Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 is the development environment for designing, developing, and testing next-generation Windows®-based solutions, Web-based applications and services. By improving the development experience for Windows, the Web, mobile devices, and the Microsoft Office System, Visual Studio 2008 helps individuals and organisations to rapidly create and deliver complete, connected, comprehensive and compelling software solutions. Visual Studio Team System expands the product line with new software tools that produce greater communication and collaboration throughout the development life cycle. Interaction between developers and designers is enhanced with Visual Studio 2008 and the Microsoft Expression® Suite.

VALUE PROPOSITION
With Visual Studio 2008, developers can create outstanding user experiences and break through productivity challenges. Development teams (project managers, architects, testers, database developers and administrators) can collaborate effectively across the software development life cycle with Visual Studio Team System.

WHAT ABOUT MSDN SUBSCRIPTIONS?
MSDN® Subscriptions equip your development team with a wide variety of essential resources and technical support options to complement Visual Studio. With MSDN Subscriptions, development teams can have access to virtually all of Microsoft’s operating systems, server products, and productivity applications to design, develop, test and demonstrate your software applications. Various levels of MSDN Subscriptions are available:

MSDN Operating System is available as a stand-alone subscription providing access to the latest Microsoft operating system.

MSDN Professional Subscriptions can be purchased with Visual Studio Professional Edition. MSDN Professional Subscription includes the latest MSDN library, Windows operating systems, Microsoft SQL Server® Developer Edition, technical resources, two online or telephone technical support incidents, access to more than 200 managed newsgroups and MSDN Online Concierge support.

MSDN Premium Subscriptions can be purchased with either Visual Studio Professional Edition or with Visual Studio Team System products. MSDN Premium Subscription includes the latest Microsoft operating environment and server technologies, productivity applications (including general business use of the 2007 Microsoft Office system), technical resources, four online or telephone technical support incidents, access to more than 200 managed newsgroups and MSDN Online Concierge support.

What's NEW in Visual Studio 2008?

- Build applications that run on multiple versions of the .NET Framework - Visual Studio 2008 builds applications that work with the .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.
Work with data in a unified and integrated way - LINQ - Developers can use Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) to do native queries without using specialised languages.
- Build Microsoft Office-based applications - Developers now have the ability to bring corporate data and interactive applications within the familiar Microsoft Office environment to ease deploying and adopting the application.
- Build higher-quality applications with integrated unit testing - Powerful unit testing tools are now integrated directly into Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition.
- Collaborate with user interface designers - Share user interface assets like design elements and controls with graphic designers who use Microsoft Expression design software. Bring designers into the process earlier to collaborate better.
- Build stunning applications for the Windows Vista operating system - Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Employ the latest Web user interface techniques - Support for ASP.NET AJAX, JSON, RSS, REST and JavaScript.
- Take advantage of improved workflow and communication tools - Connected applications can use Windows Communication Foundation and participate in service-oriented architectures. Human or machine-based workflows can be designed and tested.
- Experience enhanced support for designing Web-based applications -
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity.

Visual Studio Team System 2008
Software empowers people, so choosing the right tools for your customer’s team is an important decision. The guide below helps you understand which product is best for your customer’s team or individual team members. Whichever products your customers select, you can be confident that the extensive partner network offered by Microsoft can help your customer with training, migration, integration and other services.

Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
Target Customers: For individual professional developers or small development teams to build Web, Windows, Microsoft Office, or mobile applications.

Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition
Target Customers: For individual professional developers to build Web- or Windows-based applications.

Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition
Target Customers: A lightweight, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn tool for the hobbyist, novice, or student developer.

Additional Products to Consider:
MSDN Premium Subscription: Provides developers with access to the latest Microsoft software development tools, combined with the essential Microsoft operating environment and server technologies, unlimited use of MSDN Managed Newsgroups, two-day response plus four no-charge online or telephone support incidents per subscription period.

MSDN Professional Subscription: Provides developers with access to the latest Microsoft software development tools, combined with the essential Microsoft operating environment and server technologies, unlimited use of MSDN Managed Newsgroups, two-day response plus two no-charge online or telephone support incidents per subscription period.

For further information, contact Licensing on 0118 9898 240 or email licensing@bluesolutions.co.uk

For further information, contact Licensing on 0118 9898 240 or email licensing@bluesolutions.co.uk

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PRODUCTS (EXCEPT FOR TFS/STD/EXPRESS/MSDN OPERATING SYSTEM)
Requirements vary for different combinations of components within Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. To install Visual Studio 2008, you need:

Processor: 1.6-GHz processor or faster Operating System: Windows Vista (x86 or x64) (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows XP (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 2 or later (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows Server 2003 (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 1 or later (all editions); or Windows Server 2003 R2 (x86 or x64) or later (all editions) Memory: 384 MB of RAM or more (768MB of RAM or more for Windows Vista) Hard Disk: 2.2GB of available hard-disk space Hard Drive: 5400 RPM; DVD-ROM drive Monitor Resolution:1024 x 768 or higher-resolution display Internet Connection: Additional features may require Internet access. Fees may apply.

VISUAL STUDIO 2008 STANDARD EDITION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Requirements vary for different combinations of components within Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition. To install Visual Studio Standard Edition, you need:

Processor: 1.6-GHz processor or faster Operating System: Windows Vista (x86 or x64) (all editions); Windows XP (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 2 or later (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows Server 2003 (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 1 or later (all editions); or Windows Server 2003 R2 (x86 or x64) or later (all editions) Memory: 384 MB of RAM or more (768 MB of RAM or more for Windows Vista) Hard Disk: 2.2 GB of available hard-disk space Hard Drive: 5400 RPM; DVD-ROM drive Monitor Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution display

VISUAL STUDIO TEAM SYSTEM 2008 TEAM FOUNDATION SERVER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server is a multi-tier application and can have components installed on different PCs. Installing in this configuration changes the individual PC system requirements. To install Visual Studio Team System 2008 Foundation Server on a single PC, you need:

Processor: 2.2-GHz processor or faster Operating System: Windows Vista (x86 or x64) (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows XP (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 2 or later (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows Server 2003 (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 1 or later (all editions); or Windows Server 2003 R2 (x86 or x64) or later (all editions) Memory: 2 GB of RAM or more Hard Disk: 8 GB of available hard-disk space Hard Drive: 5400 RPM; DVDROM Drive Monitor Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution display

MSDN OPERATING SYSTEMS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
System requirements vary for the different components within an MSDN Operating Systems Subscription. Your MSDN Subscription requires one-time activation by the Web or telephone. To install MSDN Library, you need:

Operating System: Windows Vista (x86 or x64) (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows XP (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 2 or later (all editions except Starter Edition); Windows Server 2003 (x86 or x64) with Service Pack 1 or later (all editions); or Windows Server 2003 R2 (x86 or x64) or later (all editions) Hard Disk: Minimum 1.7 GB of available hard-disk space (2.2 GB for full installation) Hard Drive: DVD-ROM drive

UK Partner Site: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/heroes

UK Customer Site: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/heroeshappenhere

Visual Studio Home Page: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio

Visual Studio 2008 Information: http://www.visualstudio.co.uk

Visual Studio 2008 Training Videos: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/bb655906.aspx

Additional How to Buy Information: http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy