SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 *will* be released on Nov. 7.

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>Hilmar,
>Your question has already been answered correctly, but I would like to suggest SQL2005 (in addition to MSDE and SQL Developer Edition) (just to make it a little more complex to make a decision <bg>)
>SQL2005 is currently in beta testing now but it will be released November 7 (or so they say) so it's got to be getting stable. SQL2005 will offer a free version just like MSDE but even the free version will come with some nice tools (like the current developer edition)
>read more here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2005/default.mspx
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>Einar