system - Windows, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS-X and Linux. Using Visual C# commits you to Microsoft - ie Windows - only.

Many large companies (ie employers) use Unix (or similar). If you know standard C++ you would be more employable as a programmer. Knowing C++ will also give you an advantage when learning derived languages such as Java and others.

If you only know Microsoft products you wil be more limited in scope.

I would suggest C++ as the best language to learn in order to make yourself most attractive to employers. As a language in itself it is excellent for almost any type of programming from Applications up to Systems programs.

You will hear many people giving many different opinions. Their opinions may be based on their own needs not necessarily on the merits of the language itself.

Think about what you want to achieve in programming and use this goal in determining which programming language to choose for yourself.

Alan