Matt,

>1. Since I am just getting into VS, I really do not want to start on 2.4 and learing "the old way" when 2.5 could be very close. So, can you give any idea about the timeline for your ver 2.5.

Very soon is all I can say...we have finished the WCF and WF integration and are finishing up WCF. As we do so we are also finishing up the documentation , new Jump Starts and so on.

>2. Also, if 2.5 is delayed very long, does 2.4 run well on VS 2008?

It won't be delayed very long <s> -- 2.4 runs on VS 2005...2.5 will run on both VS 2005 and VS 2008.

>3. Please explain what kind of WPF UI controls your ver 2.5 will have? Again since I am just starting out in VS, I'm looking at skipping Windows Forms all together, and starting day one with a WPF UI. I hope your WPF UI control set is fairly exhaustive, so I do not have to consider another 3rd party tool to get a full toolbox. I have been watching DevExpress for WPF UI controls, but I would really like to have only one 3rd party tool set for both my app framework and UI controls. It's hard enough to learn one, much less two. I know that DevExpress has an app framework in beta (XAF) that is close to release, and they have a ORM package (XPO) that has been around for a while, and they are also working on a WPF contol suite.

As always, MM .NET will enhance the existing WPF controls from Microsoft--which are fairly extensive, while adding some of our own too. That said, Microsoft hasn't released a WPF DataGrid...you need to get this from a third party company. A number of companies are providing free WPF grids to get a foot in the door (XCeed was one of the first to do this).

>4. Any plans for a free-standing user forum, outside of UT? I really think it would be a boost to the product's image.

Yes, this is something we're looking at.

>I like MM and I'm pulling for you, but it's hard to get a feel for the future and market share of MM, since you have a little less profile than they do.

We have been on the market far longer than any other .NET Framework, and from what I know, we hold the largest market share--and we plan to stay that way <s>.

Best Regards,