>I've finally started trying to catch-up with the "mainstream" now that I do not need to support SAP full-time anymore. I've looked on M$ web-site and started enhancing my skillset by adding VB to the mix. However, where does .NET fit in? Is .NET really the next release of Visual Studio, or is it just one more technology that piggy-backs onto Visual Studio? Is VB 7.0=VB.NET?

VB.NET = VB 7

There will be major enhancements to the products. One of these will be that VB will become a full OO language. Have a look at this conference report I did last october: http://www.levelextreme.com/conferences/DevConnections/ScottsdaleOctober2000/