You can actually get Visual C++ tools for free from Microsoft, since there's a C++ Visual Studio Express available. Check http://www.microsoft.com/express/Windows/ ... there's quite a bit out there for free nowadays from Microsoft. Though it would be great to see more WPF apps, and you'd need to look into Expression Studio for that. Can't wait to see what you build; the desktop market has definitely been neglected on all platforms for too long.