[Tech-Ed] One of the best values at Tech-Ed (even if you're not an attendee)...

The hidden gem at Tech-Ed is the Microsoft booths in the Exhibit Hall .

They have a separate booth for each technology - SQL Server, ASP.NET, all the different server products, etc., and the people at these booths are developers / dev leads / program managers / etc. folks that really know their stuff. I pestered the hell out of the ASP.NET group and they answered tons of questions for me. I was wishing I hadn't had those two free beers and had a written list of questions - they were answering my questions a lot faster than I could ask them.

Non-attendees can still go to the Exhibit Hall - tickets available onsite for Wednesday and Thursday. I've heard it's $75.