Microsoft has Visual Studio 2008 Pro available for a 90 day trial period (Visual Studio 2008 Trial Downloads).
I have it installed, and I am tinkering with it to write an app (right now I've just started, so I'm going to read from a file, and write to a file, and work out something to display the contents of the file).
Someone suggested I look at eBay or Craigs List to get a copy for when this expires.
I have seen it for the low $100s, and student copies (that I understand are fully functional) for a little less.

I am working on putting something together in C++ (I know C, so this seems like the easiest to start with).

If anyone else has input on developing for our Windows Mobile devices, please add something here.
As I use Visual Studio, and if I run into anything interesting, I'll add that here.

.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Axim x51v (Jan 2008)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bluetooth Tutorial
Wifi Tutorial
PictureViewer

   

I use VS2005 standard if I want to write anything to run on my WM5 device.

VS is excellent. Nothing else I've seen holds a candle to it.

-CB

General Aviation is not the stepchild of modern aviation... it is the Father. - Unknown

The aviation industry has a perfect record: we've never left anyone up there! - Unknown

If the plane is still in one piece don't cheat on it, ride the bastard all the way down! - Airp, Airp.

 

Are you using C++, or something else?

.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Axim x51v (Jan 2008)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bluetooth Tutorial
Wifi Tutorial
PictureViewer