Cecil,

>I was wondering if anyone was aware of the web site I could go to which would have the lowest cost for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional?
>
>I have found that www.ProgrammersParadise.com has it for $724.99 and another web site was showing quite a lot higher amount of around $988.00. Why such a vast difference?
>
>Please let me know if you can find a company that sells it for dirt cheap!!!

Check out the Microsoft Empower program...lots of our customers have tried the program and loved it (specifically the price <g>). Here is a post I made to my blog a while back:

Purchasing Visual Studio 2005 (and most everything else) for $375!

If you don't already have an MSDN subscription or if you need to renew soon, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Microsoft Empower program:

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40010429

This is the deal of the century. For just $375 (this is NOT a typo), you get: up to five operating system licenses as well as Microsoft Office (Premium or Developer Editions), licenses for Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server, SQL Server, Office SharePoint Portal Server, one MSDN Universal subscription with five user licenses which includes Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition, as well as technical support and 10 hours of ISV Advisory Service. In order to qualify for this program you must sign up as Microsoft's lowest Partner level (a real breeze) Again, check the above link for details and requirements.

Best Regards,