Over a series of Saturdays in the coming months, Microsoft will be hosting several Windows 8 developer workshops that focus specifically on Metro development.

Beginning in Melbourne on 31 March, the series moves onto Sydney on 14 April, and is followed by Brisbane (28 April), Hobart (12 May), Canberra (19 May), Darwin (26 May), Adelaide (2 June), and finishes up in Perth on 16 June.

Entry to the events is free, with attendees only required to bring a laptop; Microsoft says it will take care of the rest. Registration links are available from the announcement.

Although the announcement says that it is preferable to bring a laptop with Windows 8 consumer preview installed, Microsoft professional geek Nick Hodge told us that people could come along without Windows 8 and still enjoy the atmosphere and learning. I would say that it is a necessity, as that version of Windows is needed in order to develop Metro-based applications.