I am a fairly proficient Linux programmer. I have been coding in Linux for 4 years, for both personal reasons and for profit. During those 4 years I have not even owned a computer running the Windows operating system. I am looking to expand my horizons into Windows programming, but am finding myself overwhelmed with the lack of what I perceive to be standardization. I feel as though different compilers follow different conventions, and all of the worthwhile IDEs cost money. Whats worse is that so many of the Tutorials are just terrible.

If anyone else has taken the switch from Linux to Windows programming, what was the most helpful. What are the most straightforward IDEs and tutorials for using the API.

I am looking to do mainly C and C++ development, along with some x86. I have found MASM primarily suits my needs for the latter.