Generally speaking, yes. Please note that there have been some API changes between the betas and the official release, so you may have to make some updates to your code accordingly.

You will need to download and install additional components. Please see the Visual Studio Developer Center for more information. No, each release of Visual Studio is tied to a specific version of the .NET Framework. The Express Editions can only be used to create applications that run on the .NET Framework 2.0.

No. Visual Web Developer 2005 Express comes with a built-in Web development server that enables you to build and test applications without a dependency on IIS. The server only accepts local requests and is only for build and test. Web applications built with Visual Web Developer can easily be deployed to IIS or your favorite hoster using the built-in copy Web tool.

Visual Basic 2005 Express can be used to build Windows applications, consoles (sometimes referred to as "command line applications") and reusable components. If you want to create interactive Web sites, you should use Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition which fully supports the Visual Basic language.

Visual C# 2005 Express can be used to build Windows applications, consoles (sometimes referred to as "command line applications"), and reusable components. If you want to create interactive Web sites, you should use Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition which fully supports the Visual C# language.

Visual Basic 2008 Express includes a migration wizard that will help import existing Visual Basic 2005 Express projects. You may need to make some manual adjustments to the code you port over, but the migration wizard is a good first step towards moving your code forward.

The Visual Studio Express Editions are an expansion of the Visual Studio and SQL Server product line to include fun, simple and easy-to-learn tools for non-professional developers like hobbyists, students and novice developers who want to build dynamic Windows applications, Web sites, and Web services.

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express is a stand-alone, lightweight, easy-to-use Web-focused tool for building ASP.NET 2.0 applications. It includes everything you need to begin building Web applications, including fully functional Starter Kit applications and a built-in development/test Web server.

Visual Web Developer Express is intended for non-professional, hobbyist, and beginning Web developers who want to evaluate or learn how to build ASP.NET 2.0 Web applications.

Visual Basic 2005 Express is designed for hobbyists, first-time developers, and students looking for a fun and easy way to build Windows applications.

Visual C# 2005 Express is intended for hobbyists, students, and novices developing Windows applications.

Visual Web Developer Express and Visual InterDev are unrelated products, but address similar markets. Visual Web Developer Express is a member of the Visual Studio 2005 family and is designed exclusively for building Web applications and Web services. Previous users of Visual InterDev should find the streamlined interface of Visual Web Developer Express appealing.

The first beta of R:BASE 7.6 for Windows was released on October 21, 2005. Subsequently, the official Pre-Purchase Beta was released on October 21, 2006.

The MSDN Library for Visual Studio 2005 provides access to legacy documentation via the MSDN Online search provider, accessible from the Search page. Access to legacy documentation is also available on earlier editions of the MSDN Library installed on your computer.

It's here: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/library/default.aspx The documentation system previews some new design ideas and new URL model as described here . MSDN welcomes your feedback on the new system at that page.

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express supports development with Visual Basic and C#. Visual Web Developer Express also includes rich editors for HTML and XML.

Unfortunately not, since the Visual Studio Express Edition has a limited support for extensibility that does not match the tight integration needs of Mainsoft for Java EE. You need to install Visual Studio Standard or Professional Edition to use Mainsoft for Java EE.

Express Edition products are designed for hobbyists, students, and novice developers. As such, they lack the full breadth of features found in higher-end Visual Studio and SQL Server Editions. They are designed specifically for scenarios common to the hobbyist, student, and novice developer. Each Express Edition includes targeted documentation that will help the beginning programmer quickly learn the concepts required to build more advanced applications.

The Express products are not officially supported. But you may find help by posting your question in the Visual Basic 2008 Express Forum .

Yes the product id you received when you purchased the license for Ref++ VS2003 can be used to activate the version of Ref++ for VS2005.

Mainsoft provides Java EE project templates for Web applications, portal applications, Web services, Web control libraries, console applications, and class libraries. You can use any Java class library in your project and consume Web services. Yes. Mainsoft-based ASP.NET Web applications and Web services are Java EE servlets. Mainsoft ASP.NET project templates include the web.xml servlet deployment descriptor file that you can update to configure your Java EE security settings.

Visual Basic 2008 Express includes a migration wizard that will help import existing Visual Basic 6.0 projects. You may need to make some manual adjustments to the code you port over, but the migration wizard is a good first step towards moving your code forward.