I spent much of last week in sponge mode in an Microsoft asp.net design preview, absorbing all kinds of stuff about the next version of asp.net, with some c#, sql server, and web services stuff thrown in for fun.

Of course I can't say too much, but I can tell you that the 70% code reduction goals for asp.net apps are very much NOT hype. Those guys have done some amazingly neat stuff. Some of the new v2 features will allow me to make some insanely cool controls that are just barely beyond the reach of v1.

Right now, asp.net v1 is beginning to feel like my Matrix dvd. Sure, it kicks all ass... incredibly revolutionary... and has the advantage that I can actually use it in my home... But now that Matrix Reloaded has been seen... I'm kinda holding my breath for the day I can buy the dvd and bring it home.

And the talks from Andres Hejlsberg and Don Box left me in a euphoric state. Did I really sit down in a room with these guys?

Which leads me to the whole other half of it... the people. This was my first chance to meet any of the guys i've been IM'ing and such over the past few years. The technical stuff was amazing, and I feel honored that the asp.net team thinks my feedback is useful... but what's going to stick with me is the handshakes and smiles.