I was downloading something from Microsoft today, when I was asked if I want to see the Beta version of the new Microsoft Download Center. Using Silverlight. Oooh, shiny. Take me there now.

Better UX is just part of the new Download Center, but that improvements here are long overdue. I like the dynamic bits to browse downloads and callouts for individual downloads. A whole lot easier on the eye and rich information to drill down through. After all, when you want to download some software, how much hide-and-seek navigation ("Nope, this isn't the one I want.") and synthesizing information in your head ("Oh, you mean this goes with that?") is the average Jane willing to tolerate? This I know: after she gets used to this site, her tolerance for clumsy and clunky will go way down.

The downloads by category pages are also far better organized. This shot shows slick Silverlight action revealing details of item and a Download button that takes you to the download page. I would like to be spoiled like this in more applications.

So far, so good.

Check it out. If you've got some feedback for the team, let them know.

Had enough, or don't like it? Locate the Exit beta link in the upper right corner.

If you're going to TechEd Developer 2008, June 3–6, then the time is now to propose a Birds-of-a-Feather session for the conference.

Get involved

I volunteer with INETA as co-chair of the Birds-of-a-Feather track at TechEd Developers 2008, and I encourage you to get involved and give back to the professional community by leading a Birds-of-a-Feather session. "Birds of a what?" I hear you ask.

Okay, imagine you're at a conference with, say, about 10,000 of your closest geek buddies. And you know that somewhere among the teaming multitudes there must be two or three dozen people who share your passion about that special topic that is near and dear to your heart. How do you find each other, connect, and exchange ideas? You hold a Birds-of-a-Feather session, that's how.

A Birds-of-a-Feather (BOF) session is an open discussion, not a presentation or lecture. No slides or demos allowed. Let's just sit down and talk. And after many hours of conference breakout sessions with talking heads in darkened rooms, it is truly refreshing to turn the lights on and talk together as peers.

BOF sessions are community driven. The topics are proposed by you, selected by you, moderated by you, and attended by you — you the conference attendees, you the professional community. BOFs are about what you want to discuss, separate from the conference agenda and sponsors.

This is your chance to facilitate a discussion with others at the conference who share your passion about your topic. You don't need to be a recognized expert or rock star, just have an understanding and keen interest in the topic, and be willing to moderate a session. Moderating a BOF is also a great way to get your name out in the community.

Critical acclaim

Over the past several years, INETA, Culminis (our sister organization on the IT Professional side of the house), and the entire community have stepped forward to make the BOF sessions a valuable and vital part of TechEd. And Microsoft has matched our enthusiasm with their commitment. BoF sessions now run concurrent with the conference breakout sessions throughout the day. Microsoft hosts an All-BOF evening catered with food and drink and plenty of BOF sessions. And BOF sessions have been integrated in the conference materials and online scheduling system. Last year, hundreds of people participated in the BOFs. Together we have achieved great things.

Jon Flanders of Pluralsight rates Birds-of-a-Feather sessions among the three best things at TechEd last year.

Get involved now!

These essential conversations cannot happen without you proposing and leading BOFs that are important to you.

Please propose a Birds-of-a-Feather session for TechEd Developers 2008. We are seeking your BoF proposals by March 19, 2008.

Yes, there are two TechEd North America 2008 conferences

If you haven't heard, Microsoft is dividing the immensely popular TechEd into two separate conferences — TechEd Developers , June 3–6, 2008, and TechEd IT Professionals, June 10–13, 2008 — in Orlando, Florida. Here are some links to help you find your way to the BOFs in each conference

TechEd Developer, June 3–6, 2008 — Conference home | TechEd Community Page | BOF Proposals | BOF Community Sponsor is INETA

TechEd IT Professional, June 10–13, 2008 — Conference home | TechEd Community Page | BOF Proposals | BOF Community Sponsor is Culminis

I've got my tickets in hand and I am heading to beautiful Idaho this Saturday, 8 March 2008, for Boise Code Camp 2008. I attended last year's edition, and it was a first-class event all the way. This year there will be 63 sessions (including mine) and 46 presenters, along with lunch and dinner packed in a day. And like code camps everywhere, it is always free. If you are anywhere near the area, it is not too late to register to attend.

My session, a Lawrence Lessig-style romp through everything new in C#, is at 3:30 PM.

The New Programming Model — C# 3.0 and .NET 3.5

Microsoft has been working hard on changing how we write and think about code for years. Many .NET developers today still work with C# 1.0 on .NET 1.1 — or use newer versions but don't know about or use many of the new features. C# 3.0 and .NET 3.5 have been released, so let's look at what's changed. In this lightning-fast session we'll cover virtually every new feature of C# and the CLR added since 2003. That way you can make smart decisions about which technologies to pursue without getting lost or feeling overwhelmed. Fasten your seatbelts, we're going for a ride!

The day concludes with a party with the Code Trip crew. I met Jason last night for microbrews and he was filling my head with all the cool stuff they've got going on with the trip and the bus. They're picking up the bus in Las Vegas tomorrow, winging through Salt Lake City, and will be in Boise on Saturday. I want a stem to stern tour of this magic bus.

Welcome to my new blog, Visual Stuart .NET. My old blog was getting rather, well, old, and some of the material was rather dated. I determined it was worth more to you, gentle reader, to pull the plug on the past, than spend time preserving a few modest gems.

Knowledge does not keep any better than fish.
— Alfred North Whitehead, 1929

Besides, there is a whole new word to explore. Last week was the world wide launch of Microsoft's project Orcas, comprised of .NET 3.5, Visual Studio 2008, C# 3.0, and Windows Server 2008. There's more to come, such as the .NET 3.5 SP 1 with ASP.NET MVC and the ADO.NET Entity Framework, and SQL Server 2008 expected in August 2008.

So let's get started in the tradition of all beginnings since Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie.

using System;

namespace VisualStuart
{
  class Program
  {
    static void Main( string[] args )
    {
      Console.WriteLine( "Hello, world!" );
    }
  }
}

Deep cleansing breath in. Hold. And exhale. Excellent. Let's begin.