Tonight I was reading this interview[^] of Bill Baker in the February 2005 issue of SQL Server Magazine[^], and learned some interesting things.

First, it's interesting to read that there are a fair number of Microsoft's customers already deploying production applications using SQL Server 2005[^]. It has always seemed to me that database is the last to get upgraded when comparing it to new technologies like .Net 2.0 or even OS's. Well, maybe not OS's. Off the top of my head, I know of more shops still running NT 4 or Windows Server 2000 than I can think of shops still running SQL Server 6.5 or 7. Point is, I think it's great to see that businesses are already trying to grasp on to SQL 2005 and get a feel for it now. SQL Server 2005[^] is going to be a great upgrade from SQL 2000 from what I've personally seen.

The most interesting topic in the interview, for me, was when Bill was asked about the reporting controls that are said to be included with Visual Studio 2005[^], and their functionality. His was response was “Programmers will either provide Report Definition Language(RDL) and a data set to the reporting control or point to an existing Reporting Services server.“ If that is truly the case, I cannot wait! I am curious to know if any type of additional licensing is needed like we see in todays Reporting Services.

Oh, and here's a little puzzle for you. On page 37, is the monthly 'Logical Puzzle[]'. The best I could do is 37, but that seems to easy. Any of you find a better way to solve it?