Microsoft hasn't proven itself to be trust worthy. I mean why should I have to register for something that is free? So they can track me? That is the whole point of registering. You sign up to yahoo and you are being tracked. Somethings require unique ids like chat rooms, but why does vs 2005/2008 require me to have a unique id for? I suppose they need to know when I use it? How I use it? You don't see most programs that are free require you to register for it unless:

A. To have a unique name and password
B. To keep records of you
C. Both A and B

I don't see (A) being a concern when programming and I can see B for stats.

If mircosoft found your code valuable to them, they would do:

1. Ask you for it for a lump sum of cash
2. Agree to a cut and run off with it
3. Build an alternative

Did you know internet explorer wasn't made by microsoft, but instead was built by a company other than microsoft? See microsoft agreed to give the company quarterly fee and some percentage of the sells, but microsoft was fooling this company and they agreed. Microsoft then turned around and built it part of the os, so there are no sells for it. Microsoft got sued for this and ... well had to pay up.

For more about that, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

I just learned that there was an Internet Explorer for Unix back then ... Of course it is discontinued now ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_for_UNIX

Also if you don't want to use vs 2005/2008 because you think they will spy on you, you shouldn't use their os either. Both are from microsoft.

Also microsoft has a bad known rep with European Union which fined them $1.4 billion for abusing their power. Also microsoft tried to buy Yahoo! which didn't happen. I am glad they can't touch google.

Besides that I do like Windows xp I use it daily

You(People) can be nicer to GamesSmash. He asks one question that you may see as ridicious and that you could have simply answered, but all you done was whine like babies.

Quote Originally Posted by GamesSmash
Hello,

I wanted to know if Microsoft Visual C++ Express 2005 was really free.

Am I allowed to own 100% anything I make and do anything I want with it (sell it)?
Does Microsoft automatically download my source code and copy stuff they find interesting?

I don't want to my hard work to go to waste if I find out, so I am thinking about switching to Dev C++, but I like the Visual Studio environment better.
It is only free after you put personal information in to register it. Free always comes with a price. No matter if it is money or time or pride. I am not sure you can distribute your exe or not. I know microsoft put limits on this with previous versions.

Although it is possible they can rip your code, but I wouldn't put it pass microsoft. It may give them ideals. Although I don't think they have been. It may cost them too much