Programming for Windows: Where to start?

[Bonecrusher123]

hey all, i've been wanting to program for Windows for quite a while now, but just haven't got around to it.

i have some experience with VB6, but that was 7 years ago, and i haven't been into the scene since then.

what's the best thing to get into now? be great if there was a development system like visual studio that was free. what's the best market to develop for? what's the up and coming thing i could try?

i've set aside a month so i know i can do this.

thanks

 

[centauricw]

For Microsoft.NET development (C#, VB.NET), you can download the Visual Studio Express Editions for free from Microsoft.

 

[doctorzeus]

Or Visual C++ but Microsoft is basically trying to sideline it

Also they just brought out F# (kinda a fushion of Java and VB)