It was amazing to see how within minutes of Microsoft releasing the new versions of Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 to MSDN Subscribers on MSDN.COM, blog posts were appearing everywhere announcing the event. In the day of the blog, it's great how fast news can spread!

Now with that said, the MSDN subscriber download site appears to have been brought to it's knees. If news didn't spread so fast, a much more gradual number of visitors to their site would have likely occurred. In the day of the blog, it's terrible how fast news can spread! UPDATE: I now see that downloads have resumed!

Personally, I'm happy to say that rather than be the first to post about it, I made sure my transfers were well on their way before making mention of it to others. (Sorry) I'm happily exploring my new install of VS2005 outside of a VPC!

For those wanting to confirm release build numbers, that are in fact 8.0.50727.42 for Visual Studio and 2.0.50727.42 for the .Net 2.0 Framework.

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Afer much anticipation I'm very happy to be installing the final, release to market (RTM) version of Visual Studio 2005 and the Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework. It's been a long journey since I was first introduced to the product at PDC03. Congratulations to all of those that invested time and effort in getting this product to market!

Now to complete all of those projects I've started in beta2 and have been holding back on...... (So much for sleep)

For those without access to MSDN, be sure to attend a Visual Studio 2005 launch event near you!

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Last night a packed house had WAY TOO MUCH FUN with Carl Franklin and Richard Campbell on their .Net Rocks Road Trip. Atlanta is next! For a town near you visit http://www.dotnetrocks.com/roadtrip

Photo and artwork by Tom Gieger

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You know you're a geek when you use your wireless cell phone, which just happens to have a built in GPS, to update a web site via a web service, that allows your loved ones to keep an eye on your where abouts. Yup, I'm a geek and you too can take a look to see where I'm at, or at least where I've been. http://www.robzelt.com/where

[This was last weekend in Charlotte watching the Carolina
  Panthers win over Green Bay]

This site is maps are created using Microsoft Virtual Earth. I'm working on created a history of memorable locations that I can update through the device and list on the web site for viewing later. For privacy, I don't actually display the exact time of the update in the public version.

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Just a reminder that pod caster, internet talk show host star, developer trainer, and all'round great guy, Carl Franklin and the DNR gang are going to be in Raleigh at a live event as part of their cross country road trip sponsored by TRINUG (And others) talking about the upcoming VS2005 launch. It should be a blast! Mark it down, and go register as space is limited. You can signup at http://events.trinug.org . NOTE - YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND! I hear they might even let Jim Duffy near a mic, and you don't want to miss that!!! Oh, and there's free pizza. FREE PIZZA!!! How can you resist that?

Did I mention you must sign up?

Also, while you're signing up for that, Microsoft Developer Champion Glen Gordon [With a title like that, what more can I say?!] will be hosting a MSDN Training Event in Raleigh on Nov 8, the day after the VS2005 Launch, showing off the new Visual Studio 2005. There is also a SQL 2005 event in the morning as well. To sign up or for more info visit http://www.msdnevents.com/launch . Glen's Blog says they might even be working on a Pub Club after the event. What free training and more free food??? How'd we get to be so lucky!

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I just want to take a moment and say congratulations to a few folks out there or a couple recent achievements.

First of all, I’d like to say congrats to Caleb Jenkins for his new job as Microsoft Developer Evangelist for the South Central Region.

Secondly and thirdly I’d like to congratulate Matt and Brendon from the .Net Regular Guys out in Atlanta on their recent appointment as co-VP’s of Technology for INETA. These two have done great things for the developer community in the South East, and I can’t wait to see what their energy and ambition does for INETA in this more active role. (Although some how I have a feeling this will mean more work for me, but oh well)

Lastly, I’d like to thank the academy… Oh wait wrong speech, I guess that that’s it. Great job gents!

Oh, and congrats to D'Arcy for being Canadian!

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Robert Scoble has a new address for his blog http://www.scobleizer.com/

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[First of all, to anybody living in suspense from my last post about having lost power in LA and not being heard from since; I had a great conference, had power for the rest of the week, and as usual ended up having a very eventful time in LA. More on that later! ANyways]

I hate both sides for the strike and think there were no winners, and that the game will never be the same. I was tempted to stay away from hockey in protest, but in the end could not. I'm glad to see it back in action, and hope the new rules make the game as exciting as I remember it used to be before the league sell out management ruined it.

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